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Category: Digital Files and Formats

Photography Question 

Virginia Kickle
 

JPEG vs. TIFF Format


I have a couple of questions regarding the storage format for photos:
1. Am I correct in assuming that the JPEG image loses quality only when being saved after successive edits (I use Photoshop Elements) and not when "opened" at other times, such as for viewing in the Photoshop browser or being used as a computer desktop background image or screensaver?
2. I saved an image with TIFF format and had no problem working with it in Photoshop. However, when I tried to select it to use as my computer desktop wallpaper, I was unable to display any image with the TIFF format, and am assuming that TIFF images will probably not display in my computer screensaver, which is one of the main ways I enjoy my photos. I also noticed that TIFF is not recognized in Windows Media Player. Do you know how I can make the TIFF format compatible with these functions in Windows?


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January 25, 2007

 

Ibarionex R. Perello
  You are correct on your first statement about JPEGs. Editing and saving the file as a JPEG throws out data each time. So, over time, if this is repeated, your image quality is degraded. If you are shooting JPEGs, you should save the edited files as TIFFs of PSD (Photoshop) files.
Because the TIFF files are uncompressed (unlike JPEGs), the files are significantly bigger and cannot be rendered in the same way as JPEGs for the person of screen savers, slideshows or other applications. If you want to use the image in this way, you save a copy of your edited file as a JPEG for this purpose.


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January 25, 2007

 

Virginia Kickle
  Thanks! I'm glad to have that cleared up. I'll use your suggestions.


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January 25, 2007

 

W.
  Like Ibarionex suggests "[...] TIFF files are uncompressed (unlike JPEGs), [and] are significantly bigger [...]".
However, TIFFs can be compressed - zipped - to store as much, much smaller files (though not as small as JPGs), without losing any image data.


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February 17, 2007

 
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