Best file format for scanned photos: TIFF vs JPEG
What the Library of Congress and a state historical society say
The Library of Congress guide says to save a color scan as a medium-quality JPEG, or a high-quality JPEG if you want to reprint the photo or make 8x10 enlargements. The Minnesota Historical Society is more cautious: JPEG throws away picture data to make a smaller file, so you always lose some quality when saving, even at 100 percent. TIFF is a lossless standard used by museums for archiving but makes huge files that are not shareable on the web or devices, so many organizations use a TIFF for the archive copy and a JPEG for the access copy. PNG is lossless with built-in compression and works on more devices, but older Microsoft systems support it less widely, and it saves space over TIFF.
| Format | Compression | Best use, per the sources |
|---|---|---|
| TIFF | Lossless, large files | Archive master copy |
| PNG | Lossless, smaller than TIFF | Lossless copy when space is limited and the software supports it |
| JPEG | Lossy, small files | Sharing, access copy, everyday use; high-quality setting for reprints and 8x10 enlargements |
Why file size matters before you upload
This is arithmetic: a 4x6 print scanned at 600 ppi is 2400 x 3600 pixels, and saved as an uncompressed 24-bit TIFF it is about 26 MB. Reviva accepts JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC and TIFF files up to 12 MB each, so an uncompressed 600 ppi TIFF of a 4x6 print is over the limit. Keep the TIFF as your master and save a high-quality JPEG copy to upload.
Color or grayscale for black and white photos
The two sources differ. The Library of Congress describes grayscale as best for black and white photographs; the Minnesota Historical Society recommends scanning every photo in color, even sepia and black and white ones, because color files hold more detail and you can convert color to gray but not the reverse. If you plan to restore or colorize, scan in color.
Do not overwrite your original scan
The Minnesota Historical Society says that when you edit, crop or resample, you should not overwrite the original file; save edits under a new file name. The same applies to a restored version: keep the scan and the restored file as separate files.
A simple workflow
Scan at 300 to 600 ppi in color. Save a TIFF as the master. Make a high-quality JPEG from it for sharing and for restoration. Name files with the date first. Keep three copies on two kinds of storage with one off site.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best file format to save scanned photos?
Many organizations keep a TIFF as the archive copy and a JPEG as the access copy, according to the Minnesota Historical Society. The Library of Congress suggests a medium-quality JPEG, or high-quality if you will reprint or enlarge to 8x10.
Does saving a scan as JPEG lose quality?
Yes. The Minnesota Historical Society says JPEG discards picture data to make a smaller file, so some quality is lost every time you save, even at 100 percent quality.
Can I upload a TIFF to Reviva?
Yes, TIFF is accepted, but each file must be 12 MB or smaller. A high-resolution uncompressed TIFF often exceeds that, so save a high-quality JPEG copy to upload and keep the TIFF as your master.
Should I scan black and white photos in color or grayscale?
The Library of Congress calls grayscale best for black and white photographs, while the Minnesota Historical Society recommends color for every photo because it records more detail and can be converted to gray later.