TIF is an image format file for high-quality graphics. TIF files are also called .TIFF, which stands for (Tagged Image Format File). TIF files were created as a file format for scanned images in an attempt to get all companies to use one standard file format instead of multiple. Though (.TIF) files originally only supported black and white, the update added a color palette. Now owned by Adobe, the .TIF format is used for high color-depth images.