LibTIFF Coverage of the TIFF 6.0 Specification — LibTIFF 4.7.2 documentation

# LibTIFF Coverage of the TIFF 6.0 Specification

The library is capable of dealing with images that are written to follow the 5.0 or 6.0 TIFF spec. There is also considerable support for some of the more esoteric portions of the 6.0 TIFF spec.

## Baseline

Core requirements
Core requirements | Both `MM` and `II` byte orders are handled. Both packed and separated planar configuration of samples. Any number of samples per pixel (memory permitting). Any image width and height (memory permitting). Multiple subfiles can be read and written. Editing is not supported in that related subfiles (e.g. a reduced resolution version of an image) are not automatically updated. Tags handled: `ExtraSamples`, `ImageWidth`, `ImageLength`, `NewSubfileType`, `ResolutionUnit`. `Rowsperstrip`, `StripOffsets`, `StripByteCounts`, `XResolution`, `YResolution`
Tiled Images | `TileWidth`, `TileLength`, `TileOffsets`, `TileByteCounts`
Image Colorimetry Information | `WhitePoint`, `PrimaryChromaticities`, `TransferFunction`, `ReferenceBlackWhite`
Class B for bilevel images | `SamplesPerPixel` = 1 `BitsPerSample` = 1 `Compression` = 1 (none), 2 (CCITT 1D), or 32773 (PackBits) `PhotometricInterpretation` = 0 (Min-is-White), 1 (Min-is-Black)
Class G for grayscale images | `SamplesPerPixel` = 1 `BitsPerSample` = 4, 8 `Compression` = 1 (none) 5 (LZW) `PhotometricInterpretation` = 0 (Min-is-White), 1 (Min-is-Black)
Class P for palette color images | `SamplesPerPixel` = 1 `BitsPerSample` = 1-8 `Compression` = 1 (none) 5 (LZW) `PhotometricInterpretation` = 3 (Palette RGB) `ColorMap`
Class R for RGB full color images | `SamplesPerPixel` = 3 `BitsPerSample` = <8,8,8> `PlanarConfiguration` = 1, 2 `Compression` = 1 (none) 5 (LZW) `PhotometricInterpretation` = 2 (RGB)
Class F for facsimile | (Class B tags plus...) `Compression` = 3 (CCITT Group 3), 4 (CCITT Group 4) `FillOrder` = 1 (MSB), 2 (LSB) `Group3Options` = 1 (2d encoding), 4 (zero fill), 5 (2d+fill) `ImageWidth` = 1728, 2048, 2482 `NewSubFileType` = 2 `ResolutionUnit` = 2 (Inch), 3 (Centimeter) `PageNumber`, `XResolution`, `YResolution`, `Software`, `BadFaxLines`, `CleanFaxData`, `ConsecutiveBadFaxLines`, `DateTime`, `DocumentName`, `ImageDescription`, `Orientation`
Class S for separated images | `SamplesPerPixel` = 4 `PlanarConfiguration` = 1, 2 `Compression` = 1 (none), 5 (LZW) `PhotometricInterpretation` = 5 (Separated) `InkSet` = 1 (CMYK) `DotRange`, `InkNames`, `DotRange`, `TargetPrinter`
Class Y for YCbCr images | `SamplesPerPixel` = 3 `BitsPerSample` = <8,8,8> `PlanarConfiguration` = 1, 2 `Compression` = 1 (none), 5 (LZW), 7 (JPEG) `PhotometricInterpretation` = 6 (YCbCr) `YCbCrCoefficients`, `YCbCrSubsampling`, `YCbCrPositioning` (colorimetry info from Appendix H; see above)
Class "JPEG" for JPEG images (per TTN2) | `PhotometricInterpretation` = 1 (grayscale), 2 (RGB), 5 (CMYK), 6 (YCbCr) (Class Y tags if YCbCr) (Class S tags if CMYK) `Compression` = 7 (JPEG)

In addition, the library supports some optional compression algorithms that are, in some cases, of dubious value.

Compression algorithms
Compression tag value | Compression algorithm
--- | ---
32766 | NeXT 2-bit encoding
32809 | ThunderScan 4-bit encoding
32909 | Pixar companded 11-bit ZIP encoding
32946 | PKZIP-style Deflate encoding (experimental)
34676 | SGI 32-bit Log Luminance encoding (experimental)
34677 | SGI 24-bit Log Luminance encoding (experimental)

Note that there is no support for the JPEG-related tags defined in the 6.0 specification; the JPEG support is based on the post-6.0 proposal given in TIFF Technical Note #2.

