TIFF to SVG Converter

Encoding: the TIFF uses none, LZW, PackBits, Deflate or JPEG, chosen per file; SVG uses XML text describing paths, shapes and text, sometimes gzipped as .svgz, and the download is an SVG traced into vector paths (or, if you prefer, the pixels embedded in an SVG wrapper).

Bit depth: 1 to 16 bits per channel, or 32-bit floating point in the TIFF; SVG allows not fixed: coordinates and colours are continuous values, and the SVG written here has vector paths with flat colours. 16-bit and floating-point TIFFs are reduced to 8 bits per channel.

Colour: RGB, CMYK, Lab, greyscale or palette, often with an ICC profile in the TIFF; SVG supports sRGB by default, other spaces through CSS colour functions, written here as flat colour regions.

Transparency: the TIFF stores it as an extra sample declared in the ExtraSamples tag; the SVG keeps it as opacity on any element, with anti-aliased edges.

Other images: the TIFF can hold several pages, each in its own image file directory; only the main image is converted.

Metadata: the TIFF can carry EXIF, XMP, IPTC and ICC, all stored as tags; SVG can carry title, description and RDF metadata elements, but nothing is copied across.

TIFF is the professional archive and print format. It can hold multiple pages, high bit depths and lossless data, and is common in scanning, publishing and GIS.

A TIFF begins with 'II' or 'MM' for the byte order and the number 42, then an offset to the first image file directory (IFD): a table of tags giving the size, compression, colour model and the location of the strips or tiles of pixels. Each further page is another IFD.

TIFF files usually come from scanners, print and publishing workflows, photo archives and tethered camera capture.

SVG describes shapes, paths and text as XML instead of pixels, so it stays crisp at any size. It is the standard for logos, icons and illustrations on the web.

An SVG is an XML document: a root <svg> element with a viewBox, then paths, shapes, text, gradients and filters. It can also embed raster images and, dangerously, scripts, which is why untrusted SVG is sanitized before rendering here.

SVG is the better choice for logos, icons and illustrations, while TIFF suits printing, scanning and archival masters.

SVG strengths: Infinitely scalable and sharp; Tiny files for logos and icons; Editable as text and styleable with CSS. Drawbacks to weigh: Not suitable for photographs; Can contain scripts, so untrusted SVG must be sanitized; Many apps and social sites will not accept it.