Cannot view TIFF files in Workstation and other software packages that are created in ArcGIS Desktop 9.2 (or newer)

Description

TIFFs created since ArcGIS Desktop 9.2 cannot be displayed in Workstation and third party software programs.

Cause

Since the version 9.2 release, ArcGIS has adopted new TIFF library that creates tiled TIFF files by default. Most software within the GIS and Remote Sensing industries have also updated their TIFF library. Workstation and some other software products that have not updated to the latest TIFF library cannot read tiled TIFFs.

Solution or Workaround

1. Close ArcGIS application.
   
2. Go to the the registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ESRI\Raster\Preferences.
   Add a key 'tiff.create_tiled_images' and set the value to false.
   
3. Create the TIFF images. Those TIFF images can be used in Workstation.
4. To change it back, simply delete the registry key that was created or set the value to true.