Vector conversion
Convert AI to TIFF
Updated Jul 2026
AI is the vector format used by Adobe Illustrator, built from paths so it scales to any size without blurring. TIFF is a raster format used for scans, print, and archiving. Converting means rasterizing the artwork at a set resolution and exporting as TIFF, which you can do on your own computer without uploading the file anywhere.
- Extension
- .ai
- Type
- Vector
- Typically
- Illustrator files
- Transparency
- None
- Extension
- .tiff
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Scans, print, archival
- Transparency
- None
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert AI to TIFF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert AI to TIFF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the AI file, or a whole folder of Illustrator files.
- Choose TIFF as the output format, and set the resolution if you need a higher-quality raster.
- Convert. The TIFFs are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
AI vs TIFF: what actually changes
| AI | TIFF | |
|---|---|---|
| Vector or raster | Vector, built from paths and shapes | Raster, built from a grid of pixels |
| Editable after export | Yes, shapes, layers, and text can be changed | No, it becomes a single flat image |
| Quality at any size | Scales to any size with no loss | Fixed at the resolution you export, enlarging can blur it |
| File size | Small, size depends on complexity, not dimensions | Large, especially at high resolution for print |
| Metadata | Can store some, rarely used | Yes, TIFF carries metadata tags |
| Opens everywhere | No, needs Illustrator or a compatible app | Yes, widely supported by print, publishing, and archiving software |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert AI to TIFF when you need a raster version for print production, a scanning or archival workflow, or you need to open the artwork somewhere that doesn't read vector files.
Keep the AI file if you're still going to edit the design, resize it, or change the text, because a TIFF is a flattened image at a fixed resolution, and the paths, layers, and text can't be recovered from it afterward.
Why not just use an online converter?
Illustrator files often hold unreleased logos, packaging mockups, or client branding work you'd rather not put on someone else's server. Run one through an online converter and that artwork gets uploaded to a stranger's machine before you get anything back. Converting on your own computer keeps the design on your machine the entire time, from open to export.
Questions
Does converting AI to TIFF lose quality?
The image itself doesn't degrade once it's rasterized, since TIFF is lossless, but you do lose the vector's ability to scale to any size. Export at a resolution high enough for how you'll use the TIFF, since you can't recover detail later by enlarging it.
Will layers and text still be editable in the TIFF?
No. TIFF is a raster format, so the artwork becomes one flat image. Text turns into pixels and can no longer be selected, searched, or edited.
What resolution should I use?
For print, 300 dots per inch is the usual target. For on-screen use, something lower is fine. Higher resolution means a larger file, so it helps to match it to what the TIFF is actually for.
Does the TIFF keep transparency?
TIFF can support transparency, but it depends on your export settings, and many print and archival workflows expect a solid background instead. Worth checking before you rely on it.
Can I convert AI to TIFF without uploading the file?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet rasterizes and converts the file on your own computer, so the artwork never travels over the internet.
Morphjet converts AI, TIFF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.