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Giovani-Cospefogo
Participant
Mar 20, 2026 10:47 AM UTC
Answered

How to always save TIFF with LZW compression?

Everytime I open a TIFF file and work on it, I need to go SAVE AS complete dialog to be able to set LZW compression. If I just do SAVE the tiff compression is always set to NONE.

 

Why? Is there a way to fix the option to LZW permanently?

    c.pfaffenbichler
    c.pfaffenbichlerCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Mar 20, 2026 11:33 AM UTC

    Because the tiff has been created without that compression settings. 

    Where did it originate? 

    4 replies

    D Fosse
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Mar 20, 2026 11:36 AM UTC

    You can make an action and assign an F-key.

     

    However, a word of caution: if you’re working with 16 bit files, which is pretty much the standard nowadays, you do not want LZW compression. It was written for 8 bit data and does not work well with 16 bit data. In most cases, LZW will increase the file size with 16 bit files.

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    Giovani-Cospefogo
    Participant
    Mar 23, 2026 10:55 AM UTC

    They are all 8 bit files. Trying a action was my first idea, but my tiffs are all bitmaps and I convert back and forth to GRAY and so on, and I save in different locations also, so, the save parameter in the action will not help me (because the file destination).

    Anyway, I am using SAVE AS now, and a quick ALT+ combo shortcut. Ideal? No, but helped me to do the job.

    Thank you!

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    c.pfaffenbichler
    Community Expert
    c.pfaffenbichlerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Mar 20, 2026 11:33 AM UTC

    Because the tiff has been created without that compression settings. 

    Where did it originate? 

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    Giovani-Cospefogo
    Participant
    Mar 23, 2026 10:56 AM UTC

    Aaaah… so this is the key! My files are from Japan, raw artwork for manga books. I work with layout and lettering for a Brazilian publishing company.

    Well, thank you. Let's hope to have a setting to force ALWAYS LZW saving in the TIFF dialog. It could be great!

    Thank you!

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