diff --git a/imageio/plugins/__init__.py b/imageio/plugins/__init__.py
index 4e0074c..4ee8062 100644
--- a/imageio/plugins/__init__.py
+++ b/imageio/plugins/__init__.py
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ For the Format.Writer class:
 
 """
 
+from . import tifffile  # noqa
 from . import freeimage  # noqa
 from . import freeimagemulti  # noqa
 from . import example  # noqa
diff --git a/imageio/plugins/_tifffile.py b/imageio/plugins/_tifffile.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ccacbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/imageio/plugins/_tifffile.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4808 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# tifffile.py
+
+# Copyright (c) 2008-2014, Christoph Gohlke
+# Copyright (c) 2008-2014, The Regents of the University of California
+# Produced at the Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+#
+# * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+#   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+# * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#   notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+#   documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+# * Neither the name of the copyright holders nor the names of any
+#   contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+#   from this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+# ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+# LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+# CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+# SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+# INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+# CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+# ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+# POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+"""Read and write image data from and to TIFF files.
+
+Image and metadata can be read from TIFF, BigTIFF, OME-TIFF, STK, LSM, NIH,
+SGI, ImageJ, MicroManager, FluoView, SEQ and GEL files.
+Only a subset of the TIFF specification is supported, mainly uncompressed
+and losslessly compressed 2**(0 to 6) bit integer, 16, 32 and 64-bit float,
+grayscale and RGB(A) images, which are commonly used in bio-scientific imaging.
+Specifically, reading JPEG and CCITT compressed image data or EXIF, IPTC, GPS,
+and XMP metadata is not implemented.
+Only primary info records are read for STK, FluoView, MicroManager, and
+NIH image formats.
+
+TIFF, the Tagged Image File Format, is under the control of Adobe Systems.
+BigTIFF allows for files greater than 4 GB. STK, LSM, FluoView, SGI, SEQ, GEL,
+and OME-TIFF, are custom extensions defined by Molecular Devices (Universal
+Imaging Corporation), Carl Zeiss MicroImaging, Olympus, Silicon Graphics
+International, Media Cybernetics, Molecular Dynamics, and the Open Microscopy
+Environment consortium respectively.
+
+For command line usage run ``python tifffile.py --help``
+
+:Author:
+  `Christoph Gohlke <http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/>`_
+
+:Organization:
+  Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics, University of California, Irvine
+
+:Version: 2014.08.24
+
+Requirements
+------------
+* `CPython 2.7 or 3.4 <http://www.python.org>`_
+* `Numpy 1.8.2 <http://www.numpy.org>`_
+* `Matplotlib 1.4 <http://www.matplotlib.org>`_ (optional for plotting)
+* `Tifffile.c 2013.11.05 <http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/>`_
+  (recommended for faster decoding of PackBits and LZW encoded strings)
+
+Notes
+-----
+The API is not stable yet and might change between revisions.
+
+Tested on little-endian platforms only.
+
+Other Python packages and modules for reading bio-scientific TIFF files:
+
+*  `Imread <http://luispedro.org/software/imread>`_
+*  `PyLibTiff <http://code.google.com/p/pylibtiff>`_
+*  `SimpleITK <http://www.simpleitk.org>`_
+*  `PyLSM <https://launchpad.net/pylsm>`_
+*  `PyMca.TiffIO.py <http://pymca.sourceforge.net/>`_ (same as fabio.TiffIO)
+*  `BioImageXD.Readers <http://www.bioimagexd.net/>`_
+*  `Cellcognition.io <http://cellcognition.org/>`_
+*  `CellProfiler.bioformats
+   <https://github.com/CellProfiler/python-bioformats>`_
+
+Acknowledgements
+----------------
+*   Egor Zindy, University of Manchester, for cz_lsm_scan_info specifics.
+*   Wim Lewis for a bug fix and some read_cz_lsm functions.
+*   Hadrien Mary for help on reading MicroManager files.
+
+References
+----------
+(1)  TIFF 6.0 Specification and Supplements. Adobe Systems Incorporated.
+     http://partners.adobe.com/public/developer/tiff/
+(2)  TIFF File Format FAQ. http://www.awaresystems.be/imaging/tiff/faq.html
+(3)  MetaMorph Stack (STK) Image File Format.
+     http://support.meta.moleculardevices.com/docs/t10243.pdf
+(4)  Image File Format Description LSM 5/7 Release 6.0 (ZEN 2010).
+     Carl Zeiss MicroImaging GmbH. BioSciences. May 10, 2011
+(5)  File Format Description - LSM 5xx Release 2.0.
+     http://ibb.gsf.de/homepage/karsten.rodenacker/IDL/Lsmfile.doc
+(6)  The OME-TIFF format.
+     http://www.openmicroscopy.org/site/support/file-formats/ome-tiff
+(7)  UltraQuant(r) Version 6.0 for Windows Start-Up Guide.
+     http://www.ultralum.com/images%20ultralum/pdf/UQStart%20Up%20Guide.pdf
+(8)  Micro-Manager File Formats.
+     http://www.micro-manager.org/wiki/Micro-Manager_File_Formats
+(9)  Tags for TIFF and Related Specifications. Digital Preservation.
+     http://www.digitalpreservation.gov/formats/content/tiff_tags.shtml
+
+Examples
+--------
+>>> data = numpy.random.rand(5, 301, 219)
+>>> imsave('temp.tif', data)
+
+>>> image = imread('temp.tif')
+>>> numpy.testing.assert_array_equal(image, data)
+
+>>> with TiffFile('temp.tif') as tif:
+...     images = tif.asarray()
+...     for page in tif:
+...         for tag in page.tags.values():
+...             t = tag.name, tag.value
+...         image = page.asarray()
+
+"""
+
+from __future__ import division, print_function
+
+import sys
+import os
+import re
+import glob
+import math
+import zlib
+import time
+import json
+import struct
+import warnings
+import tempfile
+import datetime
+import collections
+from fractions import Fraction
+from xml.etree import cElementTree as etree
+
+import numpy
+
+__version__ = '2014.08.24'
+__docformat__ = 'restructuredtext en'
+__all__ = ('imsave', 'imread', 'imshow', 'TiffFile', 'TiffWriter',
+           'TiffSequence')
+
+
+def imsave(filename, data, **kwargs):
+    """Write image data to TIFF file.
+
+    Refer to the TiffWriter class and member functions for documentation.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    filename : str
+        Name of file to write.
+    data : array_like
+        Input image. The last dimensions are assumed to be image depth,
+        height, width, and samples.
+    kwargs : dict
+        Parameters 'byteorder', 'bigtiff', and 'software' are passed to
+        the TiffWriter class.
+        Parameters 'photometric', 'planarconfig', 'resolution',
+        'description', 'compress', 'volume', and 'extratags' are passed to
+        the TiffWriter.save function.
