TIFF Export Creates BigTIFF Files With Limited Compatibility Even With Little Images
Environment/Versions
- GIMP version: 2.10.32 revision 1
- Package: GIMP.org installer
- Operating System: Windows 10 21H2
Description of the bug
In the current version of GIMP, the "Export in BigTIFF variant file format" checkbox is checked by default. Since "Support for BigTIFF file formats by applications is limited" (Wikipedia), the resulting file cannot be opened by common applications such as Windows 10 Explorer, the Windows 10 Photos application, and Windows Photo Gallery. Bernard Foot (#8330 (closed)) also encountered the same problem.
Just like Bernard Foot, I can open the TIFF file in other applications after unchecking "Export in BigTIFF variant file format".
Would it be possible to avoid using BigTIFF when it isn't necessary? The GIMP 2.10.32 release notes say that the application will automatically figure out that you should use BigTIFF if "the maximum file size [is] exceeded". Perhaps the same logic can be used to infer that small images can avoid using BigTIFF for greater application compatibility.
Finally, when BigTIFF is used, would it be possible for GIMP to give the user a hint that the file may not be usable in common applications?
Reproduction
Is the bug reproducible? Always
Reproduction steps:
- Open or create a small image in GIMP (e.g. thisisatest.xcf).
- File | Export As...
- Enter "test.tif" as the filename.
- Press Enter.
- Click the Export button.
- Go to the folder on your computer where you saved test.tif.
- (optional) Try opening test.tif with Windows Photo Gallery 2012 or the Photos application built into Windows 10.
Expected result:
See a thumbnail in Windows Explorer. See the words "This is a test"
Actual result:
Message about a corrupt file or unsupported file.