TIFF or Tagged Image File Format is a raster graphics format that is used in many different areas. Originally developed for scanners, only grayscale rendering was supported. Later on color representations were also implemented.

Because of the flexibility of the TIFF format different image files and other information can be stored in a single file. It is also very well suited for data archiving, as it is possible to store images and graphics with lossless compression. This means that images can be edited and saved again without image degradation, which distinguishes TIFF from JPG and similar lossy formats.

Advantages:

- lossless storage, well suited for archiving

- widely used

Disadvantages:

- High complexity, as many different specifications exist

- Relatively large file size

https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/content/still_preferences.shtml

https://www.dpconline.org/handbook/technical-solutions-and-tools/file-formats-and-standards

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documents/information-management/graphic-file-formats.pdf