TIFF and JPG 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.
JPEG is a lossy image format designed for photographs. It works by discarding detail the human eye is least likely to notice, particularly in colour and in smooth gradients, which is why it compresses photos far better than it compresses text or line art.
- Where TIFF files come from
- Scanners, professional photography workflows, and print production.
- Where JPG is used
- Digital cameras, phone screenshots on Android, and essentially every photo on the pre-2015 web.