Convert GIF to TIFF on Mac
Select the GIF files in Finder, press ⌥ F, choose TIFF and press Return. FileFlip saves each TIFF next to its original and works without an internet connection.
How to convert GIF to TIFF with FileFlip
Select the GIF files
In Finder or on the Desktop. One file, or a whole folder with ⌘ A.
Press ⌥ F
FileFlip opens next to the selection and lists the formats it can make from GIF. Type “TIFF” to jump to it.
Choose TIFF and press Return
The TIFF files appear next to the originals with the same names. The GIF files stay as they are.
GIF and TIFF
GIF is limited to 256 colors and makes large files. TIFF is lossless and accepted by print shops and archives.
What changes when you convert
- Both formats are lossless, so the image itself doesn’t change. Only file size and compatibility do.
| Property | GIF | TIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Graphics Interchange Format | Tagged Image File Format |
| Made by | CompuServe | Aldus, now Adobe |
| Introduced | 1987 | 1986 |
| Compression | Lossless, up to 256 colors | Usually lossless or uncompressed |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Short animations and simple graphics | Printing, scanning and archiving |
| Opens in | Everywhere, including browsers and chat apps | Preview, Photoshop and most image editors; most web browsers don’t display it |
| File extension | .gif | .tiff, .tif |
| In FileFlip | Opens and saves | Opens and saves |
Other ways on a Mac
For one file now and then you may not need FileFlip. These work with what’s already on your Mac.
Preview
Open the GIF in Preview, choose File → Export, pick TIFF from the Format menu and click Save. For several files, open them together, select all thumbnails in the sidebar and choose File → Export Selected Images.
Good for a few files now and then.
Photos
If the pictures are in your Photos library, select them, choose File → Export → Export Photos and set Photo Kind to TIFF.
Good for pictures already in your library.
Terminal
The sips command converts images in place or into a new file.
sips -s format tiff animation.gif \
--out animation.tiffBuilt into macOS and good for scripts. Run sips --formats to see what your macOS version can read and write.
Questions about GIF and TIFF
Does converting GIF to TIFF lose quality?
Both formats are lossless, so the image itself doesn’t change. Only file size and compatibility do.
Can I convert many GIF files at once?
Yes. Select them all in Finder, press ⌥ F and choose TIFF. Progress moves to the menu bar, so you can close the panel and keep working.
Where is the TIFF file saved?
Next to the original, with the same name and the .tiff extension. The GIF file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert TIFF back to GIF?
Yes, FileFlip converts TIFF to GIF as well.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. FileFlip converts files on your Mac and works with the internet turned off.
Convert a whole folder of images at once
FileFlip also handles video, audio, PDFs, documents and data files. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Coming soon for Mac