Sustainability of Digital Formats: Planning for Library of Congress Collections

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TIFF Bitmap with LZW Compression

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Format Description Properties Explanation of format description terms

Identification and description Explanation of format description terms

Full name TIFF Bitmap with LZW Compression
Description A tag-based file format for storing and interchanging raster images; in this subtype, TIFF wraps a bitmap compressed using LZW (Lempel-Ziv-Welch Compression Encoding).
Production phase Most often an initial-state or middle-state format; may serve as final-state format.
Relationship to other formats
    Subtype of TIFF_6, TIFF, Revision 6.0 and earlier
    Contains LZW, LZW Compression Encoding

Local use Explanation of format description terms

LC experience or existing holdings See TIFF_6
LC preference See the Library of Congress Recommended Formats Statement for format preferences for still image works.

Sustainability factors Explanation of format description terms

Disclosure See TIFF_6
    Documentation See TIFF_6
Adoption TIFF_LZW has seen some use in digital library projects but has not been as widely deployed as TIFF_UNC and TIFF_G4. For a typical example of recommendations, see the File Formats and Guidelines: Digital Preservation from Harvard University Libraries (http://hul.harvard.edu/ois/digpres/guidance.html). TIFF_LZW is listed below TIFF_UNC and TIFF_G4 in the order of preference for deposit in the library's repository system. In a study of four compressed image formats considered as alternatives to TIFF_UNC by the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (National Library of the Netherlands) in 2008, TIFF LZW ranked lowest.
    Licensing and patents See LZW
Transparency See LZW
Self-documentation See TIFF_6
External dependencies None
Technical protection considerations None

Quality and functionality factors Explanation of format description terms

Still Image
Normal rendering Good support.
Clarity (high image resolution) See TIFF_6.
Color maintenance See TIFF_6
Support for vector graphics, including graphic effects and typography See TIFF_6
Functionality beyond normal rendering See TIFF_6

File type signifiers and format identifiers Explanation of format description terms

Tag Value Note
Filename extension See related format. 

See TIFF_6

Internet Media Type See related format. 

See TIFF_6

Magic numbers See related format. 

See TIFF_6


Notes Explanation of format description terms

General  
History  

Format specifications Explanation of format description terms


Useful references

URLs


Last Updated: 03/08/2024