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> data = numpy.random.rand(2, 5, 3, 301, 219)
+    >>> description = u'{"shape": %s}' % str(list(data.shape))
+    >>> imsave('temp.tif', data, compress=6,
+    ...        extratags=[(270, 's', 0, description, True)])
+
+    """
+    tifargs = {}
+    for key in ('byteorder', 'bigtiff', 'software', 'writeshape'):
+        if key in kwargs:
+            tifargs[key] = kwargs[key]
+            del kwargs[key]
+
+    if 'writeshape' not in kwargs:
+        kwargs['writeshape'] = True
+    if 'bigtiff' not in tifargs and data.size*data.dtype.itemsize > 2000*2**20:
+        tifargs['bigtiff'] = True
+
+    with TiffWriter(filename, **tifargs) as tif:
+        tif.save(data, **kwargs)
+
+
+class TiffWriter(object):
+    """Write image data to TIFF file.
+
+    TiffWriter instances must be closed using the close method, which is
+    automatically called when using the 'with' statement.
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> data = numpy.random.rand(2, 5, 3, 301, 219)
+    >>> with TiffWriter('temp.tif', bigtiff=True) as tif:
+    ...     for i in range(data.shape[0]):
+    ...         tif.save(data[i], compress=6)
+
+    """
+    TYPES = {'B': 1, 's': 2, 'H': 3, 'I': 4, '2I': 5, 'b': 6,
+             'h': 8, 'i': 9, 'f': 11, 'd': 12, 'Q': 16, 'q': 17}
+    TAGS = {
+        'new_subfile_type': 254, 'subfile_type': 255,
+        'image_width': 256, 'image_length': 257, 'bits_per_sample': 258,
+        'compression': 259, 'photometric': 262, 'fill_order': 266,
+        'document_name': 269, 'image_description': 270, 'strip_offsets': 273,
+        'orientation': 274, 'samples_per_pixel': 277, 'rows_per_strip': 278,
+        'strip_byte_counts': 279, 'x_resolution': 282, 'y_resolution': 283,
+        'planar_configuration': 284, 'page_name': 285, 'resolution_unit': 296,
+        'software': 305, 'datetime': 306, 'predictor': 317, 'color_map': 320,
+        'tile_width': 322, 'tile_length': 323, 'tile_offsets': 324,
+        'tile_byte_counts': 325, 'extra_samples': 338, 'sample_format': 339,
+        'image_depth': 32997, 'tile_depth': 32998}
+
+    def __init__(self, filename, bigtiff=False, byteorder=None,
+                 software='tifffile.py'):
+        """Create a new TIFF file for writing.
+
+        Use bigtiff=True when creating files greater than 2 GB.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        filename : str
+            Name of file to write.
+        bigtiff : bool
+            If True, the BigTIFF format is used.
+        byteorder : {'<', '>'}
+            The endianness of the data in the file.
+            By default this is the system's native byte order.
+        software : str
+            Name of the software used to create the image.
+            Saved with the first page only.
+
+        """
+        if byteorder not in (None, '<', '>'):
+            raise ValueError("invalid byteorder %s" % byteorder)
+        if byteorder is None:
+            byteorder = '<' if sys.byteorder == 'little' else '>'
+
+        self._byteorder = byteorder
+        self._software = software
+
+        self._fh = open(filename, 'wb')
+        self._fh.write({'<': b'II', '>': b'MM'}[byteorder])
+
+        if bigtiff:
+            self._bigtiff = True
+            self._offset_size = 8
+            self._tag_size = 20
+            self._numtag_format = 'Q'
+            self._offset_format = 'Q'
+            self._val_format = '8s'
+            self._fh.write(struct.pack(byteorder+'HHH', 43, 8, 0))
+        else:
+            self._bigtiff = False
+            self._offset_size = 4
+            self._tag_size = 12
+            self._numtag_format = 'H'
+            self._offset_format = 'I'
+            self._val_format = '4s'
+            self._fh.write(struct.pack(byteorder+'H', 42))
+
+        # first IFD
+        self._ifd_offset = self._fh.tell()
+        self._fh.write(struct.pack(byteorder+self._offset_format, 0))
+
+    def save(self, data, photometric=None, planarconfig=None, resolution=None,
+             description=None, volume=False, writeshape=False, compress=0,
+             extratags=()):
+        """Write image data to TIFF file.
+
+        Image data are written in one stripe per plane.
+        Dimensions larger than 2 to 4 (depending on photometric mode, planar
+        configuration, and SGI mode) are flattened and saved as separate pages.
+        The 'sample_format' and 'bits_per_sample' TIFF tags are derived from
+        the data type.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        data : array_like
+            Input image. The last dimensions are assumed to be image depth,
+            height, width, and samples.
+        photometric : {'minisblack', 'miniswhite', 'rgb'}
+            The color space of the image data.
+            By default this setting is inferred from the data shape.
+        planarconfig : {'contig', 'planar'}
+            Specifies if samples are stored contiguous or in separate planes.
+            By default this setting is inferred from the data shape.
+            'contig': last dimension contains samples.
+            'planar': third last dimension contains samples.
+        resolution : (float, float) or ((int, int), (int, int))
+            X and Y resolution in dots per inch as float or rational numbers.
+        description : str
+            The subject of the image. Saved with the first page only.
+        compress : int
+            Values from 0 to 9 controlling the level of zlib compression.
+            If 0, data are written uncompressed (default).
+        volume : bool
+            If True, volume data are stored in one tile (if applicable) using
+            the SGI image_depth and tile_depth tags.
+            Image width and depth must be multiple of 16.
+            Few software can read this format, e.g. MeVisLab.
+        writeshape : bool
+            If True, write the data shape to the image_description tag
+            if necessary and no other description is given.
+        extratags: sequence of tuples
+            Additional tags as [(code, dtype, count, value, writeonce)].
+
+            code : int
+                The TIFF tag Id.
+            dtype : str
+                Data type of items in 'value' in Python struct format.
+                One of B, s, H, I, 2I, b, h, i, f, d, Q, or q.
+            count : int
+                Number of data values. Not used for string values.
+            value : sequence
+                'Count' values compatible with 'dtype'.
+            writeonce : bool
+                If True, the tag is written to the first page only.
