Free TIFF test files and sample generator
High-quality raster format supporting lossless compression. Common in printing, scanning and archival.
What is a .tiff file?
TIFF: Tagged Image File Format. TIFF is the format of scanning, faxing, printing and archival imaging. It is a container with a tag directory, capable of many layouts, so TIFF support in libraries varies widely.
Why generate a test TIFF file?
- Test document-scanning or OCR intake pipelines.
- Check that your image library handles TIFF's tag structure.
- Verify handling of an uncompressed, print-oriented image.
What you can put inside a .tiff file
You get 3 content options for TIFF, so the file holds something meaningful rather than random padding: Solid color, Gradient, Checkerboard. For TIFF these are alternatives, so choose the one that matches what you need to test.
How a .tiff file is identified
Every .tiff file begins with 49 49 2A 00, "II" for little-endian byte order, then 42, the answer, chosen deliberately by TIFF's authors. That is what a validator inspecting content rather than the file name looks for.
How the size lands on the exact byte
Width is fixed at 64 pixels and the height carries the size, so the image stays a sensible rectangle rather than a one-pixel strip.
Negative testing with broken TIFF files
- Invalid. Identifiable, but wrong inside, so it fails during parsing.
- Corrupted. The leading bytes are destroyed, so the
49 49 2A 00identifying a .tiff is gone. Same length as the valid file. - Incomplete. Truncated part-way, so it is genuinely shorter.
- Empty. Chosen under Content rather than File Condition: valid structure, no data.
Which failure to reach for, and what to assert for each, is covered in how to make a corrupted file for testing. For upload limits and type checks see testing file upload validation.
Sample TIFF content
[Binary image], 300 DPI, lossless, RGB/CMYK.
This shows the shape of the file. Your download is generated fresh at the size you choose, so the values will differ.
How to open and verify the file
Open in an image viewer or Photoshop; inspect with `tiffinfo file.tiff`.
Media type image/tiff · extension .tiff · category Images
Generate a .tiff file → · questions about sizes, privacy or cost are answered on the site FAQ.
Frequently asked questions about TIFF files
What identifies a .tiff file?
A .tiff file begins with the bytes 49 49 2A 00, "II" for little-endian byte order, then 42, the answer, chosen deliberately by TIFF's authors. Those bytes are what a content-sniffing validator looks for, and what the Corrupted condition destroys.
How can a .tiff file be an exact number of bytes?
Width is fixed at 64 pixels and the height carries the size, so the image stays a sensible rectangle rather than a one-pixel strip.
What can go inside the TIFF file?
There are 3 content options for .tiff: Solid color, Gradient, Checkerboard. For TIFF these are alternatives, so pick the one matching what you need to test.
Can I download several broken TIFF files at once?
Yes, select more than one File Condition and you get one ZIP containing a .tiff per condition, each named after its condition.
Can the TIFF file use UTF-16 or a byte-order mark?
No, and deliberately. A .tiff file is a container rather than plain text, so rewriting its bytes as UTF-16 would not produce a UTF-16 document. It would produce a broken file. Use a text format such as CSV, JSON or XML for encoding tests.
How do I open or verify the TIFF file?
Open in an image viewer or Photoshop; inspect with tiffinfo file.tiff.