LZW, short for Lempel-Ziv-Welch, is a lossless data compression algorithm commonly used to reduce the file size of TIFF images without losing any image detail. Since it is lossless, the original image can be perfectly reconstructed when decompressed, making it ideal for professional photography, archival storage, and high-quality printing.
Understanding LZW compression is important for photographers, graphic designers, and digital archivists who want to optimize storage space while preserving maximum image quality. It is widely used in professional imaging workflows and ensures that detailed photographic data is maintained for editing, printing, and long-term preservation.