+
+        """
+        if photometric not in (None, 'minisblack', 'miniswhite', 'rgb'):
+            raise ValueError("invalid photometric %s" % photometric)
+        if planarconfig not in (None, 'contig', 'planar'):
+            raise ValueError("invalid planarconfig %s" % planarconfig)
+        if not 0 <= compress <= 9:
+            raise ValueError("invalid compression level %s" % compress)
+
+        fh = self._fh
+        byteorder = self._byteorder
+        numtag_format = self._numtag_format
+        val_format = self._val_format
+        offset_format = self._offset_format
+        offset_size = self._offset_size
+        tag_size = self._tag_size
+
+        data = numpy.asarray(data, dtype=byteorder+data.dtype.char, order='C')
+        data_shape = shape = data.shape
+        data = numpy.atleast_2d(data)
+
+        # normalize shape of data
+        samplesperpixel = 1
+        extrasamples = 0
+        if volume and data.ndim < 3:
+            volume = False
+        if photometric is None:
+            if planarconfig:
+                photometric = 'rgb'
+            elif data.ndim > 2 and shape[-1] in (3, 4):
+                photometric = 'rgb'
+            elif volume and data.ndim > 3 and shape[-4] in (3, 4):
+                photometric = 'rgb'
+            elif data.ndim > 2 and shape[-3] in (3, 4):
+                photometric = 'rgb'
+            else:
+                photometric = 'minisblack'
+        if planarconfig and len(shape) <= (3 if volume else 2):
+            planarconfig = None
+            photometric = 'minisblack'
+        if photometric == 'rgb':
+            if len(shape) < 3:
+                raise ValueError("not a RGB(A) image")
+            if len(shape) < 4:
+                volume = False
+            if planarconfig is None:
+                if shape[-1] in (3, 4):
+                    planarconfig = 'contig'
+                elif shape[-4 if volume else -3] in (3, 4):
+                    planarconfig = 'planar'
+                elif shape[-1] > shape[-4 if volume else -3]:
+                    planarconfig = 'planar'
+                else:
+                    planarconfig = 'contig'
+            if planarconfig == 'contig':
+                data = data.reshape((-1, 1) + shape[(-4 if volume else -3):])
+                samplesperpixel = data.shape[-1]
+            else:
+                data = data.reshape(
+                    (-1,) + shape[(-4 if volume else -3):] + (1,))
+                samplesperpixel = data.shape[1]
+            if samplesperpixel > 3:
+                extrasamples = samplesperpixel - 3
+        elif planarconfig and len(shape) > (3 if volume else 2):
+            if planarconfig == 'contig':
+                data = data.reshape((-1, 1) + shape[(-4 if volume else -3):])
+                samplesperpixel = data.shape[-1]
+            else:
+                data = data.reshape(
+                    (-1,) + shape[(-4 if volume else -3):] + (1,))
+                samplesperpixel = data.shape[1]
+            extrasamples = samplesperpixel - 1
+        else:
+            planarconfig = None
+            # remove trailing 1s
+            while len(shape) > 2 and shape[-1] == 1:
+                shape = shape[:-1]
+            if len(shape) < 3:
+                volume = False
+            if False and (
+                    len(shape) > (3 if volume else 2) and shape[-1] < 5 and
+                    all(shape[-1] < i
+                        for i in shape[(-4 if volume else -3):-1])):
+                # DISABLED: non-standard TIFF, e.g. (220, 320, 2)
+                planarconfig = 'contig'
+                samplesperpixel = shape[-1]
+                data = data.reshape((-1, 1) + shape[(-4 if volume else -3):])
+            else:
+                data = data.reshape(
+                    (-1, 1) + shape[(-3 if volume else -2):] + (1,))
+
+        if samplesperpixel == 2:
+            warnings.warn("writing non-standard TIFF (samplesperpixel 2)")
+
+        if volume and (data.shape[-2] % 16 or data.shape[-3] % 16):
+            warnings.warn("volume width or length are not multiple of 16")
+            volume = False
+            data = numpy.swapaxes(data, 1, 2)
+            data = data.reshape(
+                (data.shape[0] * data.shape[1],) + data.shape[2:])
+
+        # data.shape is now normalized 5D or 6D, depending on volume
+        # (pages, planar_samples, (depth,) height, width, contig_samples)
+        assert len(data.shape) in (5, 6)
+        shape = data.shape
+
+        bytestr = bytes if sys.version[0] == '2' else (
+            lambda x: bytes(x, 'utf-8') if isinstance(x, str) else x)
+        tags = []  # list of (code, ifdentry, ifdvalue, writeonce)
+
+        if volume:
+            # use tiles to save volume data
+            tag_byte_counts = TiffWriter.TAGS['tile_byte_counts']
+            tag_offsets = TiffWriter.TAGS['tile_offsets']
+        else:
+            # else use strips
+            tag_byte_counts = TiffWriter.TAGS['strip_byte_counts']
+            tag_offsets = TiffWriter.TAGS['strip_offsets']
+
+        def pack(fmt, *val):
+            return struct.pack(byteorder+fmt, *val)
+
+        def addtag(code, dtype, count, value, writeonce=False):
+            # Compute ifdentry & ifdvalue bytes from code, dtype, count, value.
+            # Append (code, ifdentry, ifdvalue, writeonce) to tags list.
+            code = int(TiffWriter.TAGS.get(code, code))
+            try:
+                tifftype = TiffWriter.TYPES[dtype]
+            except KeyError:
+                raise ValueError("unknown dtype %s" % dtype)
+            rawcount = count
+            if dtype == 's':
+                value = bytestr(value) + b'\0'
+                count = rawcount = len(value)
+                value = (value, )
+            if len(dtype) > 1:
+                count *= int(dtype[:-1])
+                dtype = dtype[-1]
+            ifdentry = [pack('HH', code, tifftype),
+                        pack(offset_format, rawcount)]
+            ifdvalue = None
+            if count == 1:
+                if isinstance(value, (tuple, list)):
+                    value = value[0]
+                ifdentry.append(pack(val_format, pack(dtype, value)))
+            elif struct.calcsize(dtype) * count <= offset_size:
+                ifdentry.append(pack(val_format,
+                                     pack(str(count)+dtype, *value)))
+            else:
+                ifdentry.append(pack(offset_format, 0))
+                ifdvalue = pack(str(count)+dtype, *value)
+            tags.append((code, b''.join(ifdentry), ifdvalue, writeonce))
+
+        def rational(arg, max_denominator=1000000):
+            # return nominator and denominator from float or two integers
+            try:
+                f = Fraction.from_float(arg)
+            except TypeError:
+                f = Fraction(arg[0], arg[1])
+            f = f.limit_denominator(max_denominator)
+            return f.numerator, f.denominator
+
+        if self._software:
+            addtag('software', 's', 0, self._software, writeonce=True)
+            self._software = None  # only save to first page
+        if description:
+            addtag('image_description', 's', 0, description, writeonce=True)
+        elif writeshape and shape[0] > 1 and shape != data_shape:
+            addtag('image_description', 's', 0,
+                   "shape=(%s)" % (",".join('%i' % i for i in data_shape)),
+                   writeonce=True)
+        addtag('datetime', 's', 0,
+               datetime.datetime.now().strftime("%Y:%m:%d %H:%M:%S"),
+               writeonce=True)
+        addtag('compression', 'H', 1, 32946 if compress else 1)
+        addtag('orientation', 'H', 1, 1)
+        addtag('image_width', 'I', 1, shape[-2])
+        addtag('image_length', 'I', 1, shape[-3])
+        if volume:
+            addtag('image_depth', 'I', 1, shape[-4])
+            addtag('tile_depth', 'I', 1, shape[-4])
+            addtag('tile_width', 'I', 1, shape[-2])
+            addtag('tile_length', 'I', 1, shape[-3])
+        addtag('new_subfile_type', 'I', 1, 0 if shape[0] == 1 else 2)
+        addtag('sample_format', 'H', 1,
+               {'u': 1, 'i': 2, 'f': 3, 'c': 6}[data.dtype.kind])
+        addtag('photometric', 'H', 1,
+               {'miniswhite': 0, 'minisblack': 1, 'rgb': 2}[photometric])
+        addtag('samples_per_pixel', 'H', 1, samplesperpixel)
