TIFF or JPEG???

[sdebroy]

Greetings!
I am rather new around these quarters and I hope you'll excuse my ignorance - I wld like to ask a simple question :
What is a preferred format(TIFF8/16bit or JPEG or any other) for exporting/saving processed RAW photographs to print gallery quality prints(sizes A4 and above...) ? I haven't got a decent printer yet and thus will have to avail the services of a printing lab.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers and God bless,
Saikat.

[JFSanders]

Generally, if you are sending out to a lab it is best to email the lab and see what they require for format and bit size.

Work flow varies for a most folks and in my case there are usually three image types saved per image. I save all RAW files in two places. 1) on a back up HDD. 2) On a DVD.

Then I have my working file which is the processed image and because I use NX2 I save them as .NEF files which preserves my editing process adjustments so that I can go back and change small things if I need to.

I also will make and save a .jpg version for the web. These I generally don't back up except for the general back ups done during the work week.

TIFF files are useful for those that want to preserve more information in the file and/or your printer needs that format.

[sdebroy]

Thanks very much for your time and advice. Really appreciate it!

I use Lightroom and my workflow seems quite similar to yours.

What I'd like to knw is if there is any difference in quality when printing from a JPEG, TIFF or PSD file(all other parameters being the same)?

Cheers . . .

[mrteacherdude]

+1 what JFSanders said about checking with the lab you are planning on using to print. The general rule used to be TIFF for printing, end of story. However, JPG's and related technology to print them have improved immensely over the years, and some labs won't accept anything but JPG's.

[JFSanders]

Originally Posted by sdebroy

Thanks very much for your time and advice. Really appreciate it!

I use Lightroom and my workflow seems quite similar to yours.

What I'd like to knw is if there is any difference in quality when printing from a JPEG, TIFF or PSD file(all other parameters being the same)?

Cheers . . .

The print quality can be lessened by using the wrong color space more than the choice of file type. The lab you choose will tell you what they require in order to produce a quality print. That being said, when printing it is more important to have a calibrated monitor to produce a true to print file than the type of file.

Most printers/labs can do a very good job with a 8bit jpeg as long as they don't have to interpolate any data to make the file large enough to print to the requested size. So don't send them a 8bit jpeg and ask for a print larger than 8x10 unless your native file size in camera is large enough to provide them the needed data to print larger.