TIFF and BMP explained
TIFF is a flexible container used in print, publishing and archiving. It can hold multiple pages, layers, and a variety of compression schemes including none at all, which is why TIFF files vary enormously in size.
BMP stores pixels essentially raw, with little or no compression. A 1920×1080 BMP is around 6 MB regardless of what the picture contains, because every pixel takes the same space whether it is part of a gradient or a flat colour.
- Where TIFF files come from
- Scanners, professional photography workflows, and print production.
- Where BMP is used
- Legacy Windows software, some scientific and industrial imaging tools.