Sustainability of Digital Formats
 Planning for Library of Congress Collections

Format Description Categories >> Browse Alphabetical List>> Back

Identification and description

Full name	TIFF, Uncompressed Bitmap
Description	A tag-based file format for storing and interchanging raster images; in this subtype, TIFF wraps an uncompressed bitmap.
Production phase	Most often an initial-state or middle-state format; may serve as final-state format.
Relationship to other formats
Subtype of	TIFF_6, TIFF, Revision 6.0 and earlier
Has subtype	TIFF_UNC_EXIF, TIFF Uncompressed File with Exif Metadata
Contains	Uncompressed image bitmap

Local use

LC experience or existing holdings	See TIFF_6.
LC preference	One of the preferred formats for bitmapped images.

Sustainability factors

Disclosure	See TIFF_6
Documentation	See TIFF_6
Adoption	TIFF_UNC is widely deployed in digital library projects as a master format. Not supported by all browsers in native format but, as of early 2004, new PC configurations tend to include a viewer. TIFF_UNC is preferred for raster images in the list of FCLA recommended formats (Florida Center for Library Automation; www.fcla.edu/digitalArchive/pdfs/recFormats.pdf).
Licensing and patents	None for TIFF_UNC
Transparency	Transparent.
Self-documentation	For capability from the TIFF specification itself, see TIFF_6. For a valuable extension, see TIFF_UNC_EXIF.
External dependencies	None
Technical protection considerations	None

Quality and functionality factors

Still Image
Normal rendering	Good support.
Clarity (high image resolution)	See TIFF_6
Color maintenance	See TIFF_6
Support for graphic effects and typography	See TIFF_6
Functionality beyond normal rendering	See TIFF_6

File type signifiers

Tag	Value	Note
Filename extension	See related format.	See TIFF_6
Internet Media Type	See related format.	See TIFF_6
Magic numbers	See related format.	See TIFF_6

Notes

General
History

Format specifications

• See TIFF_6

Useful references

URLs

• Recommended Data Formats for Preservation Purposes in the Florida Digital Archive (http://www.fcla.edu/digitalArchive/pdfs/recFormats.pdf). From FCLA (Florida Center for Library Automation).

• See TIFF_6