How to convert TIFF scans to JPG or PNG

TIFF scans can be large, and some websites or messaging apps do not accept them. Converting a scan to JPG usually makes it easier to share, while PNG can keep small text and line art looking crisp.

Use the Image Converter to convert up to 50 images at once in your browser. You can keep your original TIFF files and check the converted pictures before sending them.

Convert the TIFF scans

1. Open the Image Converter and add the TIFF scans from your device.
2. Check the file list. Confirm that the files you meant to convert are there, especially if you added several scans at once.
3. Choose JPG for photographs and general sharing, or PNG for pages with small print, diagrams, or sharp black-and-white lines.
4. Start the conversion and wait for the converted pictures to appear.
5. Save the converted files to your device. Open a few, including the first and last in a batch, and check that they are readable before sharing them.

Keep the TIFF originals until you know the converted files look right. Conversion changes the image format, not the words on the page, so a picture of a document will not become searchable or editable text by itself.

Choose the right format for the scan

Choose JPG for photos and smaller files

JPG is widely supported by websites, email, and messaging apps. It is often a good choice for scanned photographs or pages where a smaller, easy-to-send file matters more than preserving every pixel exactly. JPG uses lossy compression, which means it discards some image detail to reduce file size. On a page with tiny letters, repeated lines, or fine marks, that can make edges look less clean.

Choose PNG for text and line art

PNG is a good choice when the scan contains fine print, diagrams, signatures, or crisp black lines. It uses lossless compression, so the conversion does not add the same kind of compression loss as JPG. PNG files can be larger than JPG files, though the final size depends on the image.

The output looks softer or different

Compare the converted picture with the original TIFF at the same zoom level. Small text and thin lines are easiest to assess at normal viewing size and at 100 percent zoom. If a JPG makes letters look rough or smudged, convert that scan to PNG instead. A color shift can also come from how an image viewer displays color, so check the file in another viewer before deciding the conversion is wrong.

There are fewer pictures than expected

Some TIFF files contain more than one page. Check how many pages the original contains and make sure the converted files include the pages you need. Do not assume that one converted picture always represents every page in a multi-page TIFF. If a page is missing, try converting that source file on its own and inspect the result before sending it.

Fix common conversion problems

1. Convert one file first. If a large batch does not finish or a result is missing, try one TIFF by itself. This helps tell whether the problem is a particular file or the size of the batch.
2. Check the source file. Make sure the scan really is a TIFF file, rather than another format with a renamed extension. If it will not open in an image viewer, the file may be damaged or incomplete. Get a fresh copy from the scanner or the person who sent it.
3. Use PNG for difficult text. If letters look rough in a JPG, convert the original TIFF to PNG. Do not convert the JPG result to PNG and expect the lost detail to return. Start again from the TIFF.
4. Try a smaller batch. If many files are being converted, split them into groups and repeat the process. Large images take longer to handle, and a smaller group makes it easier to spot a file that causes a problem.
5. Check that the saved picture is complete. Open each output you plan to share, and confirm that it is not blank, cropped, or missing a page. Keep the original scan if the output does not match it.
6. Use JPG when the receiver rejects PNG. Some forms and services accept only certain formats. If PNG is refused, make a JPG copy from the original TIFF and try that instead. Keep the clearer version for your own records.

Conversion does not improve the scan

A format change can make a file more convenient to share, but it cannot restore text that was blurry in the original scan or add detail that the scanner did not capture. If the letters are already hard to read in the TIFF, scan the paper again at a higher resolution, keep the page flat, and check focus and lighting before converting. For an important document, compare the new scan with the paper to make sure no marks or page edges are missing.

The Image Converter runs in your browser, and your files stay on your device.