Note

For more information on the experimental Log Luminance encoding consult the materials available at http://www.anyhere.com/gward/pixformat/tiffluv.html.

The following table shows the tags that are recognized and how they are used by the library. If no use is indicated, then the library reads and writes the tag, but does not use it internally.

Apart of the TIFF 6.0 specification the meaning of tags can be found on various places in the internet. For example: https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/content/tiff_tags.shtml

`libtiff` supports also many private tags allocated for organizations that wish to store additional information in a TIFF file. Tags for TIFF/EP and for Digital Negative (DNG) Specification 1.1.0 are included.

Note that some tags are meaningful only when a particular compression scheme is being used; e.g. `Group3Options` is only useful if `Compression` is set to CCITT Group 3 encoding. Tags of this sort are considered codec-specific tags and the library does not recognize them except when the `Compression` tag has been previously set to the relevant compression scheme.

## Tags Recognized by LibTIFF

Tags used by libtiff
Tag Name | Value | R/W< | Library's Use (Comments)
--- | --- | --- | ---
`SubfileType` | 254 | R/W | none (also known as `NewSubfileType`)
`OldSubfileType` | 255 | R/W | parsed but ignored (also known as `SubFileType`)
`ImageWidth` | 256 | R/W | lots
`ImageLength` | 257 | R/W | lots
`BitsPerSample` | 258 | R/W | lots
`Compression` | 259 | R/W | to select appropriate codec
`PhotometricInterpretation` | 262 | R/W | lots
`Thresholding` | 263 | R/W | (tag in tif.h wrongly written as "Threshholding")
`CellWidth` | 264 | R/W |
`CellLength` | 265 | R/W |
`FillOrder` | 266 | R/W | control bit order
`DocumentName` | 269 | R/W |
`ImageDescription` | 270 | R/W |
`Make` | 271 | R/W |
`Model` | 272 | R/W |
`StripOffsets` | 273 | R/W | data i/o
`Orientation` | 274 | R/W |
`SamplesPerPixel` | 277 | R/W | lots
`RowsPerStrip` | 278 | R/W | data i/o
`StripByteCounts` | 279 | R/W | data i/o
`MinSampleValue` | 280 | R/W |
`MaxSampleValue` | 281 | R/W |
`XResolution` | 282 | R/W |
`YResolution` | 283 | R/W | used by Group 3 2d encoder
`PlanarConfiguration` | 284 | R/W | data i/o
`PageName` | 285 | R/W |
`XPosition` | 286 | R/W |
`YPosition` | 287 | R/W |
`FreeOffsets` | 288 | R/W | parsed but ignored
`FreeByteCounts` | 289 | R/W | parsed but ignored
`GrayResponseUnit` | 290 | R/W | parsed but ignored
`GrayResponseCurve` | 291 | R/W | parsed but ignored
`ResolutionUnit` | 296 | R/W | used by Group 3 2d encoder
`PageNumber` | 297 | R/W |
`ColorResponseUnit` | 300 | R/W | parsed but ignored
`TransferFunction` | 301 | R/W |
`Software` | 305 | R/W |
`DateTime` | 306 | R/W |
`Artist` | 315 | R/W |
`HostComputer` | 316 | R/W |
`WhitePoint` | 318 | R/W |
`PrimaryChromaticities` | 319 | R/W |
`ColorMap` | 320 | R/W |
`HalftoneHints` | 321 | R/W |
`TileWidth` | 322 | R/W | data i/o
`TileLength` | 323 | R/W | data i/o
`TileOffsets` | 324 | R/W | data i/o
`TileByteCounts` | 325 | R/W | data i/o
`SubIFD` | 330 | R/W | subimage descriptor support
`InkSet` | 332 | R/W |
`InkNames` | 333 | R/W |
`NumberOfInks` | 334 | R/W |
`DotRange` | 336 | R/W |
`TargetPrinter` | 337 | R/W |
`ExtraSamples` | 338 | R/W | lots
`SampleFormat` | 339 | R/W |
`SMinSampleValue` | 340 | R/W |
`SMaxSampleValue` | 341 | R/W |
`ClipPath` | 343 | R/W |
`XClipPathUnits` | 344 | R/W |
`YClipPathUnits` | 345 | R/W |
`YCbCrCoefficients` | 529 | R/W | used by `TIFFReadRGBAImage` support
`YCbCrSubsampling` | 530 | R/W | tile / strip size calculations
`YCbCrPositioning` | 531 | R/W |
`ReferenceBlackWhite` | 532 | R/W |
