1
\$\begingroup\$

I can't find a way to enable TIFF compression in the files produced by batch export in Canon Digital Photo Professional (currently version 4.2). This means that the generated TIFF files are far larger than I think they need to be. So I have a few questions on this subject:

  • Is there any way to enable lossless TIFF compression in Canon Digital Photo Professional?
  • If not, have Canon explained why they don't support TIFF compression?
  • Do professional photographers tend to maintain their TIFF library without compression?

By the way, I'm talking about 8-bit TIFF files (because I keep the RAW originals alongside them). I have seen that this quick test suggests that compression is actually pointless for 16-bit TIFF files.

Improve this question
\$\endgroup\$
4
  • 2
    \$\begingroup\$ Note that the save speed drops dramatically with compression. Could be a reason why it isn't implemented by DPP. Also, 8bit tiff doesn't really offer much over high quality jpeg. \$\endgroup\$
    – ths
    Commented Apr 2, 2015 at 19:57
  • \$\begingroup\$ @michael-clark: TIFF compression may be both lossless and lossy, JPEG is always (except when resaving image previously compressed with JPEG with optimisations) lossy. The raster JPEG image is just one of variety of data which may be stored using TIFF. In a way, TIFF is a container. \$\endgroup\$
    – Euri Pinhollow
    Commented Apr 8, 2016 at 17:06
  • \$\begingroup\$ @MichaelClark, I'm not sure most of us would consider data loss or irreversibility a minute detail when it comes to compression algorithms, which is why TIFF typically use ZIP or LZW. \$\endgroup\$
    – inkista
    Commented Jul 25, 2018 at 18:46
  • \$\begingroup\$ @inkista Although that was not exactly what I meant by the usage of the word minute, your point is well taken. I've deleted my comments and moved the one that should have been an answer to begin with to an answer. \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Commented Jul 26, 2018 at 6:36

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2
\$\begingroup\$

Is there any way to enable lossless TIFF compression in Canon Digital Photo Professional?

No.

If not, have Canon explained why they don't support TIFF compression?

No.

Do professional photographers tend to maintain their TIFF library without compression?

Most professional photographers I know save RAW files and the final file in whatever format they supply to the customer. Although TIFF was once a more common part of many pros' workflow, the ability of a multitude of photo applications to now work directly with native RAW files has enabled many to skip conversion to TIFF altogether. So most professionals I know do not maintain any sort of TIFF library at all.

Improve this answer
\$\endgroup\$
1
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ I'm not sure why someone down-voted this answer. I upvoted it to cancel the downvote. \$\endgroup\$
    – Tim Campbell
    Commented Jul 18, 2020 at 14:42

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.