Convert PSD to TIFF on Mac
Select the PSD 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 PSD to TIFF with FileFlip
Select the PSD 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 PSD. Type “TIFF” to jump to it.
Choose TIFF and press Return
The TIFF files appear next to the originals with the same names. The PSD files stay as they are.
PSD and TIFF
Most people and websites can’t open a Photoshop file, so it has to be flattened into a regular image to share. 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.
- The layers are flattened into a single image.
| Property | PSD | TIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Photoshop Document | Tagged Image File Format |
| Made by | Adobe | Aldus, now Adobe |
| Introduced | 1990 | 1986 |
| Compression | Lossless | Usually lossless or uncompressed |
| Transparency | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Editing in Photoshop | Printing, scanning and archiving |
| Opens in | Photoshop and some other editors; Preview and Quick Look show a flattened image | Preview, Photoshop and most image editors; most web browsers don’t display it |
| File extension | .psd | .tiff, .tif |
| In FileFlip | Opens | 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 PSD 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.
Terminal
The sips command converts images in place or into a new file.
sips -s format tiff design.psd \
--out design.tiffBuilt into macOS and good for scripts. Run sips --formats to see what your macOS version can read and write.
Questions about PSD and TIFF
Does converting PSD 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 PSD 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 PSD file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert TIFF back to PSD?
No. FileFlip opens PSD files but doesn’t save them.
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