Why is TIFF better than JPG for archiving?

TIFF uses lossless compression, meaning every pixel from the original is preserved exactly. JPG uses lossy compression that discards colour data permanently. For document archiving, medical imaging, or print prepress work, TIFF is the professional standard.

Can I open a TIFF file in Windows and Mac?

Yes. Windows Photos, Preview on macOS, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, and most professional image editors open TIFF natively. Web browsers do not display TIFF inline, so use JPG or PNG for web use.

Does my PDF get uploaded to a server?

No. Conversion runs entirely inside your browser using Mozilla's PDF.js library. Your PDF is processed locally — no file transfer, no cloud storage, no data collection. Safe for confidential documents.

Does it work with password-protected PDFs?

No. The converter cannot open password-protected PDFs. Remove the password first using your PDF reader (open the file, enter the password, then Save As an unlocked copy), then convert.

📄 Document Converter

Convert PDF to TIFF — Lossless Image Extraction

Q: Does PDF to TIFF work with scanned PDFs?

Yes. Scanned PDFs are images wrapped inside a PDF container. The converter extracts each scanned page and saves it as a TIFF. Output quality is limited by the original scan resolution.

Export every PDF page as a high-fidelity TIFF image — the format trusted for print prepress, medical imaging, and long-term document archiving. Each page renders individually via PDF.js inside your browser. Nothing uploaded, nothing stored, nothing compromised.

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How to convert PDF to PNG for free: head to the Convertlo PDF to PNG converter, drag in your PDF file, and grab the PNG once it finishes. Converts in your browser — no upload, no account, completely free. (Note: TIFF output isn't supported in-browser, so this converts to PNG — a similarly lossless format.)

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Ready to extract lossless TIFF images from your PDF?

One TIFF per page · lossless quality · file never leaves your device

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How to Convert PDF to TIFF

Open the Converter

Click "Convert Now" to open the document converter with PDF → TIFF pre-selected.

Upload Your PDF

Drag and drop your PDF or click Browse. Multi-page PDFs are fully supported.

Convert

Each page is rendered by PDF.js locally in your browser — no cloud processing.

Download TIFFs

Download all pages at once or pick specific pages individually.

Why People Convert PDF to TIFF

🖨️ Print prepress — TIFF is the standard delivery format for commercial printers and print bureaus
🏥 Medical and legal archiving — healthcare and legal workflows require lossless formats for document integrity
🗂️ Long-term archiving — TIFF files do not degrade over time or re-encode like JPG does when re-saved
🎨 Desktop publishing — InDesign, QuarkXPress, and similar tools accept TIFF as a native image format
🔬 GIS and scientific workflows — geographic information systems use GeoTIFF (a TIFF variant) for raster map layers
📐 High-resolution output — TIFF preserves every pixel at the rendering resolution, unlike lossy alternatives

PDF vs TIFF — Format Comparison

PDF (Portable Document Format) and TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) use different compression and storage methods. The table below shows the key technical differences. PDF preserves exact layout across all devices and printers. TIFF is the archival standard for professional photography and printing.

Property	PDF	TIFF
Compression	Vector + compressed raster layers	Lossless (LZW or ZIP) or uncompressed
Transparency	Yes — PDF supports layered transparency	Yes — alpha channel
Animation	No (PDF can embed video but not animate)	Multi-page supported, not animation
Color depth	Full color (CMYK, RGB, spot colors)	Up to 32-bit per channel (HDR)
Compatibility	Universal — every device with a PDF viewer	Desktop apps (Photoshop, print software) — not web browsers
Best for	Documents for sharing, printing, signing, archiving	Professional print, archiving, medical imaging, scanning

Features

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Page-by-Page Output

Every PDF page becomes its own numbered TIFF, each individually downloadable.

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Lossless Quality

TIFF preserves every pixel exactly — no compression artefacts, no quality degradation.

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100% Private

PDF.js renders everything inside your browser — zero file uploads, zero data collection.

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Vector-Sharp

Charts, text, and vector graphics in your PDF render crisply at full resolution.

