Convert TIFF Sequence to Uncompressed MOV with FFmpeg

This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step tutorial on how to convert a sequence of TIFF images into a high-quality, uncompressed MOV video file using the command-line tool FFmpeg. You will learn the exact command structure, how to define the input frame rate, and how to select the correct video codec and pixel format to ensure a completely lossless, uncompressed output.

The Basic Command

To convert your TIFF sequence to an uncompressed MOV file, open your terminal or command prompt, navigate to the folder containing your images, and run the following command:

ffmpeg -framerate 24 -i input_%04d.tiff -c:v rawvideo -pix_fmt yuv422p output.mov

Command Breakdown

  • -framerate 24: Sets the playback speed of the output video to 24 frames per second. Place this before the -i option to ensure FFmpeg reads the input sequence at this rate. You can change 24 to any frame rate you require (e.g., 30, 60, or 23.976).
  • -i input_%04d.tiff: Specifies the input file pattern.
    • input_ represents the common prefix of your files.
    • %04d tells FFmpeg to look for a four-digit sequential number (e.g., 0001, 0002, 0003). If your files have three digits (e.g., 001), use %03d.
    • .tiff is the file extension. Change this to .tif if your files use the three-letter extension.
  • -c:v rawvideo: Instructs FFmpeg to use the uncompressed raw video codec. This ensures no compression algorithms are applied, maintaining the exact quality of your original TIFF images.
  • -pix_fmt yuv422p: Sets the pixel format to YUV 4:2:2 8-bit, which is a standard broadcast-quality format highly compatible with QuickTime containers.
  • output.mov: The name of the resulting uncompressed QuickTime movie file.

Alternative Pixel Formats

Depending on your workflow requirements, you can change the -pix_fmt value:

  • For 10-bit Uncompressed YUV (v210): Widely used in professional editing suites like DaVinci Resolve and Premiere Pro.

    ffmpeg -framerate 24 -i input_%04d.tiff -c:v v210 output.mov

  • For Uncompressed RGB (24-bit): Best if you need to retain the exact RGB color space of the original TIFFs without any YUV conversion.

    ffmpeg -framerate 24 -i input_%04d.tiff -c:v rawvideo -pix_fmt rgb24 output.mov