`XMLPacket` | 700 | R/W |
`Matteing` | 32995 | R | none (obsoleted by `ExtraSamples` tag)
`DataType` | 32996 | R | none (obsoleted by `SampleFormat` tag)
`ImageDepth` | 32997 | R/W | tile / strip size calculations
`TileDepth` | 32998 | R/W | tile / strip size calculations
`ImageFullWidth` | 33300 | R/W |
`ImageFullLength` | 33301 | R/W |
`TextureFormat` | 33302 | R/W |
`TextureWrapModes` | 33303 | R/W |
`FieldOfViewCotangent` | 33304 | R/W |
`MatrixWorldToScreen` | 33305 | R/W |
`MatrixWorldToCamera` | 33306 | R/W |
`Copyright` | 33432 | R/W |
`RichTIFFIPTC` | 33723 | R/W | (also known as TIFF/EP IPTC/NAA; `libtiff` type is UNDEFINED or BYTE, but often times incorrectly specified as LONG, because TIFF/EP (ISO/DIS 12234-2) specifies type LONG or ASCII)
`Photoshop` | 34377 | R/W |
`EXIFIFDOffset` | 34665 | R/W |
`ICC Profile` | 34675 | R/W |
`GPSIFDOffset` | 34853 | R/W |
`FaxRecvParams` | 34908 | R/W |
`FaxSubAddress` | 34909 | R/W |
`FaxRecvTime` | 34910 | R/W |
`FaxDcs` | 34911 | R/W |
`StoNits` | 37439 | R/W |
`Adobe Photoshop Document Data Block` | 37724 | R/W |
`InteroperabilityIFDOffset` | 40965 | R/W |
`DNGVersion` | 50706 | R/W | DNG 1.0 tags
`DNGBackwardVersion` | 50707 | R/W |
`UniqueCameraModel` | 50708 | R/W |
`LocalizedCameraModel` | 50709 | R/W |
`CFAPlaneColor` | 50710 | R/W |
`CFALayout` | 50711 | R/W |
`LinearizationTable` | 50712 | R/W |
`BlackLevelRepeatDim` | 50713 | R/W |
`BlackLevel` | 50714 | R/W |
`BlackLevelDeltaH` | 50715 | R/W |
`BlackLevelDeltaV` | 50716 | R/W |
`WhiteLevel` | 50717 | R/W |
`DefaultScale` | 50718 | R/W |
`DefaultCropOrigin` | 50719 | R/W |
`DefaultCropSize` | 50720 | R/W |
`ColorMatrix1` | 50721 | R/W |
`ColorMatrix2` | 50722 | R/W |
`CameraCalibration1` | 50723 | R/W |
`CameraCalibration2` | 50724 | R/W |
`ReductionMatrix1` | 50725 | R/W |
`ReductionMatrix2` | 50726 | R/W |
`AnalogBalance` | 50727 | R/W |
`AsShotNeutral` | 50728 | R/W |
`AsShotWhiteXY` | 50729 | R/W |
`BaselineExposure` | 50730 | R/W |
`BaselineNoise` | 50731 | R/W |
`BaselineSharpness` | 50732 | R/W |
`BayerGreenSplit` | 50733 | R/W |
`LinearResponseLimit` | 50734 | R/W |
`CameraSerialNumber` | 50735 | R/W |
`LensInfo` | 50736 | R/W |
`ChromaBlurRadius` | 50737 | R/W |
`AntiAliasStrength` | 50738 | R/W |
`ShadowScale` | 50739 | R/W |
`DNGPrivateData` | 50740 | R/W |
`MakerNoteSafety` | 50741 | R/W |
`CalibrationIlluminant1` | 50778 | R/W |
`CalibrationIlluminant2` | 50779 | R/W |
`BestQualityScale` | 50780 | R/W |
`RawDataUniqueID` | 50781 | R/W |
`OriginalRawFileName` | 50827 | R/W |
`OriginalRawFileData` | 50828 | R/W |
`ActiveArea` | 50829 | R/W |
`MaskedAreas` | 50830 | R/W |
`AsShotICCProfile` | 50831 | R/W |
`AsShotPreProfileMatrix` | 50832 | R/W |
`CurrentICCProfile` | 50833 | R/W |
`CurrentPreProfileMatrix` | 50834 | R/W |
`PerSample` | 65563 | R/W | (only internal pseudo tag)
`Indexed` | 346 | R/W | TIFF/FX tags
`GlobalParametersIFD` | 400 | R/W |
`ProfileType` | 401 | R/W |
`FaxProfile` | 402 | R/W |
`CodingMethods` | 403 | R/W |
`VersionYear` | 404 | R/W |
`ModeNumber` | 405 | R/W |
`Decode` | 433 | R/W |
`ImageBaseColor` | 434 | R/W |
`T82Options` | 435 | R/W |
`StripRowCounts` | 559 | R/W | part of RFC 2301 for fax
`ImageLayer` | 34732 | R/W |

The `Matteing` and `DataType` tags have been obsoleted by the 6.0 `ExtraSamples` and `SampleFormat` tags. Consult the documentation on the `ExtraSamples` tag and Associated Alpha for elaboration. Note however that if you use Associated Alpha, you are expected to save data that is pre-multipled by Alpha. If this means nothing to you, check out Porter & Duff's paper in the '84 SIGGRAPH proceedings: "Compositing Digital Images".

