---
title: "TIFF File Format"
canonical: https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/TIFFFileFormat.htm
product: "Graphics Mill 5.5 for .NET"
---

This documentation is for the old version. [Go to the latest Graphics Mill docs](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm/)

# TIFF File Format
 
TIFF is a tag based file format which is designed to promote the interchange of digital image data. The general scenario TIFF format was invented for assumes that scanning or painting software creates a TIFF file, which can then be read and incorporated into a document or a publication by an application such as a desktop publishing package.
 
This image format is rather versatile and have a lot of modifications. Graphics Mill for .NET supports the following compression methods and special-interest formats:
 
- CCITT RLE, Group 3, and Group 4 Fax compression,
- LZW compression,
- JPEG compression,
- ZIP "deflate" compression.

## Format Name
  
TIFF
 
## MIME Type
  
image/tiff
 
## File Extensions
  
\*.tiff, \*.tif
 
## Supported Pixel Formats
  
|  Description |  Read |  Write |
| --- | --- | --- |
 |  1 bit palette-based |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  4 bit palette-based |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  8 bit palette-based |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  8 bit grayscale |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  16 bit grayscale with the alpha channel |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  16 bit grayscale (16 bits per channel) |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  24 bit RGB |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  32 bit RGB with the alpha channel |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  48 bit RGB (16 bits per channel) |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  64 bit RGB with the alpha channel (16 bits per channel) |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  32 bit CMYK |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  40 bit CMYK with the alpha channel |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  64 bit CMYK (16 bits per channel) |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  80 bit CMYK with alpha channel (16 bits per channel) |  Yes |  Yes |
 |  24 bit YCbCr |  Yes |  No |
 
## Metadata Available for Reading
  
|  Name |  Comments |
| --- | --- |
 |  [TiffReader.Exif](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffReader_Exif.htm.md) |  EXIF data collection. |
 |  [TiffReader.Iptc](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffReader_Iptc.htm.md) |  IPTC data collection. |
 |  [TiffReader.Xmp](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffReader_Xmp.htm.md) |  XML code containing the XMP metadata. |
 |  [TiffReader.AdobeResources](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffReader_AdobeResources.htm.md) |  Adobe® image resource blocks. |
 
## Encoder Options
  
|  Name |  Default Value |  Comments |
| --- | --- | --- |
 |  [TiffEncoderOptions.Exif](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffEncoderOptions_Exif.htm.md) <br> [TiffWriter.Exif](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffWriter_Exif.htm.md) |  **N/A** |  EXIF data collection you want to write into the file. |
 |  [TiffEncoderOptions.Iptc](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffEncoderOptions_Iptc.htm.md) <br> [TiffWriter.Iptc](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffWriter_Iptc.htm.md) |  **N/A** |  IPTC data collection you want to write into the file. |
 |  [TiffEncoderOptions.Xmp](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffEncoderOptions_Xmp.htm.md) <br> [TiffWriter.Xmp](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffWriter_Xmp.htm.md) |  **N/A** |  XML code containing the XMP metadata you want to write into the file. |
 |  [TiffEncoderOptions.AdobeResources](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffEncoderOptions_AdobeResources.htm.md) <br> [TiffWriter.AdobeResources](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffWriter_AdobeResources.htm.md) |  **N/A** |  Adobe® image resource blocks you want to write into the file. |
 |  [TiffEncoderOptions.Compression](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffEncoderOptions_Compression.htm.md) <br> [TiffFrame.Compression](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffFrame_Compression.htm.md) |  [CompressionType.None](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/T_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_CompressionType.htm.md) |  TIFF compression type. |
 |  [TiffEncoderOptions.Quality](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffEncoderOptions_Quality.htm.md) <br> [TiffFrame.Quality](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/P_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffFrame_Quality.htm.md) |  **75** |  JPEG quality if compression type is set to CompressionType.Jpeg. |
 
## Examples
  
### Loading the TIFF Files with the Single Frame
 
The simplest way to the TIFF file which has only one frame (or if you do not care about the rest frames) is to pass its name to the constructor:
 
```
Dim bitmap As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap("c:\Mountain.tif")
```
 
```csharp
Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap bitmap = new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap(@"c:\Mountain.tif");    
```
 
Alternatively, if you already have an instance of the [Bitmap](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/T_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Bitmap.htm.md), you can use [Load](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/O_T_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Bitmap_Load.htm.md) method:
 
```
Dim bitmap As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap
bitmap.Load("c:\Mountain.tif")
```
 
```csharp
Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap bitmap = new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap();
bitmap.Load(@"c:\Mountain.tif");
```
 
### Saving the TIFF Files with the Single Frame
 
This code example demonstrates how to save the TIFF with the single frame. It just converts the JPEG file into the TIFF format.
 
```
Dim bitmap As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap("c:\Mountain.jpg")

bitmap.Save("C:\Mountain.tif", _
    New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffEncoderOptions(50))

bitmap.Dispose()
```
 
```csharp
using (Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap bitmap =
    new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap(@"c:\Mountain.jpg"))
{
    bitmap.Save(@"C:\Mountain.tif", 
        new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffEncoderOptions(50));
}
```
 
Also you can use [TiffWriter](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/T_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffWriter.htm.md) class instead of the [Save](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/O_T_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Bitmap_Save.htm.md) method of the Bitmap. In particular it enables you to save the image asynchronously.
 
