Convert TIFF to JPG on Mac

Why convert TIFF to JPG?

Reduce file sizes by 90-95% — a 50MB TIFF scan becomes 2-3MB as JPG
Universal compatibility — JPG opens on every device and in every app
Batch convert entire folders of scanned documents and professional photos
Adjustable quality from 60-100% for the right size-to-quality balance
Preserved EXIF metadata including camera settings and color profiles
All processing happens locally on your Mac — no upload limits

TIFF vs JPG file sizes

File Type	TIFF	JPG	Note
Scanned document (300 DPI, A4)	25 MB	1.8 MB	93% smaller
Professional photo (24MP RAW export)	48 MB	3.2 MB	93% smaller
High-res scan (600 DPI)	95 MB	5.5 MB	94% smaller
Film scan (4000 DPI frame)	72 MB	4.1 MB	94% smaller

Conversion speed: 100 TIFF files in ~3 minutes on Apple Silicon

When to convert TIFF to JPG

Sharing scanned documents by email

Scanned TIFF documents at 300 DPI are 20-30MB each — too large for most email services. Convert to JPG for files under 2MB that send instantly.

Archiving professional photos for everyday access

Keep TIFF originals for print, but create JPG versions for your photo library, sharing, and quick browsing. A 1TB TIFF archive becomes ~50GB in JPG.

Uploading scans to document management systems

Most document management systems and cloud storage have file size limits. TIFF to JPG conversion lets you upload scans without hitting size caps.

Creating web versions of print materials

Have TIFF files from your print designer? Convert to JPG for web versions of brochures, flyers, and marketing materials.

How to convert TIFF to JPG on Mac

1

Open Picmal

Download and open Picmal on your Mac.

2

Add your TIFF files

Drag and drop your TIFF files or entire folders into Picmal.

3

Select JPG and convert

Choose JPG as the output format and click Convert.

TIFF vs JPG

.tiff

TIFF

Tagged Image File Format

Professional image format originally developed by Aldus and now maintained by Adobe. TIFF supports lossless compression, 16-bit and 32-bit color depth, and is the de facto standard for prepress and archival imaging workflows.

Best for

Print publishing, professional photography, archival

.jpg

JPG

Joint Photographic Experts Group

The most widely supported image format, standardized as ITU-T T.81 in 1992. JPG (also called JPEG) is compatible with virtually every device and application, and remains the universal default for photographic content.

Best for

Sharing photos, web uploads, and email attachments

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert TIFF to JPG on Mac?

Open Picmal, drag your TIFF files or folders into the window, select JPG as the output format, adjust quality, and click Convert. Picmal handles files of any size locally on your Mac.

How much smaller will JPG files be compared to TIFF?

JPG files are typically 90-95% smaller than TIFF. A 50MB TIFF scan becomes 2-3MB as JPG at 90% quality. Even at 95% quality, you'll see 85%+ reduction.

Does converting TIFF to JPG lose quality?

Yes — JPG uses lossy compression. At 90-95% quality, the difference from the original TIFF is invisible for photographs. For images with fine text, use 95%+ quality to keep text sharp.

Can I convert multi-page TIFF files?

Picmal extracts each page from multi-page TIFF files and converts them individually to JPG, so you get one JPG per page.

Will converting TIFF to JPG affect my print-ready files?

JPG is not ideal for professional printing due to lossy compression. Keep your original TIFF files for print workflows and use the JPG versions for sharing, web, and everyday use.