Convert files online
Convert files online
When to convert ARW to TIFF
ARW is the RAW format used by Sony cameras. Only specialized programs can open it, and you cannot hand it to a print shop, an online print service, or a retoucher as-is. TIFF is the industry standard for professional printing, long-term archiving, and multi-stage editing: it stores the image without quality loss, is supported by every serious editor, and is accepted by photo labs and print shops.
TIFF is the right choice when a photo is headed for serious work rather than quick publication: retouching, print submission, or storage in an archive for decades.
What changes after conversion
TIFF locks the shot into a finished raster image: brightness, white balance, and color are written into pixels. The ARW headroom for radical reworking from scratch is gone. But unlike JPG, PNG, or WebP, TIFF stores the image without quality loss: repeated opens and saves do not degrade quality, and artifacts do not accumulate.
TIFF supports greater bit depth than JPG or PNG. This matters during further editing - color corrections, work on shadows and highlights - gradients remain smooth without banding.
A TIFF file is significantly larger than a JPG from the same shot. For storing a large everyday archive this can be a significant storage cost.
When this is especially useful
- Submitting a shot to a print shop or photo lab for large-format printing.
- Handing a file to a retoucher for multi-stage editing without artifact accumulation.
- Building a long-term archive of important shots in an open and reliable format.
- Preparing a photo for a photobook or premium photo album.
- Submitting a product or still-life reproduction for accurate color reproduction.
Common tasks and search situations
- Convert ARW to TIFF for submission to a print shop.
- Convert Sony RAW to TIFF for large-format printing.
- Get a TIFF from ARW for a professional retoucher.
- Prepare a shot for a photobook in TIFF format.
- Archive important Sony shots in lossless TIFF.
- Convert ARW to TIF for print production.
- Deliver a still-life reproduction in TIFF with a color profile.
What to check before converting
- Ask the print shop or retoucher which color profile they prefer - printing often needs Adobe RGB, while archiving typically uses sRGB.
- Check available storage: a TIFF from a high-resolution Sony shot takes up much more space than a JPG.
- Keep the original ARW files: TIFF gives a large headroom for corrections, but it is not RAW - white balance is fixed and the sensor headroom is not preserved.
- For internet publishing and email, use JPG - TIFF does not open in browsers.
Format and conversion limits
TIFF is not supported by web browsers (except Safari) and is not accepted by social networks or messaging apps. For web publishing and email, TIFF is not the right choice - use JPG instead.
Conversion from ARW locks the shot in its current state. Blown highlights or underexposure carry over to TIFF unchanged. TIFF is not RAW: deep reworking from scratch is less flexible than in ARW. Keep the originals.
If the file is damaged or protected, conversion may not complete.
Related tasks
For viewing, sending to clients, and uploading to platforms, ARW to JPG is more convenient - smaller and accepted everywhere. For web publishing with minimal file size, ARW to WebP. For a lossless format that is smaller for intermediate editing, consider ARW to PNG.
What is ARW to TIFF conversion used for
Print submission for large-format output
Photographers hand landscapes, portraits, and reproductions to photo labs for printing on canvas or large-format photo paper. Lossless TIFF ensures smooth tonal transitions and accurate color reproduction in the print.
Multi-stage retouching and layer work
Wedding and portrait photographers hand top ARW shots to retouchers as TIFF. The lossless format preserves headroom for color correction and editing without artifact accumulation.
Long-term archive of important shots
Photos of significant events are saved in TIFF for a long-term archive. The open standard with decades of history guarantees the file will open in twenty years without data loss.
Creating photobooks and premium photo albums
Professional photobook printing services accept TIFF as the maximum quality format for spread layouts. Especially important for albums with portraits and complex tonal transitions.
Reproductions for catalogs
Photographers shoot subjects in controlled conditions and save in TIFF with the appropriate ICC profile for catalogs, archives, and scientific publications.
Delivery to a magazine or advertising agency
Publishers and advertising agencies accept photos in TIFF for catalog and magazine layout. Converting ARW to TIFF makes the file ready for print delivery.
Tips for converting ARW to TIFF
Use TIFF for final versions, JPG for everyday work
TIFF takes up significantly more space than JPG. Convert to TIFF only shots headed for print, retouching, or a long-term archive. For viewing and sending to clients, use JPG in parallel.
Ask the recipient about the color profile
Print shops often need a specific ICC profile. Ask your file recipient about their preferred color space and compression mode - this avoids problems in prepress.
Keep the original ARW files regardless
TIFF provides a large headroom for corrections, but it is not RAW. If you need fundamental reworking of a shot in a few years, you will need the original ARW. Keep the originals as your digital negative.
Choose JPG or WebP for the web
TIFF does not open in browsers (except Safari) and is not accepted by social networks. For web publishing and email, convert ARW directly to JPG or WebP - do not use TIFF as an intermediate step.