JHOVE TIFF-hul Module

1 Introduction

The TIFF-hul module recognizes and validates the TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) format [TIFF 6.0]. Several TIFF related links are available from the JHOVE Resources page.

The module is invoked by the:

jhove ... -m TIFF-hul ...

command line option.

This module can be configured with the following parameters:

  • byteoffset=true to consider TIFFs without byte-aligned offsets as well-formed. This means that TIFF-HUL-4 and TIFF-HUL-59 won’t be reported as errors, but will become InfoMessages and the TIFF can be reported as Well-Formed and Valid.

2 Coverage

The TIFF-hul module recognizes and validates the following public profiles:

  • TIFF version 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 [TIFF 4.0, TIFF 5.0, TIFF 6.0]
  • Baseline 6.0 bilevel (previously known as 5.0 Class B), grayscale (Class G), palette-color (Class P), and RGB (Class R) [TIFF 6.0]
  • 6.0 extension YCbCr (Class Y) [TIFF 6.0]
  • TIFF/IT (ISO 12639:2003), including file types CT, LW, HC, MP, BP, BL, and FP, and conformance levels P1 and P2 [TIFF/IT]
  • TIFF/EP (ISO 12234-2:2001) [TIFF/EP]
  • Exif 2.0, 2.1 (JEIDA-49-1998), and 2.2 (JEITA CP-3451) [Exif 2.1, Exif 2.2]
  • GeoTIFF 1.0 [GeoTIFF]
  • DLF Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials [DLF]
  • TIFF-FX (RFC 2301), including Profiles C, F, J, L, M, and S [TIFF-FX]
  • Class F (RFC 2306) [Class F, RFC 2306]
  • RFC 1314 [RFC 1314]
  • DNG (Adobe Digital Negative) [DNG]

3 Well-Formedness

The following criteria must be met by a TIFF object for JHOVE to consider it well-formed:

  • Header with 0x4D4D002A (if big-endian) or 0x49492A00 (if little-endian) at offset 0
  • At least one IFD
  • All IFD offsets are 16-bit word aligned
  • All IFDs have at least one entry
  • All IFD entries are sorted in ascending order by tag number
  • All IFD entries specify the correct type and count
  • All value offsets are 16-bit word aligned
  • All value offsets reference locations within the file
  • The final IFD is followed by an offset of 0

Note that the 16-bit word aligned criteria can be by-passed by setting the byteoffset parameter

4 Validity

The following criteria must be met by a TIFF file for JHOVE to consider it valid:

  • The file is well-formed
  • The ImageLength (tag 257), ImageWidth (256), and PhotometricInterpretation (262) tags are defined
  • If version 4.0 or 5.0 then StripByteCounts (279) and StripOffsets (273) are defined; if version 6.0 then either all of StripByteCounts and StripOffsets or TileByteCounts (325), TileLength (323), TileOffsets (324), and TileWidth (322) are defined
  • If PhotometricInterpretation = 4, then bit 2 of NewSubfileType (254) = 1, and vice versa
  • If PhotometricInterpretation = 4, then SamplesPerPixel = 1 and BitsPerSample = 1
  • If PhotometricInterpretation = 0,1,3, or 4, then SamplesPerPixel = 1
  • If PhotometricInterpretation = 2,6, or 8, then SamplesPerPixel = 3
  • If PhotometricInterpretation = 3, then ColorMap is defined with 2BitsPerSample[0] + 2BitsPerSample[1] + 2BitsPerSample[2] values
  • The values for DotRange (336) are in the range [0, (2BitsPerSample[i])-1]
  • CellLength (265) defined only if Threshholding (263) = 2
  • If PhotometricInterpretation = 6, then JPEGProc is defined
  • If PhotometricInterpretation = 8 or 9, then BitsPerSample = 8 or 16 and SamplesPerPixel-ExtraSamples = 1 or 3
  • If ClipPath (343) is defined, then XClipPathUnits (344) is defined
  • TileWidth (322) and TileLength (323) values are integral multiples of 16
  • DateTime (306) tag is properly formatted: “YYYY:MM:DD HH:MM:SS”

5 Representation Information

The MIME type is reported as: image/tiff, except for the TIFF-FX profile, which is reported as: image/tiff-fx, and the Class F profile, which is reported as: image/ief.

In addition to the standard JHOVE representation information, all TIFF tags and their values are displayed.

By default numeric flag values are displayed using descriptive text labels and rational values are displayed as real decimals. To see the actual “raw” data values use the -r command line option.

