Multi-page TIFF Files- How to Open and edit each photo

[MuseumofPlay_Library]

I am scanning Historic Photographs and they needed to be grouped together. During scanning I have saved them in Multi page Tiff files as well as a separate Tiff Zipped Folder. The zipped folder I can not open on Photoshop at all and when I open the multi page Tiff I am only able to see the first page. Is there a way to see/ edit each file within the multi-page file folder within Photoshop. My end goal is to have a saved edited Multi-page TIFF as well as a separate converted single PDF within which all of the images are viewable by scrolling.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Jordan

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

Hi MuseumofPlay_Library:

I don't think Photoshop supports multi-page tiffs yet. I know past versions did not.

There is an app called TiffSplitter that might help—I have no personal experience with it, however.

https://download.cnet.com/TIFF-Splitter/3000-2248_4-10438809.html

Once split and edited, it's easy to create a multi-page PDF from multiple images.

~Barb

[RokeJulianLockhart]

Might be worth requesting it on UserVoice, then.

[teachbit]

I found a workaround in a old forum post concerning opening multi page tiffs in Photoshop CS:

I haven't had occasion to solve this problem directly with Photoshop, but one way I have been able to see multiple page TIFF pages is through the freeware viewer IrfanView.

Trouble with IrfanView is that it, I believe, will only open 8 bits/channel images, and color-management may not work out the way you want depending on how you get the image into Photoshop.

Maybe this helps

[Jeff Arola]

The zipped folder needs to be unzipped, just double click on it.

Also, it would be a whole lot easier if you set your scanner to save regular tiff files that photoshop can open.

Gimp can open each page in multi page tiff files.

https://www.gimp.org/

[Test Screen Name]

Just group them by making a folder for them. Anything else is going to vary from not working at all, to working slowly and unreliably. Maybe you'll zip them up when you are absolutely finished editing.

[ecoult energy ss24984794]

The excellent freeware image editor Gimp opens multi-page tifs and gives the option of opening as separate layers or separate images, which you can export in pretty much any format if you want to then move to Photoshop. Why Photoshop can't perform this simple task is beyond me.

Gimp does most of what Photoshop does (and does it better in some cases), so while you probably have Photoshop embedded into your workflow and wouldn't replace it with Gimp, Gimp is nevertheless an excellent tool to have installed in the background to try things when you're stumped as to why Photoshop isn't behaving as you expect.

You'll find it pretty intuitive after using Photoshop.

[fannim39671710]

You can open multi-page tiff file with Adobe Reader. Then export it in tiff format. It automatically saves a separate Tiff file for each page.

[Jeff Arola]

I believe only Acrobat Pro can open/save multipage tiff files.

[Frank23443807rt5r]

I have Adobe Acrobat DC Pro and it says it can not open .tif files. 

[Jeff Arola]

Is your file a multipage tif?

Your sure you have Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and not Adobe Acrobat Reader DC?

[Frank23443807rt5r]

Yes, it is a tif, it contains multiple pages (62 in this case). Yes, it is Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (I have a paid subscription through work). The error message says the tif type is not supported or the file has been corrupted. The file is fine becasue it opens in Windows Photo Viewer.

I did find a workaround, however, and that is open the file in Windows Photo Viewer, go to Print, and select print as pdf. The new file will then open in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.  

[JasonC-M]

This worked for me.  Acrobat reader couldn't open it, but I printed as a pdf from photo viewer, and then could open that pdf in Photoshop

[Lumigraphics]

Apple Preview, EXIFTool, ImageMagik, and ImageJ all open/work with multipage TIFF files correctly.

[Randy Hufford]

I have never heard of multi page tif files?

[dusapin]

Multi-TIFF does exist: several tiff pages in a single tiff file. Easily opened pages and  images un-piled, and saved with Gimp.

[kind_captain]

You can change the default program for .tif and .tiff file types to open with "Windows Photo Viewer".  This program will allow you to see a multi-page TIFF file.  You can click on the PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN keys to navigate through the pages.

There are also some left and right arrows along with the page numbers below the pages.

Attached is a test file a found at www.nightprogrammer.org.

[rayek.elfin]

It's an older thread, but still useful for those looking for an answer:

PhotoLine loads and saves multi-page TIFF files without any problem.  Also supports colour management and higher bit depths, as well as 1 bitt TIFF files with multi-pages.

(No other image editor on the market can handle TIFF files with multiple 1-bit image pages, btw)