Convert PNG to TIFF on Mac
Select the PNG 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 PNG to TIFF with FileFlip
Select the PNG 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 PNG. Type “TIFF” to jump to it.
Choose TIFF and press Return
The TIFF files appear next to the originals with the same names. The PNG files stay as they are.
PNG and TIFF
PNG is lossless, which makes photos saved as PNG several times larger than they need to be. 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 | PNG | TIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Portable Network Graphics | Tagged Image File Format |
| Made by | PNG Development Group | Aldus, now Adobe |
| Introduced | 1996 | 1986 |
| Compression | Lossless | Usually lossless or uncompressed |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Screenshots, logos, graphics and images with text or transparency | Printing, scanning and archiving |
| Opens in | Everywhere, including every web browser | Preview, Photoshop and most image editors; most web browsers don’t display it |
| File extension | .png | .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 PNG 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 screenshot.png \
--out screenshot.tiffBuilt into macOS and good for scripts. Run sips --formats to see what your macOS version can read and write.
Questions about PNG and TIFF
Does converting PNG 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 PNG 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 PNG file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert TIFF back to PNG?
Yes, FileFlip converts TIFF to PNG 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