TIFF to SVG Converter

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) is the standard for professional photography deliverables, scanned archival documents, and print-production assets. It stores image data losslessly at full bit depth, which is why it is the preferred exchange format between photographers, retouchers, and print labs. When a TIFF needs to travel into an SVG-based workflow — embedded in a design document, placed on an SVG canvas in a web interface, or included in a vector application as a background layer — this converter wraps the TIFF pixel data in an SVG container that those tools can accept.

The output is an embedded raster SVG: the TIFF image is decoded, and its pixel data is base64-encoded as an <image> element inside the SVG file. The conversion does not trace the image into vector paths; it preserves the photographic content exactly. What changes is the format envelope — the resulting SVG file is accepted by tools and workflows that require SVG input while keeping the original image fidelity intact.

How to convert TIFF to SVG

1. Click Choose file or drag your TIFF file onto the upload area. Maximum upload size is 20 MB.
2. The converter processes the file server-side using ImageMagick and produces an SVG output.
3. Click Download to save the SVG file to your computer.

Technical details

Conversion is handled by ImageMagick server-side. The TIFF is decoded — including support for multi-layer and compressed TIFF variants — and the pixel data is base64-encoded into an SVG <image> element. The SVG canvas dimensions match the source pixel dimensions. TIFF metadata (EXIF, IPTC, XMP) is stripped during conversion; the SVG output contains only image data. For multi-page TIFF files, only the first page is converted. Maximum upload size is 20 MB; large print-resolution TIFFs (300 DPI A3 or larger) frequently exceed this — resize or reduce resolution before uploading if needed.

Because the pixel data is base64-encoded inside SVG (a text format), the resulting SVG file is typically larger than the source TIFF. This is expected: base64 encoding expands binary data by roughly 33%, and SVG has no built-in compression layer. If file size is the priority, WEBP or AVIF are more efficient output formats for photographic content.

When TIFF to SVG is the right conversion

• SVG-only design systems. Some component libraries and design systems use SVG as the sole image type. Wrapping a TIFF in SVG brings print-quality photography into that system without reformatting the pipeline.
• Web delivery of scanned documents. Scanned archival images or certificates often arrive as TIFF. Converting to SVG allows them to be embedded in a web page or SVG-based document viewer that supports panning and zooming without quality loss.
• Inkscape or Affinity Designer background layers. Placing a TIFF directly into a vector document as a background requires format compatibility. An SVG-wrapped TIFF imports cleanly as an embedded raster object.
• Presentations and reports. LibreOffice, Keynote, and some enterprise document tools accept SVG where they may reject TIFF. Converting the TIFF to SVG resolves the format mismatch without degrading image quality to JPEG levels.

Frequently asked questions

Does this create a true vector image from the TIFF?

No. Automatic vectorisation — converting the photograph into filled paths and shapes — requires dedicated tracing software such as Potrace or Adobe Illustrator's Image Trace. This converter embeds the TIFF pixel data inside an SVG container. The photo renders exactly as it would from the original TIFF, just wrapped in a format SVG tools can open.

What happens to colour profiles in the TIFF?

Embedded ICC colour profiles (AdobeRGB, sRGB, CMYK) are not carried into the SVG output. ImageMagick converts the pixel data to sRGB during the conversion. If colour-managed output for print is required, the TIFF should be processed in a colour-managed application rather than converted here.

Can I convert a multi-page TIFF (like a scanned document)?

Only the first page is extracted. Multi-page TIFF files are common from flatbed scanner output and fax archives. For a full multi-page document, split the TIFF into individual pages before uploading, or use this converter on each page separately.

My TIFF is over 20 MB — what can I do?

Print-resolution TIFF files (300 DPI at A4 or larger) routinely exceed 50 MB. Reduce the resolution in Photoshop, GIMP, or Preview (Mac) before uploading: for web use, 72–150 DPI is sufficient. Alternatively, export a JPEG from the TIFF first and use the JPG to SVG converter — the resulting SVG will be smaller with no visible quality difference for most use cases.