How to Turn RAW and TIFF Files Into Web-Friendly Images
RAW and TIFF are generally production and archival materials; JPEG, WebP, and AVIF are delivery formats. Preserve the master and generate a copy for a defined destination.
RAW, TIFF, and web formats serve different jobs
RAW preserves sensor data and development latitude. TIFF is often used for high bit depth, intermediate production, or lossless delivery. Their size and compatibility rarely suit a website. JPEG, WebP, and AVIF trade more aggressive encoding for compact viewing and distribution.
Turning RAW into a web image is not merely compression. White balance, exposure, tone mapping, color space, and orientation can be interpreted during decoding. Important photography should receive its intended look in a familiar development application first.
A master-to-delivery workflow
- Preserve the source RAW and record the development application and version for the project.
- Complete exposure, white balance, crop, and color decisions; export a high-quality TIFF or JPEG master.
- In tinysqueeze, choose the longest edge required by the website, such as 1920px or 2560px.
- Test WebP or JPEG for photos; use AVIF when the site maintains a fallback.
- Inspect color, gradients, shadows, and sharpening before uploading the delivery copy.
Choosing the delivery format
| Destination | Format starting point | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Universal download/client proof | High-quality JPEG | Broad compatibility |
| Modern website photo | WebP with JPEG fallback | Strong size and maintenance balance |
| Image-heavy page | AVIF/WebP with fallback | Can reduce transfer further |
| Continued editing/print | TIFF/RAW | Preserves production latitude |
Details to check before release
- Correct orientation, especially when the camera file relies on EXIF rotation.
- Consistent sRGB or wide-gamut appearance on destination browsers and devices.
- No broken shadow transitions or bands in skies and gradients.
- Intentional metadata retention/removal and no loss of required rights information.
- Readable delivery filenames with a traceable mapping to source assets.
References
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