+        if planarconfig and samplesperpixel > 1:
+            addtag('planar_configuration', 'H', 1, 1
+                   if planarconfig == 'contig' else 2)
+            addtag('bits_per_sample', 'H', samplesperpixel,
+                   (data.dtype.itemsize * 8, ) * samplesperpixel)
+        else:
+            addtag('bits_per_sample', 'H', 1, data.dtype.itemsize * 8)
+        if extrasamples:
+            if photometric == 'rgb' and extrasamples == 1:
+                addtag('extra_samples', 'H', 1, 1)  # associated alpha channel
+            else:
+                addtag('extra_samples', 'H', extrasamples, (0,) * extrasamples)
+        if resolution:
+            addtag('x_resolution', '2I', 1, rational(resolution[0]))
+            addtag('y_resolution', '2I', 1, rational(resolution[1]))
+            addtag('resolution_unit', 'H', 1, 2)
+        addtag('rows_per_strip', 'I', 1,
+               shape[-3] * (shape[-4] if volume else 1))
+
+        # use one strip or tile per plane
+        strip_byte_counts = (data[0, 0].size * data.dtype.itemsize,) * shape[1]
+        addtag(tag_byte_counts, offset_format, shape[1], strip_byte_counts)
+        addtag(tag_offsets, offset_format, shape[1], (0, ) * shape[1])
+
+        # add extra tags from users
+        for t in extratags:
+            addtag(*t)
+        # the entries in an IFD must be sorted in ascending order by tag code
+        tags = sorted(tags, key=lambda x: x[0])
+
+        if not self._bigtiff and (fh.tell() + data.size*data.dtype.itemsize
+                                  > 2**31-1):
+            raise ValueError("data too large for non-bigtiff file")
+
+        for pageindex in range(shape[0]):
+            # update pointer at ifd_offset
+            pos = fh.tell()
+            fh.seek(self._ifd_offset)
+            fh.write(pack(offset_format, pos))
+            fh.seek(pos)
+
+            # write ifdentries
+            fh.write(pack(numtag_format, len(tags)))
+            tag_offset = fh.tell()
+            fh.write(b''.join(t[1] for t in tags))
+            self._ifd_offset = fh.tell()
+            fh.write(pack(offset_format, 0))  # offset to next IFD
+
+            # write tag values and patch offsets in ifdentries, if necessary
+            for tagindex, tag in enumerate(tags):
+                if tag[2]:
+                    pos = fh.tell()
+                    fh.seek(tag_offset + tagindex*tag_size + offset_size + 4)
+                    fh.write(pack(offset_format, pos))
+                    fh.seek(pos)
+                    if tag[0] == tag_offsets:
+                        strip_offsets_offset = pos
+                    elif tag[0] == tag_byte_counts:
+                        strip_byte_counts_offset = pos
+                    fh.write(tag[2])
+
+            # write image data
+            data_offset = fh.tell()
+            if compress:
+                strip_byte_counts = []
+                for plane in data[pageindex]:
+                    plane = zlib.compress(plane, compress)
+                    strip_byte_counts.append(len(plane))
+                    fh.write(plane)
+            else:
+                # if this fails try update Python/numpy
+                data[pageindex].tofile(fh)
+                fh.flush()
+
+            # update strip and tile offsets and byte_counts if necessary
+            pos = fh.tell()
+            for tagindex, tag in enumerate(tags):
+                if tag[0] == tag_offsets:  # strip or tile offsets
+                    if tag[2]:
+                        fh.seek(strip_offsets_offset)
+                        strip_offset = data_offset
+                        for size in strip_byte_counts:
+                            fh.write(pack(offset_format, strip_offset))
+                            strip_offset += size
+                    else:
+                        fh.seek(tag_offset + tagindex*tag_size +
+                                offset_size + 4)
+                        fh.write(pack(offset_format, data_offset))
+                elif tag[0] == tag_byte_counts:  # strip or tile byte_counts
+                    if compress:
+                        if tag[2]:
+                            fh.seek(strip_byte_counts_offset)
+                            for size in strip_byte_counts:
+                                fh.write(pack(offset_format, size))
+                        else:
+                            fh.seek(tag_offset + tagindex*tag_size +
+                                    offset_size + 4)
+                            fh.write(pack(offset_format, strip_byte_counts[0]))
+                    break
+            fh.seek(pos)
+            fh.flush()
+            # remove tags that should be written only once
+            if pageindex == 0:
+                tags = [t for t in tags if not t[-1]]
+
+    def close(self):
+        self._fh.close()
+
+    def __enter__(self):
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_value, traceback):
+        self.close()
+
+
+def imread(files, **kwargs):
+    """Return image data from TIFF file(s) as numpy array.
+
+    The first image series is returned if no arguments are provided.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    files : str or list
+        File name, glob pattern, or list of file names.
+    key : int, slice, or sequence of page indices
+        Defines which pages to return as array.
+    series : int
+        Defines which series of pages in file to return as array.
+    multifile : bool
+        If True (default), OME-TIFF data may include pages from multiple files.
+    pattern : str
+        Regular expression pattern that matches axes names and indices in
+        file names.
+    kwargs : dict
+        Additional parameters passed to the TiffFile or TiffSequence asarray
+        function.
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> im = imread('test.tif', key=0)  # doctest: +SKIP
+    >>> im.shape  # doctest: +SKIP
+    (256, 256, 4)
+    >>> ims = imread(['test.tif', 'test.tif'])  # doctest: +SKIP
+    >>> ims.shape  # doctest: +SKIP
+    (2, 256, 256, 4)
+
+    """
+    kwargs_file = {}
+    if 'multifile' in kwargs:
+        kwargs_file['multifile'] = kwargs['multifile']
+        del kwargs['multifile']
+    else:
+        kwargs_file['multifile'] = True
+    kwargs_seq = {}
+    if 'pattern' in kwargs:
+        kwargs_seq['pattern'] = kwargs['pattern']
+        del kwargs['pattern']
+
+    if isinstance(files, basestring) and any(i in files for i in '?*'):
+        files = glob.glob(files)
+    if not files:
+        raise ValueError('no files found')
+    if len(files) == 1:
+        files = files[0]
+
+    if isinstance(files, basestring):
+        with TiffFile(files, **kwargs_file) as tif:
+            return tif.asarray(**kwargs)
+    else:
+        with TiffSequence(files, **kwargs_seq) as imseq:
+            return imseq.asarray(**kwargs)
+
+
+class lazyattr(object):
+    """Lazy object attribute whose value is computed on first access."""
+    __slots__ = ('func', )
+
+    def __init__(self, func):
+        self.func = func
+
+    def __get__(self, instance, owner):
+        if instance is None:
+            return self
+        value = self.func(instance)
+        if value is NotImplemented:
+            return getattr(super(owner, instance), self.func.__name__)
+        setattr(instance, self.func.__name__, value)
+        return value
+
+
+class TiffFile(object):
+    """Read image and metadata from TIFF, STK, LSM, and FluoView files.
+
+    TiffFile instances must be closed using the close method, which is
+    automatically called when using the 'with' statement.
+
+    Attributes
+    ----------
+    pages : list
+        All TIFF pages in file.
+    series : list of Records(shape, dtype, axes, TiffPages)
+        TIFF pages with compatible shapes and types.
+    micromanager_metadata: dict
+        Extra MicroManager non-TIFF metadata in the file, if exists.
+
+    All attributes are read-only.
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> with TiffFile('test.tif') as tif:  # doctest: +SKIP
+    ...     data = tif.asarray()
+    ...     data.shape
+    (256, 256, 4)
+
+    """
+    def __init__(self, arg, name=None, offset=None, size=None,
+                 multifile=True, multifile_close=True):
+        """Initialize instance from file.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        arg : str or open file
+            Name of file or open file object.