Tag value Default display -r display
Compression = 4 “CCITT Group 4” “4”
YCbCrCoefficient = 587/1000 “0.587” “587/1000”

Image technical properties are reported in terms of the NISO Z39.87 data dictionary.

5.1 Profiles

  • TIFF 4.0

    A TIFF file is assumed to be version 4.0 until otherwise indicated.

  • TIFF 5.0

    The presence of the following tags indicates version 5.0:

    Artist (315), ColorMap (320), DateTime (306), HostComputer (316), NewSubfileType (254), Predictor (317), PrimaryChromaticities (319), Software (305), WhitePoint (318)

    The presence of a PhotometricInterpretation (262) value of 3 (Palette color) or 4 (Transparency mask) indicates version 5.0. The presence of a Compression (259) value of 5 (LZW) indicates version 5.0.

  • TIFF 6.0

    The presence of the following tags indicates version 6.0:

    Copyright (33432), DotRange (336), ExtraSamples (338), HalftoneHints (321), InkNames (333), InkSet (332), JPEGACTables (521), JPEGDCTables (520), JPEGInterchangeFormat (513), JPEGInterchangeFormatLength (514), JPEGLosslessPredictors (517), JPEGPointTransforms (518), JPEGProc (512), JPEGRestartInterval (515), JPEGQTables (519), NumberOfInks (334), ReferenceBlackWhite (532), SampleFormat (339), SMinSampleValue (340), SMaxSampleValue (341), TargetPrinter (337), TileLength (323), TileOffsets (324), TileWidth (322), TileByteCounts (325), TransferRange (342), YCbCrCoefficients (529), YCbCrPositioning (531), YCbCrSubSampling (530)

    The presence of a Compression (259) value of 6 (JPEG), or the presence of a PhotometricInterpretation (262) value of 5 (CMYK), 6 (YCbCr), or 8 (CIE L*a*b*) indicates version 6.0.

    The presence of a data type 6 (SBYTE), 7 (UNDEFINED), 8 (SSHORT), 9 (SLONG), 10 (SRATIONAL), 11 (FLOAT), or 12 (DOUBLE) indicates version 6.0.

    The following tag is mandatory:

    Tag Name and Number   Value
    PhotometricInterpretation 262  

  • Baseline 6.0 profiles

    All of the Baseline 6.0 profiles are defined in [TIFF 6.0].

    • Baseline bilevel (Class B)

      The bilevel profile is for black and white images. The following tags are mandatory:

      Tag Name and Number   Value
      ImageWidth 256  
      ImageLength 257  
      Compression 259 1, 2, or 32773
      PhotometricInterpretation 262 0 or 1
      StripOffsets 273  
      RowsPerStrip 278  
      StripByteCounts 279  
      XResolution 282  
      YResolution 283  
      ResolutionUnit 296 1, 2, or 3

    • Baseline grayscale (Class G)

      The grayscale profile is for grayscale images. The following tags are mandatory:

      Tag Name and Number   Value
      ImageWidth 256  
      ImageLength 257  
      BitsPerSample 258 4 or 8
      Compression 259 1 or 32773
      PhotometricInterpretation 262 0 or 1
      StripOffsets 273  
      RowsPerStrip 278  
      StripByteCounts 279  
      XResolution 282  
      YResolution 283  
      ResolutionUnit 296 1, 2, or 3

    • Baseline palette-color (Class P)

      The palette-color profile is for images using a lookup-table (or color map). The following tags are mandatory:

      Tag Name and Number   Value
      ImageWidth 256  
      ImageLength 257  
      BitsPerSample 258 4 or 8
      Compression 259 1 or 32773
      PhotometricInterpretation 262 3
      StripOffsets 273  
      RowsPerStrip 278  
      StripByteCounts 279  
      XResolution 282  
      YResolution 283  
      ResolutionUnit 296 1, 2, or 3
      ColorMap 320  

    • Baseline RGB (Class R)

      The RGB profile is for full-color RGB images. The following tags are mandatory:

      Tag Name and Number   Value
      ImageWidth 256  
      ImageLength 257  
      BitsPerSample 258 8,8,8
      Compression 259 1 or 32773
      PhotometricInterpretation 262 2
      StripOffsets 273  
      SamplesPerPixel 277 >= 3
      RowsPerStrip 278  
      StripByteCounts 279  
      XResolution 282  
      YResolution 283  
      ResolutionUnit 296 1, 2, or 3

  • 6.0 Extension profiles

    All of the 6.0 extension profiles are defined in [TIFF 6.0].

