Printing from TIFF or JPEG files?

[Cadenza]

Ok, so I finally started shooting in RAW in earnest,
and so far I'm enjoying it a lot! It takes a bit more
time in post processing, but boy, sometimes you
feel like GOD with the amount of control it gives
you over some images.

Once you work out the settings, exposure, white
balance etc. you want from the RAW file, you can
save it as a jpeg or the lossless tiff format. If you're
not going planning to mess with the image again, is
there any advantage in printing from a tiff file, as
opposed to a low compression jpeg file? I can't
tell the difference in my six-color Epson 1280, but
was wondering if it makes a difference in other more
advanced printers.

TIFF, of course, takes a lot of space and processing
power, and since I have the RAW file archived, I see
no reason to save processed image in TIFF, unless
it offered substantial benefit in the quality of printed
output. I've searched the net and googled, but the
information I found is a bit ambiguous. Does anyone
have any thoughts on this?

TIA, Cadenza

[Digital Prophet]

I will go out on a limb and say that the average user of the average desktop printer is just as well of with a 300DPI JPG as they are with a 300DPI TIFF. It's just a simple matter of paximum achievable quality. In the home the average non-dedicated printer just cannot reap the benefit of a TIFF at 300DPI. Now, bear in mind, I am referring to LOW compression JPG saved from a TIF. JPG's saved from other JPG will gradually degrade in quality due to thier Lossy nature.

I send my favorite pritns to be printed. Plus I go in and either make fine adjustments or add "artsy fartssy" photoshop touches so for those prints I not only use a 300DPI TIFF but I archive it with the RAW. Files that are just for local printing and do not receive heavy PS work get the JPG treatment. Then I delete it. Those shots only get archived in RAW form. Which isn't a problem since I installed that plugin that lets me preview RAW's in Windows Explorer.

And of course if it is a shto bound for my web gallery only then it is 72DPI JPG. But that goes without saying.

- Digital Prophet -

[scottbergerphoto]

There is no difference as far as printing a jpeg vs a tiff. The problem with jpeg's arises if you edit them alot. Each time you edit a jpeg and resave it, you lose data. If you edit a file as a tiff and then save it to jpeg to use for printing with minimal compresssion that shouldn't be an issue.
Scott

[ejwebb]

Which isn't a problem since I installed that plugin that lets me preview RAW's in Windows Explorer.

What plug-in are you referring to?

[4walls]

I found the dll online at http://www.iphotoforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5031

I followed the directions on that page, refreshed my folder with the CRW
files in it and VOILA... instant thumbnails of my CRW files!