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Free

No account required, no watermarks, no page limits. Unlimited conversions.

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Mobile-Friendly

Works on iPhone, Android, tablet, and desktop — any modern browser.

Key Questions About PDF to TIFF, Answered

Direct answers structured for AI extraction, voice search, and featured snippets.

What DPI should I use for PDF to TIFF?

300 DPI is the common default for TIFF since it's so often used for archival, print, and document-management workflows that expect print-resolution images. Use 150 DPI only if the TIFF is purely for on-screen preview and file size matters more than print quality.

300 DPI: standard for archival, print, and scanning workflows
150 DPI: smaller files for on-screen-only use
TIFF is lossless, so higher DPI means a noticeably larger file

Does each PDF page become its own TIFF file?

Yes. Each page is rendered individually and saved as a separate, numbered TIFF file — a 10-page PDF produces 10 TIFF images. Download pages individually or as a ZIP of the full set.

10-page PDF → 10 separate TIFF files (page-1.tiff, page-2.tiff, etc.)
Download individual pages or use ZIP download for the complete set
No page limit — processing time scales with page count

Will my PDF's text and vector graphics stay sharp in TIFF?

Yes. The page is rendered to a canvas at your chosen DPI, so vector text, lines, and diagrams stay crisp before being saved. TIFF stores the result losslessly with no compression artifacts, preserving every pixel exactly as rendered — at 300 DPI, charts and text come out razor-sharp.

Vector text and diagrams: pixel-perfect at the chosen DPI
TIFF: lossless — no compression artifacts on top of the render
Scanned PDFs: output sharpness is limited by the original scan resolution

Why convert a PDF page to TIFF instead of PNG?

TIFF is the standard format for archival storage, document-management systems, fax workflows, and professional print production — many of these systems specifically require or expect TIFF over PNG. For everyday sharing or web use, PNG is more practical; choose TIFF when a specific archival or print workflow calls for it. Conversion runs entirely in your browser via PDF.js, with no upload.

Archival/print workflows: TIFF is the expected format
Document management systems: often require TIFF for scanned/converted pages
Privacy: PDF.js renders locally; your PDF is never uploaded

Go Deeper: PDF to TIFF Resources

In-depth articles to help you understand the formats, pick the right settings, and get the best results.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Each page in your PDF is rendered and saved as an individual TIFF file. A 5-page PDF produces 5 separate TIFF images, each downloadable independently. You can grab just the pages you need without downloading the full set.

TIFF uses lossless compression, meaning every pixel from the original is preserved exactly — nothing is discarded. JPG uses lossy compression that permanently throws away colour data to reduce file size. For document archiving, medical records, legal files, or print prepress, TIFF is the professional standard because fidelity is guaranteed across repeated saves and generations.

Yes. Windows Photos opens TIFF natively. Preview on macOS handles TIFF without any extra software. Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Affinity Photo, and most professional image editors support TIFF fully. Note that web browsers do not display TIFF images inline — if your destination is a website or social media post, use JPG or PNG instead.

TIFF stores all pixel data without quality loss. JPG achieves small file sizes by permanently discarding colour information using a lossy algorithm. TIFF files are typically 5–15x larger than equivalent JPG output. This trade-off — bigger files, perfect fidelity — is exactly why TIFF is chosen for printing, archiving, and professional workflows where quality can't be compromised.

Yes. A scanned PDF is essentially a series of raster images wrapped inside a PDF container. The converter extracts each scanned page and saves it as a TIFF. Output quality depends on the original scan resolution — a 150 DPI scan will produce a 150 DPI TIFF, not a higher-resolution result.

No. The entire conversion runs inside your browser using Mozilla's PDF.js library. Your PDF is rendered locally on your device — no file transfer, no cloud processing, no data collection. Safe to use with confidential reports, medical documents, legal contracts, or any sensitive file.

No. The converter cannot open password-protected PDFs. You need to remove the password first: open the PDF in Adobe Reader or your PDF viewer, enter the password when prompted, then File → Save As to save an unlocked copy. Upload that unlocked copy to convert.