    • Extension YCbCr (Class Y)

      The YCbCr profile is for images using the YCbCr colorspace. The following tags are mandatory:

      Tag Name and Number   Value
      ImageWidth 256  
      ImageLength 257  
      BitsPerSample 258 8,8,8
      Compression 259 1, 5, or 6
      PhotometricInterpretation 262 6
      StripOffsets 273  
      SamplesPerPixel 277 3
      RowsPerStrip 278  
      StripByteCounts 279  
      XResolution 282  
      YResolution 283  
      ResolutionUnit 296 1, 2, or 3
      ReferenceBlackWhite 532  

  • TIFF/IT (ISO 12639:2003)

    The TIFF/IT profile is for images used in pre-press data exchange [TIFF/IT].

    Profiles are defined for file types BL (binary line art), BP (binary picture), CT (color continuous tone), FP (final page) HC (high resolution continuous tone), LW (color line art), and MP (monochrome continuous tone), each at conformance levels full, P1 or P2. For the specific values required for each profile see the TIFF/IT specification [TIFF/IT].

  • TIFF/EP (ISO 12234-2:2001)

    The TIFF/EP profile is for images created by digital cameras [TIFF/EP]. The following tags are mandatory:

    Tag Name and Number   Value
    NewSubfileType 254 0 or 1
    ImageWidth 256  
    ImageLength 257  
    BitsPerSample 258 8,8,8
    Compression 259 1, 7, or > 32767
    PhotometricInterpretation 262 1, 2, 6, 32803, or > 32767
    Make 271  
    Model 272  
    Orientation 274 if defined must be 1, 3, 6, 8, or 9
    XResolution 282  
    YResolution 283  
    PlanarConfiguration 284 1 or 2
    ResolutionUnit 296 1, 2 or 3
    Software 305  
    DateTime 306  
    YCbCrCoefficients 529 defined if PhotometricInterpretation = 6
    YCbCrSubSampling 530 defined if PhotometricInterpretation = 6
    YCbCrPositioning 531 defined if PhotometricInterpretation = 6
    ReferenceBlackWhite 532 defined if PhotometricInterpretation = 6
    CFARepeatPatternDim 33421 defined if PhotometricInterpretation = 32803
    CFAPattern 33422 defined if PhotometricInterpretation = 32803
    Copyright 33432  
    DateTimeOriginal 36867  
    TIFF/EPStandardID 37398 1,0,0,0
    SensingMethod 37399 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8

    Additionally, either all of:

    • StripOffsets (273), RowsPerStrip (278), and StripByteCounts (279); or
    • TileWidth (322), TileLength (323), TileOffsets (324), and TileByteCounts (325)

    must be defined, depending upon whether stripped or tiled organization is used.

  • Exif

    Exif 2.0, 2.1 (JEIDA-49-1998), and 2.2 (JEITA CP-3451) define camera-specific metadata [Exif 2.1, Exif 2.2]. The following tags are mandatory in the primary TIFF IFD:

    Tag Name and Number   Value Note
    ImageWidth 256   If Compression (259) = 1
    ImageLength 257   If Compression (259) = 1
    BitsPerSample 258 8,8,8 If Compression (259) = 1
    Compression 259 1 If primary TIFF IFD and JPEGInterchangeFormat (513) not defined
    1 or 6 If thumbnail TIFF IFD    
    PhotometricInterpretation 262 2 or 6 If Compression (259) = 1
    StripOffsets 273   If Compression (259) = 1
    SamplesPerPixel 277 3 If Compression (259) = 1
    RowsPerStrip 278   If Compression (259) = 1
    StripByteCounts 279   If Compression (259) = 1
    XResolution 282    
    YResolution 283    
    ResolutionUnit 296 2 or 3  
    ExifIFD 34665   If primary TIFF IFD

    The primary TIFF IFD is the first IFD in the file, whose offset is defined in the TIFF header. The optional thumbnail TIFF IFD is a subsequent IFD whose offset is defined following the primary TIFF IFD.

    The following tags are mandatory in the Exif IFD:

    Tag Name and NumberValue
    ExifVersion36864"0220" (Version 2.2)
    "0210" (Version 2.1)
    "0200" (Version 2.0)
    FlashpixVersion40960"0100"
    ColorSpace409611 or 65535

  • Baseline GeoTIFF 1.0

    GeoTIFF defines an industry-standard tagset for the management of geo-referenced or geo-coded raster imagery [GeoTIFF]. The following tags are mandatory:

    Tag Name and Number   Value
    PhotometricInterpretation 262  
    GeoKeyDirectoryTag 34735  

    Additionally, either ModelTiepointTag (33922) or ModelTransformationTag (34264) must be defined, but not both.