+            The file objects are closed in TiffFile.close().
+        name : str
+            Optional name of file in case 'arg' is a file handle.
+        offset : int
+            Optional start position of embedded file. By default this is
+            the current file position.
+        size : int
+            Optional size of embedded file. By default this is the number
+            of bytes from the 'offset' to the end of the file.
+        multifile : bool
+            If True (default), series may include pages from multiple files.
+            Currently applies to OME-TIFF only.
+        multifile_close : bool
+            If True (default), keep the handles of other files in multifile
+            series closed. This is inefficient when few files refer to
+            many pages. If False, the C runtime may run out of resources.
+
+        """
+        self._fh = FileHandle(arg, name=name, offset=offset, size=size)
+        self.offset_size = None
+        self.pages = []
+        self._multifile = bool(multifile)
+        self._multifile_close = bool(multifile_close)
+        self._files = {self._fh.name: self}  # cache of TiffFiles
+        try:
+            self._fromfile()
+        except Exception:
+            self._fh.close()
+            raise
+
+    @property
+    def filehandle(self):
+        """Return file handle."""
+        return self._fh
+
+    @property
+    def filename(self):
+        """Return name of file handle."""
+        return self._fh.name
+
+    def close(self):
+        """Close open file handle(s)."""
+        for tif in self._files.values():
+            tif._fh.close()
+        self._files = {}
+
+    def _fromfile(self):
+        """Read TIFF header and all page records from file."""
+        self._fh.seek(0)
+        try:
+            self.byteorder = {b'II': '<', b'MM': '>'}[self._fh.read(2)]
+        except KeyError:
+            raise ValueError("not a valid TIFF file")
+        version = struct.unpack(self.byteorder+'H', self._fh.read(2))[0]
+        if version == 43:  # BigTiff
+            self.offset_size, zero = struct.unpack(self.byteorder+'HH',
+                                                   self._fh.read(4))
+            if zero or self.offset_size != 8:
+                raise ValueError("not a valid BigTIFF file")
+        elif version == 42:
+            self.offset_size = 4
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("not a TIFF file")
+        self.pages = []
+        while True:
+            try:
+                page = TiffPage(self)
+                self.pages.append(page)
+            except StopIteration:
+                break
+        if not self.pages:
+            raise ValueError("empty TIFF file")
+
+        if self.is_micromanager:
+            # MicroManager files contain metadata not stored in TIFF tags.
+            self.micromanager_metadata = read_micromanager_metadata(self._fh)
+
+        if self.is_lsm:
+            self._fix_lsm_strip_offsets()
+            self._fix_lsm_strip_byte_counts()
+
+    def _fix_lsm_strip_offsets(self):
+        """Unwrap strip offsets for LSM files greater than 4 GB."""
+        for series in self.series:
+            wrap = 0
+            previous_offset = 0
+            for page in series.pages:
+                strip_offsets = []
+                for current_offset in page.strip_offsets:
+                    if current_offset < previous_offset:
+                        wrap += 2**32
+                    strip_offsets.append(current_offset + wrap)
+                    previous_offset = current_offset
+                page.strip_offsets = tuple(strip_offsets)
+
+    def _fix_lsm_strip_byte_counts(self):
+        """Set strip_byte_counts to size of compressed data.
+
+        The strip_byte_counts tag in LSM files contains the number of bytes
+        for the uncompressed data.
+
+        """
+        if not self.pages:
+            return
+        strips = {}
+        for page in self.pages:
+            assert len(page.strip_offsets) == len(page.strip_byte_counts)
+            for offset, bytecount in zip(page.strip_offsets,
+                                         page.strip_byte_counts):
+                strips[offset] = bytecount
+        offsets = sorted(strips.keys())
+        offsets.append(min(offsets[-1] + strips[offsets[-1]], self._fh.size))
+        for i, offset in enumerate(offsets[:-1]):
+            strips[offset] = min(strips[offset], offsets[i+1] - offset)
+        for page in self.pages:
+            if page.compression:
+                page.strip_byte_counts = tuple(
+                    strips[offset] for offset in page.strip_offsets)
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def series(self):
+        """Return series of TiffPage with compatible shape and properties."""
+        if not self.pages:
+            return []
+
+        series = []
+        page0 = self.pages[0]
+
+        if self.is_ome:
+            series = self._omeseries()
+        elif self.is_fluoview:
+            dims = {b'X': 'X', b'Y': 'Y', b'Z': 'Z', b'T': 'T',
+                    b'WAVELENGTH': 'C', b'TIME': 'T', b'XY': 'R',
+                    b'EVENT': 'V', b'EXPOSURE': 'L'}
+            mmhd = list(reversed(page0.mm_header.dimensions))
+            series = [Record(
+                axes=''.join(dims.get(i[0].strip().upper(), 'Q')
+                             for i in mmhd if i[1] > 1),
+                shape=tuple(int(i[1]) for i in mmhd if i[1] > 1),
+                pages=self.pages, dtype=numpy.dtype(page0.dtype))]
+        elif self.is_lsm:
+            lsmi = page0.cz_lsm_info
+            axes = CZ_SCAN_TYPES[lsmi.scan_type]
+            if page0.is_rgb:
+                axes = axes.replace('C', '').replace('XY', 'XYC')
+            axes = axes[::-1]
+            shape = tuple(getattr(lsmi, CZ_DIMENSIONS[i]) for i in axes)
+            pages = [p for p in self.pages if not p.is_reduced]
+            series = [Record(axes=axes, shape=shape, pages=pages,
+                             dtype=numpy.dtype(pages[0].dtype))]
+            if len(pages) != len(self.pages):  # reduced RGB pages
+                pages = [p for p in self.pages if p.is_reduced]
+                cp = 1
+                i = 0
+                while cp < len(pages) and i < len(shape)-2:
+                    cp *= shape[i]
+                    i += 1
+                shape = shape[:i] + pages[0].shape
+                axes = axes[:i] + 'CYX'
+                series.append(Record(axes=axes, shape=shape, pages=pages,
+                                     dtype=numpy.dtype(pages[0].dtype)))
+        elif self.is_imagej:
+            shape = []
+            axes = []
+            ij = page0.imagej_tags
+            if 'frames' in ij:
+                shape.append(ij['frames'])
+                axes.append('T')
+            if 'slices' in ij:
+                shape.append(ij['slices'])
+                axes.append('Z')
+            if 'channels' in ij and not self.is_rgb:
+                shape.append(ij['channels'])
+                axes.append('C')
+            remain = len(self.pages) // (product(shape) if shape else 1)
+            if remain > 1:
+                shape.append(remain)
+                axes.append('I')
+            shape.extend(page0.shape)
+            axes.extend(page0.axes)
+            axes = ''.join(axes)
+            series = [Record(pages=self.pages, shape=tuple(shape), axes=axes,
+                             dtype=numpy.dtype(page0.dtype))]
+        elif self.is_nih:
+            if len(self.pages) == 1:
+                shape = page0.shape
+                axes = page0.axes
+            else:
+                shape = (len(self.pages),) + page0.shape
+                axes = 'I' + page0.axes
+            series = [Record(pages=self.pages, shape=shape, axes=axes,
+                             dtype=numpy.dtype(page0.dtype))]
+        elif page0.is_shaped:
+            # TODO: shaped files can contain multiple series
+            shape = page0.tags['image_description'].value[7:-1]
+            shape = tuple(int(i) for i in shape.split(b','))
+            series = [Record(pages=self.pages, shape=shape,
+                             axes='Q' * len(shape),
+                             dtype=numpy.dtype(page0.dtype))]
+
+        # generic detection of series
+        if not series:
+            shapes = []
+            pages = {}
+            for page in self.pages:
+                if not page.shape:
+                    continue
+                shape = page.shape + (page.axes,
+                                      page.compression in TIFF_DECOMPESSORS)
+                if shape not in pages:
+                    shapes.append(shape)
+                    pages[shape] = [page]
+                else:
+                    pages[shape].append(page)
+            series = [Record(pages=pages[s],
+                             axes=(('I' + s[-2])
+                                   if len(pages[s]) > 1 else s[-2]),
+                             dtype=numpy.dtype(pages[s][0].dtype),
+                             shape=((len(pages[s]), ) + s[:-2]
+                                    if len(pages[s]) > 1 else s[:-2]))
+                      for s in shapes]
+
+        # remove empty series, e.g. in MD Gel files
+        series = [s for s in series if sum(s.shape) > 0]
+
+        return series
+
+    def asarray(self, key=None, series=None, memmap=False):
+        """Return image data from multiple TIFF pages as numpy array.
