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Convert TIFF to JPG on Mac: 3 Methods

Convert TIFF to JPG on Mac with GetCompress, Preview, or sips. Shrink scans and print exports for email and web upload.

By Petr Samokhin

A print shop returns TIFF proofs. A scanner saves archival TIFF at 600 dpi. Email and CMS want JPEG. Convert a copy for delivery and keep the TIFF master untouched. Cap long edge before share so a 40 MB scan does not become a still-huge JPEG at full resolution.

TIFF vs JPEG

FormatTypical use
TIFFPrint, scan archive, lossless intermediate
JPEGWeb, email, CMS, client review
Source TIFFExport approach
Flat scan, no alphaConvert and quality ~85
Multi-page TIFFExport pages from Preview sidebar or scan app
Huge dpiResize before JPEG

See PNG to JPG on Mac for similar lossy rules. For PDF page exports, see PDF to JPG on Mac .

Method 1: GetCompress

Best for: One scan or folders with recurring portal widths, and convert-plus-resize in one pass.

GetCompress image settings with format, quality, and size options
  1. Drop one TIFF or a folder into GetCompress .
  2. Choose JPEG output.
  3. Set max width (for example 2400 px for listing photos, 1920 px for screen review) and quality (for example High or Medium).
  4. Preview a text-heavy scan at 100% zoom, then export to deliverables/jpeg/.
  5. Save a preset for the next insurance or HR packet.

Processing stays on your Mac. Keep TIFF masters on archive storage.

Method 2: Convert in Preview

Best for: One or a few TIFF files.

  1. Open the TIFF in Preview.
  2. File → Export… → JPEG, set Quality.
  3. Save with a new filename.

Multi-page TIFF: use the thumbnail sidebar, export each page, or merge to PDF first if the workflow needs one document.

QualityUse when
85 to 90Client proofs
80Web gallery
70Thumbnails only

Limitation: Slow for dozens of scans. No shared preset across a folder.

Method 3: Batch with sips or FFmpeg

Best for: Terminal loops when you already work in shell.

mkdir jpg-out
for f in *.tif *.tiff; do
 sips -Z 2400 -s format jpeg -s formatOptions 85 "$f" --out "jpg-out/${f%.*}.jpg"
done

FFmpeg alternative:

ffmpeg -i scan.tiff -vf scale=2400:-2 -q:v 3 scan.jpg

Limitation: You maintain the commands. Spot-check signatures and fine text at 100% zoom before batch send.

Scans and print exports

IssueFix
JPEG still hugeLower dpi via resize first
Color shiftExport sRGB JPEG
Multi-page scanPreview sidebar or scan app per page

Never overwrite the TIFF master. Write JPEG to a separate folder so you can re-export if a client requests higher resolution. When the JPEG folder still blocks upload, see how to compress images on Mac .

When Preview is enough

Preview can finish a single proof when width and quality already match the destination.

GetCompress also helps when dozens of scans need the same width and quality locally. It does not replace scan software for deskew or page split. Keep masters archived and only share the delivery copies.

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