When should I convert RAW to TIFF?

[curiousgeorge]

I've always converted them to JPG for exposure blending.

What benefits would there be to using TIF?

[Ade H]

I only convert to TIFF and it stays in that format unless and until the image is intended (and ready) to be published online, at which point, I will make a resized JPEG version of my finished edit. All editing is done on the TIFF, because they are uncompressed (or compressed in a lossless format if you need it).

[Bobster]

i always convert my RAW to 16bit TIFF after doing all i can in CaptureOne, i then take it into Photoshop to make further changes

[curiousgeorge]

Thanks, so basically it's better to do all your editing on the TIFF rather than the jpg.

I wander how visible the difference between an edited TIFF and an edited JPG at 100%.

My TIFF was 47MB compared with 8MB for the JPG. That's a ridiculous size!

[Damo77]

I wander how visible the difference between an edited TIFF and an edited JPG at 100%.

Once all the editing's been done, and if the jpeg has been saved at maximum quality (10-12), then there's no visible difference unless you're looking really REALLY hard.

But it would be unwise to save a jpeg when there's still work to be done on it - each time you open and resave a jpeg, there's some more degradation due to compression, plus any edits you make (eg curves/levels) may introduce the risk of banding, noise etc.

I rarely use tiffs at all these days. My working files are PSDs, and my output files are jpegs.

[curiousgeorge]

each time you open and resave a jpeg, there's some more degradation due to compression, plus any edits you make (eg curves/levels) may introduce the risk of banding, noise etc.

I rarely use tiffs at all these days. My working files are PSDs, and my output files are jpegs.
Thanks. That's why I try to do most of my editing before saving.

What's PSD?

[Damo77]

Photoshop Document. It's Photoshop's native file format - the grand master of file formats, as it were.

[curiousgeorge]

I see. Paint Shop Pro has .psp format, though it also has .psd.

[Ade H]

[...] My TIFF was 47MB compared with 8MB for the JPG. [...]

Those of us who do not use Photoshop CS3 are better off avoiding 16bits per channel because it leaves a lot of important tools and brushes unusable in most editors. Stick with 8bit files, which will also be half the size of your 47MB.

[curiousgeorge]

Thanks, I didn't know that.

[tzalman]

Those of us who do not use Photoshop CS3 are better off avoiding 16bits per channel because it leaves a lot of important tools and brushes unusable in most editors. Stick with 8bit files, which will also be half the size of your 47MB.
It is possible to arrange your workflow to do first edits that involve significant tonal and color shifts in 16 bit and then reduce it to 8 bits for those edits where bit depth is less important, such as sharpening, cloning, healing, etc. (BTW, my personal favorite editor Picture Window Pro has had complete 16 bit support since I first purchased it 7 years ago - the deal maker for me back then.)

If, however, you are forced to do all post-converter editing in 8 bit, try to do as much as possible in the converter before moving on since that will be done in 12/14 bit.