+
+        By default the first image series is returned.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        key : int, slice, or sequence of page indices
+            Defines which pages to return as array.
+        series : int
+            Defines which series of pages to return as array.
+        memmap : bool
+            If True, return an array stored in a binary file on disk
+            if possible.
+
+        """
+        if key is None and series is None:
+            series = 0
+        if series is not None:
+            pages = self.series[series].pages
+        else:
+            pages = self.pages
+
+        if key is None:
+            pass
+        elif isinstance(key, int):
+            pages = [pages[key]]
+        elif isinstance(key, slice):
+            pages = pages[key]
+        elif isinstance(key, collections.Iterable):
+            pages = [pages[k] for k in key]
+        else:
+            raise TypeError("key must be an int, slice, or sequence")
+
+        if not len(pages):
+            raise ValueError("no pages selected")
+
+        if self.is_nih:
+            if pages[0].is_palette:
+                result = stack_pages(pages, colormapped=False, squeeze=False)
+                result = numpy.take(pages[0].color_map, result, axis=1)
+                result = numpy.swapaxes(result, 0, 1)
+            else:
+                result = stack_pages(pages, memmap=memmap,
+                                     colormapped=False, squeeze=False)
+        elif len(pages) == 1:
+            return pages[0].asarray(memmap=memmap)
+        elif self.is_ome:
+            assert not self.is_palette, "color mapping disabled for ome-tiff"
+            if any(p is None for p in pages):
+                # zero out missing pages
+                firstpage = next(p for p in pages if p)
+                nopage = numpy.zeros_like(
+                    firstpage.asarray(memmap=False))
+            s = self.series[series]
+            if memmap:
+                with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile() as fh:
+                    result = numpy.memmap(fh, dtype=s.dtype, shape=s.shape)
+                    result = result.reshape(-1)
+            else:
+                result = numpy.empty(s.shape, s.dtype).reshape(-1)
+            index = 0
+
+            class KeepOpen:
+                # keep Tiff files open between consecutive pages
+                def __init__(self, parent, close):
+                    self.master = parent
+                    self.parent = parent
+                    self._close = close
+
+                def open(self, page):
+                    if self._close and page and page.parent != self.parent:
+                        if self.parent != self.master:
+                            self.parent.filehandle.close()
+                        self.parent = page.parent
+                        self.parent.filehandle.open()
+
+                def close(self):
+                    if self._close and self.parent != self.master:
+                        self.parent.filehandle.close()
+
+            keep = KeepOpen(self, self._multifile_close)
+            for page in pages:
+                keep.open(page)
+                if page:
+                    a = page.asarray(memmap=False, colormapped=False,
+                                     reopen=False)
+                else:
+                    a = nopage
+                try:
+                    result[index:index + a.size] = a.reshape(-1)
+                except ValueError as e:
+                    warnings.warn("ome-tiff: %s" % e)
+                    break
+                index += a.size
+            keep.close()
+        else:
+            result = stack_pages(pages, memmap=memmap)
+
+        if key is None:
+            try:
+                result.shape = self.series[series].shape
+            except ValueError:
+                try:
+                    warnings.warn("failed to reshape %s to %s" % (
+                                  result.shape, self.series[series].shape))
+                    # try series of expected shapes
+                    result.shape = (-1,) + self.series[series].shape
+                except ValueError:
+                    # revert to generic shape
+                    result.shape = (-1,) + pages[0].shape
+        else:
+            result.shape = (-1,) + pages[0].shape
+        return result
+
+    def _omeseries(self):
+        """Return image series in OME-TIFF file(s)."""
+        root = etree.fromstring(self.pages[0].tags['image_description'].value)
+        uuid = root.attrib.get('UUID', None)
+        self._files = {uuid: self}
+        dirname = self._fh.dirname
+        modulo = {}
+        result = []
+        for element in root:
+            if element.tag.endswith('BinaryOnly'):
+                warnings.warn("ome-xml: not an ome-tiff master file")
+                break
+            if element.tag.endswith('StructuredAnnotations'):
+                for annot in element:
+                    if not annot.attrib.get('Namespace',
+                                            '').endswith('modulo'):
+                        continue
+                    for value in annot:
+                        for modul in value:
+                            for along in modul:
+                                if not along.tag[:-1].endswith('Along'):
+                                    continue
+                                axis = along.tag[-1]
+                                newaxis = along.attrib.get('Type', 'other')
+                                newaxis = AXES_LABELS[newaxis]
+                                if 'Start' in along.attrib:
+                                    labels = range(
+                                        int(along.attrib['Start']),
+                                        int(along.attrib['End']) + 1,
+                                        int(along.attrib.get('Step', 1)))
+                                else:
+                                    labels = [label.text for label in along
+                                              if label.tag.endswith('Label')]
+                                modulo[axis] = (newaxis, labels)
+            if not element.tag.endswith('Image'):
+                continue
+            for pixels in element:
+                if not pixels.tag.endswith('Pixels'):
+                    continue
+                atr = pixels.attrib
+                dtype = atr.get('Type', None)
+                axes = ''.join(reversed(atr['DimensionOrder']))
+                shape = list(int(atr['Size'+ax]) for ax in axes)
+                size = product(shape[:-2])
+                ifds = [None] * size
+                for data in pixels:
+                    if not data.tag.endswith('TiffData'):
+                        continue
+                    atr = data.attrib
+                    ifd = int(atr.get('IFD', 0))
+                    num = int(atr.get('NumPlanes', 1 if 'IFD' in atr else 0))
+                    num = int(atr.get('PlaneCount', num))
+                    idx = [int(atr.get('First'+ax, 0)) for ax in axes[:-2]]
+                    try:
+                        idx = numpy.ravel_multi_index(idx, shape[:-2])
+                    except ValueError:
+                        # ImageJ produces invalid ome-xml when cropping
+                        warnings.warn("ome-xml: invalid TiffData index")
+                        continue
+                    for uuid in data:
+                        if not uuid.tag.endswith('UUID'):
