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Q: What is TIFF?
A: TIFF (Tag Image File Format) is a common format for exchanging raster graphics (bitmap) images between application programs, including those used for scanner images. A TIFF file can be identified as a file with a ".tiff" or ".tif" file name suffix. The TIFF format was developed in 1986 by an industry committee chaired by the Aldus Corporation (now part of Adobe Software). Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard were among the contributors to the format. One of the most common graphic image formats, TIFF files are commonly used in desktop publishing, faxing, 3-D applications, and medical imaging applications. Tiff Group IV is the image compression format most widely used in document imaging today. TIFF files can be in any of several classes, including gray scale, color palette, or RGB full color, and can include files with JPEG, LZW, or CCITT Group 4 standard run-length image compression.

Q: TIFF Format vs. PDF Format?
A: TIFF and PDF are both "image" file formats. Many litigation software products use TIFF as well as many service bureaus. PDF is also a growing standard, especially with the U.S. government. So....which one? Actually, TIFF Group IV file format is the only acceptable format used by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. As of this time, there is no other file format that is legally acceptable by any government agency.

Q: IS OCR (Optical Character Recognition) accurate?
A: Commonly called OCR or Optical Character Recognition. Accuracy is entirely dependent on the quality of the original. Claims by OCR software vendors for uncorrected documents are 99.7% accuracy with a high-quality original but expect average of 93-95% based on industry experience. These accuracy rates are generally achieved from Latin-script, type-written text; however, highly accurate recognition of hand printing, cursive handwriting, and even the printed typewritten versions of some other scripts (especially those with a very large number of characters), is still the subject of active research.

Accuracy rates of 80% to 90% on neat, clean hand-printed characters can be achieved, but that accuracy rate still translates to dozens of errors per page, making the technology useful only in very limited contexts. Imaging Faqs from Complete Records Management Request a Quote from Complete Records Management home /

IMAGING FAQS