PostScript to TIFF Converter

PostScript (PS) to TIF Converter

A .ps file is a PostScript document — Adobe's 1984 page-description language for print and prepress — that most image viewers and editors cannot open directly. .tif (also written .tiff; the short spelling dates to the DOS 8.3 filename era and is the identical format) is the lossless raster format that print, scanning, and archival workflows have relied on since the 1980s. This converter rasterizes each page of a PostScript file into a TIF image, so you can pull a legacy figure or page into a print-ready, archival raster. Because PostScript draws pages with vector commands, the conversion samples them to a fixed grid of pixels at the resolution you pick — the result is a flat image, not a scalable document.

PostScript (.ps) Format at a Glance

TIFF / TIF Format at a Glance

How to Convert PS to TIF

1. Upload Your PostScript File: Drag and drop your .ps file onto the page or click "+ Add Files". You can queue several files and convert them with the same settings.
2. Set the Conversion Quality (DPI): Pick a resolution under Conversion Quality. This is the rate the vector page is rasterized at — 300 DPI is the default and the standard for print; use 72-150 DPI for screen, or 600-1200 DPI for fine line art and archival masters.
3. Choose a Compression Type and Background: Under Compression Type, LZW is the safe default for the widest reader support; Deflate squeezes slightly smaller, PackBits is the simplest legacy option. The Image Transparency Color is White by default, since a PostScript page renders on opaque paper.
4. Convert and Download: Click "Convert" and download your TIF. A multi-page .ps returns one TIF per page, bundled as a ZIP. No sign-up, no watermark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does converting PS to TIF keep the vectors scalable?

No. PostScript stores pages as vector drawing commands, but rendering them to TIF rasterizes everything to a fixed grid of pixels at the DPI you choose. The output is a flat image that gets blurry if you enlarge it beyond that resolution. If you need crisp, infinitely scalable text and lines, convert PS to PDF instead — PDF is a direct descendant of PostScript and preserves the vector document, with every page kept together in one file.

My PostScript file has several pages — do I get one multi-page TIFF?

No. Although the TIFF container can technically hold many pages, this converter renders each PostScript page to its own TIF and returns them bundled as a ZIP, numbered in page order. The single-file-holds-all-pages format here is PDF, not TIFF — so if you specifically need every page in one document, use PS to PDF. For per-page raster masters, the ZIP of TIFs is what you want.

Is .tif different from .tiff?

No — they are the same Tagged Image File Format. The three-letter .tif extension comes from the old DOS 8.3 filename limit, while .tiff is the four-letter spelling used on systems without that restriction. The bytes inside are identical, every TIFF reader opens both, and this page and the PS to TIFF page produce the same output — only the filename suffix differs.

Which Compression Type should I choose — LZW or Deflate?

Both are lossless, so neither throws away image data. LZW is the long-standing TIFF default and has the broadest compatibility — essentially every TIFF reader since the 1990s supports it, and its patent expired in 2003. Deflate (ZIP) usually produces a slightly smaller file and is the safer pick for 16-bit images, but it writes more slowly and a few older or specialized print tools may not read it. Choose LZW when a file has to open everywhere; choose Deflate when size matters more than maximum compatibility.

What DPI should I pick for a print or archival TIF?

Match the DPI to the destination. 72-96 DPI suits on-screen use; 200 DPI is a common office scan resolution; 300 DPI (the default here) is the print standard and a sensible archival floor; and 600-1200 DPI is for fine line art, OCR of small type, or master scans. Because PostScript is vector-based, it renders cleanly at any of these — a higher DPI simply samples more pixels and produces a larger file.

Why convert to TIF instead of PNG or JPG?

TIF is the format print shops, scanners, and digital-preservation systems expect for a lossless master, and it can carry CMYK color and high bit depths that web formats cannot. PS to PNG is also lossless and is the better pick when you mainly need a web-friendly image that opens in any browser, while JPG only makes sense for photo-heavy pages where some quality loss is acceptable. Pick TIF when the output is headed for print, archival storage, or a professional imaging pipeline.

How are my uploaded files handled?

Your .ps file is uploaded over an encrypted connection and processed on our servers — there is no in-browser-only mode for this conversion. Files are deleted automatically a few hours after conversion and are never shared or made public. No account or sign-up is required, and the output carries no watermark.

In your testing, how large is a typical TIF from a PostScript page?

In our testing, a single-page text-and-vector .ps document rendered at the default 300 DPI with LZW compression produced a TIF in the low single-digit megabytes — larger than the equivalent PNG because TIF stores a full lossless raster, but well within typical print and archival expectations. Dropping to 150 DPI roughly quarters the pixel count and the file size; switching LZW to Deflate trims a little more off the same image.