+                            continue
+                        if uuid.text not in self._files:
+                            if not self._multifile:
+                                # abort reading multifile OME series
+                                # and fall back to generic series
+                                return []
+                            fname = uuid.attrib['FileName']
+                            try:
+                                tif = TiffFile(os.path.join(dirname, fname))
+                            except (IOError, ValueError):
+                                tif.close()
+                                warnings.warn(
+                                    "ome-xml: failed to read '%s'" % fname)
+                                break
+                            self._files[uuid.text] = tif
+                            if self._multifile_close:
+                                tif.close()
+                        pages = self._files[uuid.text].pages
+                        try:
+                            for i in range(num if num else len(pages)):
+                                ifds[idx + i] = pages[ifd + i]
+                        except IndexError:
+                            warnings.warn("ome-xml: index out of range")
+                        # only process first uuid
+                        break
+                    else:
+                        pages = self.pages
+                        try:
+                            for i in range(num if num else len(pages)):
+                                ifds[idx + i] = pages[ifd + i]
+                        except IndexError:
+                            warnings.warn("ome-xml: index out of range")
+                if all(i is None for i in ifds):
+                    # skip images without data
+                    continue
+                dtype = next(i for i in ifds if i).dtype
+                result.append(Record(axes=axes, shape=shape, pages=ifds,
+                                     dtype=numpy.dtype(dtype)))
+
+        for record in result:
+            for axis, (newaxis, labels) in modulo.items():
+                i = record.axes.index(axis)
+                size = len(labels)
+                if record.shape[i] == size:
+                    record.axes = record.axes.replace(axis, newaxis, 1)
+                else:
+                    record.shape[i] //= size
+                    record.shape.insert(i+1, size)
+                    record.axes = record.axes.replace(axis, axis+newaxis, 1)
+            record.shape = tuple(record.shape)
+
+        # squeeze dimensions
+        for record in result:
+            record.shape, record.axes = squeeze_axes(record.shape, record.axes)
+
+        return result
+
+    def __len__(self):
+        """Return number of image pages in file."""
+        return len(self.pages)
+
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        """Return specified page."""
+        return self.pages[key]
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        """Return iterator over pages."""
+        return iter(self.pages)
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        """Return string containing information about file."""
+        result = [
+            self._fh.name.capitalize(),
+            format_size(self._fh.size),
+            {'<': 'little endian', '>': 'big endian'}[self.byteorder]]
+        if self.is_bigtiff:
+            result.append("bigtiff")
+        if len(self.pages) > 1:
+            result.append("%i pages" % len(self.pages))
+        if len(self.series) > 1:
+            result.append("%i series" % len(self.series))
+        if len(self._files) > 1:
+            result.append("%i files" % (len(self._files)))
+        return ", ".join(result)
+
+    def __enter__(self):
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_value, traceback):
+        self.close()
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def fstat(self):
+        try:
+            return os.fstat(self._fh.fileno())
+        except Exception:  # io.UnsupportedOperation
+            return None
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_bigtiff(self):
+        return self.offset_size != 4
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_rgb(self):
+        return all(p.is_rgb for p in self.pages)
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_palette(self):
+        return all(p.is_palette for p in self.pages)
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_mdgel(self):
+        return any(p.is_mdgel for p in self.pages)
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_mediacy(self):
+        return any(p.is_mediacy for p in self.pages)
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_stk(self):
+        return all(p.is_stk for p in self.pages)
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_lsm(self):
+        return self.pages[0].is_lsm
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_imagej(self):
+        return self.pages[0].is_imagej
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_micromanager(self):
+        return self.pages[0].is_micromanager
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_nih(self):
+        return self.pages[0].is_nih
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_fluoview(self):
+        return self.pages[0].is_fluoview
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_ome(self):
+        return self.pages[0].is_ome
+
+
+class TiffPage(object):
+    """A TIFF image file directory (IFD).
+
+    Attributes
+    ----------
+    index : int
+        Index of page in file.
+    dtype : str {TIFF_SAMPLE_DTYPES}
+        Data type of image, colormapped if applicable.
+    shape : tuple
+        Dimensions of the image array in TIFF page,
+        colormapped and with one alpha channel if applicable.
+    axes : str
+        Axes label codes:
+        'X' width, 'Y' height, 'S' sample, 'I' image series|page|plane,
+        'Z' depth, 'C' color|em-wavelength|channel, 'E' ex-wavelength|lambda,
+        'T' time, 'R' region|tile, 'A' angle, 'P' phase, 'H' lifetime,
+        'L' exposure, 'V' event, 'Q' unknown, '_' missing
+    tags : TiffTags
+        Dictionary of tags in page.
+        Tag values are also directly accessible as attributes.
+    color_map : numpy array
+        Color look up table, if exists.
+    cz_lsm_scan_info: Record(dict)
+        LSM scan info attributes, if exists.
+    imagej_tags: Record(dict)
+        Consolidated ImageJ description and metadata tags, if exists.
+    uic_tags: Record(dict)
+        Consolidated MetaMorph STK/UIC tags, if exists.
+
+    All attributes are read-only.
+
+    Notes
+    -----
+    The internal, normalized '_shape' attribute is 6 dimensional:
+
+    0. number planes  (stk)
+    1. planar samples_per_pixel
+    2. image_depth Z  (sgi)
+    3. image_length Y
+    4. image_width X
+    5. contig samples_per_pixel
+
+    """
+    def __init__(self, parent):
+        """Initialize instance from file."""
+        self.parent = parent
+        self.index = len(parent.pages)
+        self.shape = self._shape = ()
+        self.dtype = self._dtype = None
+        self.axes = ""
+        self.tags = TiffTags()
+
+        self._fromfile()
+        self._process_tags()
+
+    def _fromfile(self):
+        """Read TIFF IFD structure and its tags from file.
+
+        File cursor must be at storage position of IFD offset and is left at
+        offset to next IFD.
+
+        Raises StopIteration if offset (first bytes read) is 0.