Tag `RichTIFFIPTC` (33723) is defined wrongly in TIFF/EP definition as "LONG or ASCII". `libtiff` defines it as "UNDEFINED or BYTE".

The `ImageDepth` tag is a non-standard, but registered tag that specifies the Z-dimension of volumetric data. The combination of `ImageWidth`, `ImageLength`, and `ImageDepth`, defines a 3D volume of pixels that are further specified by `BitsPerSample` and `SamplesPerPixel`. The `TileDepth` tag (also non-standard, but registered) can be used to specified a subvolume "tiling" of a volume of data.

The Colorimetry, and CMYK tags are additions that appear in TIFF 6.0. Consult the TIFF 6.0 specification and TIFF File Format Specification.

## Codecs / Compression

The following tags are used by codecs.

Codec / Compression Tags used by libtiff
Tag Name | Value | R/W< | Library's Use (Comments)
--- | --- | --- | ---
`Predictor` | 317 | R/W | LZW codec
`JPEGTables` | 347 | R/W | JPEG
`JpegInterchangeFormat` | 513 | R/W | OJPEG
`JpegInterchangeFormatLength` | 514 | R/W | OJPEG
`JpegQTables` | 519 | R/W | OJPEG
`JpegDcTables` | 520 | R/W | OJPEG
`JpegAcTables` | 521 | R/W | OJPEG
`JpegProc` | 512 | R/W | OJPEG
`JpegRestartInterval` | 515 | R/W | OJPEG
`BadFaxLines` | 326 | R/W | CCITT / fax
`CleanFaxData` | 327 | R/W | CCITT / fax
`ConsecutiveBadFaxLines` | 328 | R/W | CCITT / fax
`Group3Options` | 292 | R/W | CCITT / fax
`Group4Options` | 293 | R/W | CCITT / fax
`LercParameters` | 50674 | R/W | LERC

Note: This codec-specific tags and the library does not recognize them except when the `Compression` tag has been previously set to the relevant compression scheme.

The JPEG-related tag is specified in DRAFT TIFF Technical Note #2, which defines a revised JPEG-in-TIFF scheme (revised over the appendix that was part of the TIFF 6.0 specification).

## EXIF / GPS Custom IFDs

In addition to the standard TIFF tags, `libtiff` has predefined IFDs (image file directories) with the tags for EXIF (version 2.32) and EXIF-GPS as custom directories. For reading / writing of this IFDs refer to TIFFCustomDirectory.

