Tagged Image File Format (.tif)
TIF, short for Tagged Image File Format, is a flexible and adaptable file format that was introduced in the mid-1980s by Aldus Corporation, now Adobe Systems. Primarily used for storing high-quality raster graphics and images, TIF files are widely adopted in professional environments such as graphic design, medical imaging, and desktop publishing due to their support for lossless compression and extensive metadata capabilities. The format's longevity and adaptability have made it a staple in image archiving and complex image editing tasks, ensuring consistency and high resolution across various platforms and applications.