  • DLF Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials

    The DLF benchmarks [DLF] define the minimum characteristics for effective digital reproduction of monograph and serial pages.

    • Black and White

      The DLF black and white benchmark requires lossless compression, one 1-bit sample value per pixel, and a minimum resolution.

      Tag Name and Number   Value
      BitsPerSample 258 1
      Compression 259 1 (none) or 4 (T.6/Group 4)
      PhotometricInterpretation 262 0 or 1
      SamplesPerPixel 277 1
      XResolution 282 >= 600 (in) or 1520 (cm)
      YResolution 283 >= 600 (in) or 1520 (cm)

    • Grayscale

      The DLF grayscale benchmark requires lossless compression, one 8-bit sample value per pixel, and a minimum resolution.

      Tag Name and Number   Value
      BitsPerSample 258 8
      Compression 259 1 (none), 5 (LZW), 32773 (PackBits RLE)
      PhotometricInterpretation 262 0 or 1
      SamplesPerPixel 277 1
      XResolution 282 >= 300 (in) or 760 (cm)
      YResolution 283 >= 300 (in) or 760 (cm)

    • Color

      The DLF color benchmark requires lossless compression, three 8-bit sample values per pixel, and a minimum resolution.

      Tag Name and Number   Value
      BitsPerSample 258 8, 8, 8
      Compression 259 1 (none), 5 (LZW), or 32773 (PackBits RLE)
      PhotometricInterpretation 262 2 (RGB) or 6 (YCbCr)
      SamplesPerPixel 277 3
      XResolution 282 >= 300 (in) or 760 (cm)
      YResolution 283 >= 300 (in) or 760 (cm)

  • TIFF-FX (RFC 2301)

    TIFF-FX [TIFF-FX] is a representation of image data for black and white and color facsimile. The MIME type for this profile is reported as: image/tiff-fx.

    Profiles are defined for minimal black-and-white using binary MH compression (S), extended black-and-white using binary MH, MR, and MMR compression (F), lossless JBIG black-and-white with JBIG compression (J), lossy color and grayscale mode using JPEG compression (C), lossless color and grayscale using JBIG compression (L), and mixed raster content (M).

  • Class F (RFC 2306)

    TIFF Class F [Class F, RFC 2306] is a sub-class of Class B defined for representing CCITT Group 3 (G3) facsimile images. The MIME type for this profile is reported as: image/ief.

    Tag Name and Number   Value
    NewSubfileType 254 2
    ImageWidth 256 1728, 2048 2432, 2592, 3072, 3648, 3456, 4096, 4864
    ImageLength 257  
    BitsPerSample 258 1
    Compression 259 3 or 4
    PhotometricInterpretation 262 0 or 1
    FillOrder 266 1 or 2
    StripOffsets 273  
    SamplesPerPixel 277 1
    RowsPerStrip 278  
    StripByteCounts 279  
    XResolution 282 204, 200, 300, 400, 408 (inches)
    YResolution 283 98, 196, 100, 200, 300, 391, 400 (inches)
    Group3Options 292 0, 1, 4 or 5 (if compression is 3)
    Group4Options 293 2 (if compression is 4)
    ResolutionUnit 296 2 or 3
    PageNumber 297  

    The Group3Options tag must be specified if and only if Compression = 3. The Group4Options tag must be specified if and only if Compression = 4.

    ImageWidths of 1728, 2048, and 2432 are permitted only if the X and YResolution is 204x98, 204x196, 204x391, 200x100, or 200x200.
    ImageWidths of 2592, 3072, and 3648 are permitted only if the X and YResolution is 300x300.
    ImageWidths of 3456, 4096, and 4864 are permitted only if the X and YResolution is 408x391 or 400x400.

  • RFC 1314

    RFC 1314 [RFC 1314] is a sub-type of Class B proposed as a standard for representing FAX-like black and white images within the Internet.

    Tag Name and Number   Value
    NewSubfileType 254  
    BitsPerSample 258 1
    Compression 259 1, 3, or 4
    ImageWidth 256  
    ImageLength 257  
    PhotometricInterpretation 262 0 or 1
    StripOffsets 273  
    SamplesPerPixel 277 1
    RowsPerStrip 278  
    StripByteCounts 279  
    XResolution 282  
    YResolution 283  
    ResolutionUnit 296 2 or 3

6 Additional Module Properties

  • Nominal file extension: .tif
  • Mac OS file type: TIFF