### EXIF Custom Tags

EXIF 2.32 Tags used by libtiff
Tag Name | Value | R/W< | Library's Use (Comments)
--- | --- | --- | ---
`ExposureTime` | 33434 | R/W |
`FNumber` | 33437 | R/W |
`ExposureProgram` | 34850 | R/W |
`SpectralSensitivity` | 34852 | R/W |
`ISOSpeedRatings` | 34855 | R/W | After EXIF 2.2.1 ISOSpeedRatings is named `PhotographicSensitivity`. In addition, while "Count=Any", only 1 count should be used.
`OptoelectricConversionFactor` | 34856 | R/W |
`SensitivityType` | 34864 | R/W |
`StandardOutputSensitivity` | 34865 | R/W |
`RecommendedExposureIndex` | 34866 | R/W |
`ISOSpeed` | 34867 | R/W |
`ISOSpeedLatitudeyyy` | 34868 | R/W |
`ISOSpeedLatitudezzz` | 34869 | R/W |
`ExifVersion` | 36864 | R/W |
`DateTimeOriginal` | 36867 | R/W |
`DateTimeDigitized` | 36868 | R/W |
`OffsetTime` | 36880 | R/W |
`OffsetTimeOriginal` | 36881 | R/W |
`OffsetTimeDigitized` | 36882 | R/W |
`ComponentsConfiguration` | 37121 | R/W |
`CompressedBitsPerPixel` | 37122 | R/W |
`ShutterSpeedValue` | 37377 | R/W |
`ApertureValue` | 37378 | R/W |
`BrightnessValue` | 37379 | R/W |
`ExposureBiasValue` | 37380 | R/W |
`MaxApertureValue` | 37381 | R/W |
`SubjectDistance` | 37382 | R/W |
`MeteringMode` | 37383 | R/W |
`LightSource` | 37384 | R/W |
`Flash` | 37385 | R/W |
`FocalLength` | 37386 | R/W |
`SubjectArea` | 37396 | R/W |
`MakerNote` | 37500 | R/W |
`UserComment` | 37510 | R/W |
`SubSecTime` | 37520 | R/W |
`SubSecTimeOriginal` | 37521 | R/W |
`SubSecTimeDigitized` | 37522 | R/W |
`Temperature` | 37888 | R/W |
`Humidity` | 37889 | R/W |
`Pressure` | 37890 | R/W |
`WaterDepth` | 37891 | R/W |
`Acceleration` | 37892 | R/W |
`CameraElevationAngle` | 37893 | R/W |
`FlashpixVersion` | 40960 | R/W |
`ColorSpace` | 40961 | R/W |
`PixelXDimension` | 40962 | R/W |
`PixelYDimension` | 40963 | R/W |
`RelatedSoundFile` | 40964 | R/W |
`FlashEnergy` | 41483 | R/W |
`SpatialFrequencyResponse` | 41484 | R/W |
`FocalPlaneXResolution` | 41486 | R/W |
`FocalPlaneYResolution` | 41487 | R/W |
`FocalPlaneResolutionUnit` | 41488 | R/W |
`SubjectLocation` | 41492 | R/W |
`ExposureIndex` | 41493 | R/W |
`SensingMethod` | 41495 | R/W |
`FileSource` | 41728 | R/W |
`SceneType` | 41729 | R/W |
`CFAPattern` | 41730 | R/W |
`CustomRendered` | 41985 | R/W |
`ExposureMode` | 41986 | R/W |
`WhiteBalance` | 41987 | R/W |
`DigitalZoomRatio` | 41988 | R/W |
`FocalLengthIn35mmFilm` | 41989 | R/W |
`SceneCaptureType` | 41990 | R/W |
`GainControl` | 41991 | R/W |
`Contrast` | 41992 | R/W |
`Saturation` | 41993 | R/W |
`Sharpness` | 41994 | R/W |
`DeviceSettingDescription` | 41995 | R/W |
`SubjectDistanceRange` | 41996 | R/W |
`ImageUniqueID` | 42016 | R/W |
`CameraOwnerName` | 42032 | R/W |
`BodySerialNumber` | 42033 | R/W |
`LensSpecification` | 42034 | R/W |
`LensMake` | 42035 | R/W |
`LensModel` | 42036 | R/W |
`LensSerialNumber` | 42037 | R/W |
`Gamma` | 42240 | R/W |
`CompositeImage` | 42080 | R/W |
`SourceImageNumberOfCompositeImage` | 42081 | R/W |
`SourceExposureTimesOfCompositeImage` | 42082 | R/W |

### GPS Custom Tags

GPS 2.32 Tags used by libtiff
Tag Name | Value | R/W< | Library's Use (Comments)
--- | --- | --- | ---
`VersionID` | 0 | R/W |
`LatitudeRef` | 1 | R/W |
`Latitude` | 2 | R/W |
`LongitudeRef` | 3 | R/W |
`Longitude` | 4 | R/W |
`AltitudeRef` | 5 | R/W |
`Altitude` | 6 | R/W |
`TimeStamp` | 7 | R/W |
`Satellites` | 8 | R/W |
`Status` | 9 | R/W |
`MeasureMode` | 10 | R/W |
`DOP` | 11 | R/W |
`SpeedRef` | 12 | R/W |
`Speed` | 13 | R/W |
`TrackRef` | 14 | R/W |
`Track` | 15 | R/W |
`ImgDirectionRef` | 16 | R/W |
`ImgDirection` | 17 | R/W |
`MapDatum` | 18 | R/W |
`DestLatitudeRef` | 19 | R/W |
`DestLatitude` | 20 | R/W |
`DestLongitudeRef` | 21 | R/W |
`DestLongitude` | 22 | R/W |
`DestBearingRef` | 23 | R/W |
`DestBearing` | 24 | R/W |
`DestDistanceRef` | 25 | R/W |
`DestDistance` | 26 | R/W |
`ProcessingMethod` | 27 | R/W |
`AreaInformation` | 28 | R/W |
`DateStamp` | 29 | R/W |
`Differential` | 30 | R/W |
`HorizontalPositioningError` | 31 | R/W |