The TiffWriter class usage is demonstrated below:
 
```
Dim dir As String = "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures\Sample Pictures\"
Dim images As String() = {"Blue hills.jpg", "Sunset.jpg", "Water lilies.jpg", "Winter.jpg"}

Dim bitmap As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap

Dim writer As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffWriter("C:\multipage.tif")

For Each image As String In images
    bitmap.Load(dir & image)

    Dim frame As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffFrame
    frame.Compression = Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.CompressionType.Lzw
    frame.SetBitmap(bitmap)

    writer.AddFrame(frame)

    frame.Dispose()
Next

bitmap.Dispose()

writer.Dispose()
```
 
```csharp
string dir = @"C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures\Sample Pictures\";
String[] images = {"Blue hills.jpg", "Sunset.jpg", "Water lilies.jpg", "Winter.jpg"};

using (Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap bitmap = new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap())
{
    using(Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffWriter writer =
              new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffWriter(@"C:\multipage.tif"))
    {
        foreach (string image in images)
        {
            bitmap.Load(dir + image);

            using (Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffFrame frame =
                       new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffFrame())
            {
                frame.Compression = Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.CompressionType.Lzw;
                frame.SetBitmap(bitmap);
                writer.AddFrame(frame);
            }
        }
    }
}
```
 
### Loading Multipage TIFF Files
 
To load the TIFF files that contains multiple frames, you should use a [TiffReader](https://www.graphicsmill.com/docs/gm5/T_Aurigma_GraphicsMill_Codecs_TiffReader.htm.md) class. The code below demonstrates its usage. It reads multipage TIFF file and save each page into the separate JPEG file.
 
```
Dim filename As String = "c:\multipage.tif"

Dim reader As Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.FormatReader = _
 Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.FormatManager.CreateFormatReader(filename)

Dim bitmap As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap

For i As Integer = 0 To reader.FrameCount - 1
    Dim frame As Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.Frame = reader.LoadFrame(i)
    frame.GetBitmap(bitmap)
    frame.Dispose()

    bitmap.Save("c:\frame_" & i & ".jpg")
Next

bitmap.Dispose()

reader.Dispose()
```
 
```csharp
string filename = @"c:\multipage.tif";

using (Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IFormatReader reader =
           Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.FormatManager.CreateFormatReader(filename))
{

    using (Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap bitmap =
               new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap())
    {
        for (int i = 0; i < reader.FrameCount - 1; i++)
        {
            using (Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IFrame frame =
                       reader.LoadFrame(i))
            {
                frame.GetBitmap(bitmap);
                bitmap.Save(@"c:\frame_" + i.ToString() + ".jpg");
            }
        }
    }
}
```
 
