TIFF versus PDF: What are the differences?
Many people have been arguing about which is the better electronic document storage format—TIFF or PDF. It should be understood that this choice is rather critical since storage, sharing and indexing of information can have far-reaching consequences on an organization that handles sensitive information like patient data. For instance, all the US healthcare entities and associated businesses require a very secure and cost-effective digitalized information system that is in conformation with stringent government healthcare bodies like the HIPAA. The PDF format has now been endorsed by the ISO. PDF was introduced by Adobe in 1993. The TIFF Format was presented by the Aldus Corporation in the 1980s. TIFF specifications are now provided by Adobe.
File Format Overview
A PDF file format is regarded as more comprehensive when compared with TIFF. PDF files can encapsulate greater, more detailed descriptions, including fonts, text, images, and vector graphics. PDF file formats support most types of JPEG files apart from JBIG2, Group 3 & 4 images. PDF format is more capable of rendering smaller, more accurately detailed files when compared to TIFF, making it a preferred choice for document conversion services. The major differences between PDF and TIFF include:
File Size Comparison
Please note that the standard PDF file is usually smaller than a TIFF image of the same document. This size variation is more applicable to colored documents. If the fonts are embedded in the PDF file, like in the more editable PDF file or PDF/A, the size of the PDF file can be increased. Thus, the same document will contain fewer pages as compared to conventional PDF but still more than the number of pages formed through TIFF. The difference in file size can vary more if different types of compression techniques are used. Usually, a Group 4 type TIFF file is a bit smaller than its PDF equivalent. This applies when the images in the PDF file also use Group 4 compression techniques for compressing the images. However, if the comparative PDF file is using contemporary compression schemes like JBIG2 compression or JPEG 2000 or MRC compression, the size of the PDF file can be compressed significantly more, which is why PDF conversion services are often utilized to optimize file sizes.
Searchability and Longevity
Overall, PDF files are more search-friendly than TIFF formats. Most searchable PDF files are about 5 to 10% bigger than their TIFF equivalents. Most experts opine that since TIFF was introduced earlier and adopted more instantaneously, its availability is likely to be unchallenged for some time. However, long-term archiving requirements indicate that the balance swings towards PDF/A standards. In fact, most document imaging and scanning experts opine that PDF is the clear winner if longevity of file archiving has to be evaluated. With PDF/A attaining ISO endorsement, i.e., the ISO 19005-1:2005, PDF is likely to emerge as the unchallenged winner in long-term archiving requirements. Please note that TIFF was designed with the sole aim of purely storing images and not text. Thus, the standard TIFF file is searchable only if there is an OCR for creating a separate text file. This means added, additional indexing requirements. Even the most searchable TIFFs aren’t as searchable as PDF files. PDF was aimed at providing 100% searchability, and this is its major advantage. Few PDF files are ‘image-only,’ but all PDF files can be easily indexed & searched.
Document Portability and Security
TIFF never had comprehensive security tools. Unlike PDF, it cannot limit users, and thus, its use for sensitive information like patient data or other types of healthcare data is not recommended. PDF can be used for allowing or limiting access as PDF has an advanced security options system. Using PDF, the organization can even establish access passwords.
Metadata Usage
TIFF files do provide the option of using TIFF Tags. However, this is limited to storing simple metadata. In comparison, PDF allows more sophisticated kinds of metadata, such as that created through XML that is embedded in PDF, making PDF’s searchability greater.
Saved Document Accessibility
The structure of PDF documents is such that it allows more effective use of supportive technologies like the use of screen readers. TIFF has a more traditional and restrictive document structure.
Image Document Structure
Most TIFF files don’t include any room for customizing document structure except for sequencing the pages, which is rather basic. PDF documents are more advanced in comparison, providing room for inserting Tags, Annotations, Bookmarks, and Hyperlinks.
Presentation Quality
The typical PDF files offer superior quality in terms of viewing and printing documents. TIFF files use bitmaps that inherently have a limited resolution.
Web Delivery Suitability
Most contemporary digitalized document file formats, including TIFF and PDF, are supported across all the usual web browsers. The presence of free Adobe Reader means that viewing such documents is not much of an issue. However, it has been established that PDF files can be web-optimized to a greater extent. This means that the files can be linearized to a greater extent. With greater optimization, web delivery of PDF files to dedicated plug-ins is a lot easier and faster. Thus, when compared to TIFF files, PDF files are likely to be displayed faster.
Legal Acceptability
Legal admissibility of electronically saved documents is a major criterion when deciding upon a kind of document scanning-cum-saving format. The regulations associated with electronic documents tend to vary a lot, but largely, both TIFF and PDF files are acceptable if the underlying clauses for the use of such documentation methods are followed. However, increasingly, most authorities have started to prefer the PDF format, with PDF format now being regulated by the ISO and even credible government agencies like the US healthcare regulatory organizations (HIPAA) openly endorsing the utility of using PDF for saving patient/healthcare data.