### Working with Metadata
 
TIFF files can store EXIF, IPTC, XMP, and Adobe® image resource blocks metadata collections. Graphics Mill for .NET enables you to extract this data from the TIFF file and save it into another TIFF file (as well as into the other file format which supports such kinds of metadata). This code example demonstrates how to add metadata to the file:
 
```
Dim bitmap As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap("c:\Mountain.jpg")
Dim encoderOptions As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffEncoderOptions(50)

'EXIF
Dim exif As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.ExifDictionary
exif(Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.ExifDictionary.Software) = "Aurigma Graphics Mill"

encoderOptions.Exif = exif

'IPTC
Dim iptc As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary
iptc(Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary.Category) = "Nature"
iptc(Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary.CopyrightNotice) = "Aurigma Inc."
iptc(Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary.Keyword) = "mountain"

encoderOptions.Iptc = iptc

'Adobe resource blocks
Dim adobeResources As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.AdobeResourceDictionary
'Create new adobe image resource block with the required metadata
Dim arBlock As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.AdobeResourceBlock("Copyright", New Byte() {1})
'Set this block to the item with 0x040A ID (copyright flag)
adobeResources.Item(&H40A) = arBlock

encoderOptions.AdobeResources = adobeResources

'XMP
Dim xmp As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpData()
'Create a node with the required metadata
Dim node As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpValueNode( _
    Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpNodeType.SimpleProperty, _
    "John Doe", _
    Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpTagNames.DCCreator)
xmp.AddNode(node)

encoderOptions.Xmp = xmp.Save()

bitmap.Save("C:\Mountain.tif", encoderOptions)

bitmap.Dispose()
```
 
```csharp
using (Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap bitmap = 
           new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap(@"c:\Mountain.jpg"))
{                
    Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffEncoderOptions encoderOptions =
        new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffEncoderOptions(50);

    //EXIF
    Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.ExifDictionary exif =
        new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.ExifDictionary();
    exif[Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.ExifDictionary.Software] = "Aurigma Graphics Mill";

    encoderOptions.Exif = exif;
    
    //IPTC
    Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary iptc =
        new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary();
    iptc[Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary.Category] = "Nature";
    iptc[Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary.CopyrightNotice] = "Aurigma Inc.";
    iptc[Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary.Keyword] = "mountain";

    encoderOptions.Iptc = iptc;

    //Adobe resource blocks
    Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.AdobeResourceDictionary adobeResources =
        new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.AdobeResourceDictionary();
    //Create new adobe image resource block with the required metadata
    Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.AdobeResourceBlock arBlock = new
        Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.AdobeResourceBlock("Copyright", new byte[] { 1 });
    //Set this block to the item with 0x040A ID (copyright flag)
    adobeResources[0x040A] = arBlock;

    encoderOptions.AdobeResources = adobeResources;

    //XMP
    Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpData xmp = new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpData();
    //Create a node with the required metadata
    Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpValueNode node = new
        Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpValueNode(
            Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpNodeType.SimpleProperty,
            "John Doe",
            Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpTagNames.DCCreator);
    xmp.AddNode(node);

    encoderOptions.Xmp = xmp.Save();

    bitmap.Save(@"C:\Mountain.tif", encoderOptions);
}
```
 
The code below does the same, but using TiffWriter class:
 
```
Dim bitmap As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap("c:\Mountain.jpg")
Dim writer As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffWriter("C:\Mountain.tif")

'EXIF
Dim exif As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.ExifDictionary
exif(Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.ExifDictionary.Software) = "Aurigma Graphics Mill"

writer.Exif = exif

'IPTC
Dim iptc As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary
iptc(Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary.Category) = "Nature"
iptc(Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary.CopyrightNotice) = "Aurigma Inc."
iptc(Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary.Keyword) = "mountain"

writer.Iptc = iptc

'Adobe resource blocks
Dim adobeResources As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.AdobeResourceDictionary
'Create new adobe image resource block with the required metadata
Dim arBlock As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.AdobeResourceBlock("Copyright", New Byte() {1})
'Set this block to the item with 0x040A ID (copyright flag)
adobeResources.Item(&H40A) = arBlock

writer.AdobeResources = adobeResources

'XMP
Dim xmp As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpData()
'Create a node with the required metadata
Dim node As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpValueNode( _
    Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpNodeType.SimpleProperty, _
    "John Doe", _
    Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpTagNames.DCCreator)
xmp.AddNode(node)

writer.Xmp = xmp.Save()

Dim frame As New Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffFrame(50)

frame.SetBitmap(bitmap)

bitmap.Dispose()

writer.AddFrame(frame)

frame.Dispose()

writer.Dispose()
```
 
```csharp
using (Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap bitmap = 
           new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Bitmap(@"c:\Mountain.jpg"))
{                
    using (Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffWriter writer = 
               new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffWriter(@"C:\Mountain.tif"))
    {
        //EXIF
        Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.ExifDictionary exif =
            new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.ExifDictionary();
        exif[Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.ExifDictionary.Software] = "Aurigma Graphics Mill";

        writer.Exif = exif;
    
        //IPTC
        Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary iptc =
            new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary();
        iptc[Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary.Category] = "Nature";
        iptc[Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary.CopyrightNotice] = "Aurigma Inc.";
        iptc[Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.IptcDictionary.Keyword] = "mountain";

        writer.Iptc = iptc;

        //Adobe resource blocks
        Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.AdobeResourceDictionary adobeResources =
            new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.AdobeResourceDictionary();
        //Create new adobe image resource block with the required metadata
        Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.AdobeResourceBlock arBlock = new
            Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.AdobeResourceBlock("Copyright", new byte[] { 1 });
        //Set this block to the item with 0x040A ID (copyright flag)
        adobeResources[0x040A] = arBlock;

        writer.AdobeResources = adobeResources;

        //XMP
        Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpData xmp = new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpData();
        //Create a node with the required metadata
        Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpValueNode node = new
            Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpValueNode(
                Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpNodeType.SimpleProperty,
                "John Doe",
                Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.XmpTagNames.DCCreator);
        xmp.AddNode(node);

        writer.Xmp = xmp.Save();

        using (Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffFrame frame = 
                   new Aurigma.GraphicsMill.Codecs.TiffFrame(50))
        {
            frame.SetBitmap(bitmap);

            writer.AddFrame(frame);
        }
    }
}
```