+
+        """
+        fh = self.parent.filehandle
+        byteorder = self.parent.byteorder
+        offset_size = self.parent.offset_size
+
+        fmt = {4: 'I', 8: 'Q'}[offset_size]
+        offset = struct.unpack(byteorder + fmt, fh.read(offset_size))[0]
+        if not offset:
+            raise StopIteration()
+
+        # read standard tags
+        tags = self.tags
+        fh.seek(offset)
+        fmt, size = {4: ('H', 2), 8: ('Q', 8)}[offset_size]
+        try:
+            numtags = struct.unpack(byteorder + fmt, fh.read(size))[0]
+        except Exception:
+            warnings.warn("corrupted page list")
+            raise StopIteration()
+
+        tagcode = 0
+        for _ in range(numtags):
+            try:
+                tag = TiffTag(self.parent)
+                # print(tag)
+            except TiffTag.Error as e:
+                warnings.warn(str(e))
+                continue
+            if tagcode > tag.code:
+                # expected for early LSM and tifffile versions
+                warnings.warn("tags are not ordered by code")
+            tagcode = tag.code
+            if tag.name not in tags:
+                tags[tag.name] = tag
+            else:
+                # some files contain multiple IFD with same code
+                # e.g. MicroManager files contain two image_description
+                i = 1
+                while True:
+                    name = "%s_%i" % (tag.name, i)
+                    if name not in tags:
+                        tags[name] = tag
+                        break
+
+        pos = fh.tell()
+
+        if self.is_lsm or (self.index and self.parent.is_lsm):
+            # correct non standard LSM bitspersample tags
+            self.tags['bits_per_sample']._correct_lsm_bitspersample(self)
+
+        if self.is_lsm:
+            # read LSM info subrecords
+            for name, reader in CZ_LSM_INFO_READERS.items():
+                try:
+                    offset = self.cz_lsm_info['offset_'+name]
+                except KeyError:
+                    continue
+                if offset < 8:
+                    # older LSM revision
+                    continue
+                fh.seek(offset)
+                try:
+                    setattr(self, 'cz_lsm_'+name, reader(fh))
+                except ValueError:
+                    pass
+
+        elif self.is_stk and 'uic1tag' in tags and not tags['uic1tag'].value:
+            # read uic1tag now that plane count is known
+            uic1tag = tags['uic1tag']
+            fh.seek(uic1tag.value_offset)
+            tags['uic1tag'].value = Record(
+                read_uic1tag(fh, byteorder, uic1tag.dtype, uic1tag.count,
+                             tags['uic2tag'].count))
+        fh.seek(pos)
+
+    def _process_tags(self):
+        """Validate standard tags and initialize attributes.
+
+        Raise ValueError if tag values are not supported.
+
+        """
+        tags = self.tags
+        for code, (name, default, dtype, count, validate) in TIFF_TAGS.items():
+            if not (name in tags or default is None):
+                tags[name] = TiffTag(code, dtype=dtype, count=count,
+                                     value=default, name=name)
+            if name in tags and validate:
+                try:
+                    if tags[name].count == 1:
+                        setattr(self, name, validate[tags[name].value])
+                    else:
+                        setattr(self, name, tuple(
+                            validate[value] for value in tags[name].value))
+                except KeyError:
+                    raise ValueError("%s.value (%s) not supported" %
+                                     (name, tags[name].value))
+
+        tag = tags['bits_per_sample']
+        if tag.count == 1:
+            self.bits_per_sample = tag.value
+        else:
+            # LSM might list more items than samples_per_pixel
+            value = tag.value[:self.samples_per_pixel]
+            if any((v-value[0] for v in value)):
+                self.bits_per_sample = value
+            else:
+                self.bits_per_sample = value[0]
+
+        tag = tags['sample_format']
+        if tag.count == 1:
+            self.sample_format = TIFF_SAMPLE_FORMATS[tag.value]
+        else:
+            value = tag.value[:self.samples_per_pixel]
+            if any((v-value[0] for v in value)):
+                self.sample_format = [TIFF_SAMPLE_FORMATS[v] for v in value]
+            else:
+                self.sample_format = TIFF_SAMPLE_FORMATS[value[0]]
+
+        if 'photometric' not in tags:
+            self.photometric = None
+
+        if 'image_depth' not in tags:
+            self.image_depth = 1
+
+        if 'image_length' in tags:
+            self.strips_per_image = int(math.floor(
+                float(self.image_length + self.rows_per_strip - 1) /
+                self.rows_per_strip))
+        else:
+            self.strips_per_image = 0
+
+        key = (self.sample_format, self.bits_per_sample)
+        self.dtype = self._dtype = TIFF_SAMPLE_DTYPES.get(key, None)
+
+        if 'image_length' not in self.tags or 'image_width' not in self.tags:
+            # some GEL file pages are missing image data
+            self.image_length = 0
+            self.image_width = 0
+            self.image_depth = 0
+            self.strip_offsets = 0
+            self._shape = ()
+            self.shape = ()
+            self.axes = ''
+
+        if self.is_palette:
+            self.dtype = self.tags['color_map'].dtype[1]
+            self.color_map = numpy.array(self.color_map, self.dtype)
+            dmax = self.color_map.max()
+            if dmax < 256:
+                self.dtype = numpy.uint8
+                self.color_map = self.color_map.astype(self.dtype)
+            #else:
+            #    self.dtype = numpy.uint8
+            #    self.color_map >>= 8
+            #    self.color_map = self.color_map.astype(self.dtype)
+            self.color_map.shape = (3, -1)
+
+        # determine shape of data
+        image_length = self.image_length
+        image_width = self.image_width
+        image_depth = self.image_depth
+        samples_per_pixel = self.samples_per_pixel
+
+        if self.is_stk:
+            assert self.image_depth == 1
+            planes = self.tags['uic2tag'].count
+            if self.is_contig:
+                self._shape = (planes, 1, 1, image_length, image_width,
+                               samples_per_pixel)
+                if samples_per_pixel == 1:
+                    self.shape = (planes, image_length, image_width)
+                    self.axes = 'YX'
+                else:
+                    self.shape = (planes, image_length, image_width,
+                                  samples_per_pixel)
+                    self.axes = 'YXS'
+            else:
+                self._shape = (planes, samples_per_pixel, 1, image_length,
+                               image_width, 1)
+                if samples_per_pixel == 1:
+                    self.shape = (planes, image_length, image_width)
+                    self.axes = 'YX'
+                else:
+                    self.shape = (planes, samples_per_pixel, image_length,
+                                  image_width)
+                    self.axes = 'SYX'
+            # detect type of series
+            if planes == 1:
+                self.shape = self.shape[1:]
+            elif numpy.all(self.uic2tag.z_distance != 0):
+                self.axes = 'Z' + self.axes
+            elif numpy.all(numpy.diff(self.uic2tag.time_created) != 0):
+                self.axes = 'T' + self.axes
+            else:
+                self.axes = 'I' + self.axes
+            # DISABLED
+            if self.is_palette:
+                assert False, "color mapping disabled for stk"
+                if self.color_map.shape[1] >= 2**self.bits_per_sample:
+                    if image_depth == 1:
+                        self.shape = (3, planes, image_length, image_width)
+                    else:
+                        self.shape = (3, planes, image_depth, image_length,
+                                      image_width)
+                    self.axes = 'C' + self.axes
+                else:
+                    warnings.warn("palette cannot be applied")
+                    self.is_palette = False
+        elif self.is_palette:
+            samples = 1
+            if 'extra_samples' in self.tags:
+                samples += len(self.extra_samples)
+            if self.is_contig:
+                self._shape = (1, 1, image_depth, image_length, image_width,
+                               samples)
+            else:
+                self._shape = (1, samples, image_depth, image_length,
+                               image_width, 1)
+            if self.color_map.shape[1] >= 2**self.bits_per_sample:
+                if image_depth == 1:
+                    self.shape = (3, image_length, image_width)
+                    self.axes = 'CYX'
+                else:
+                    self.shape = (3, image_depth, image_length, image_width)
+                    self.axes = 'CZYX'
+            else:
+                warnings.warn("palette cannot be applied")
+                self.is_palette = False
+                if image_depth == 1:
+                    self.shape = (image_length, image_width)
+                    self.axes = 'YX'
+                else:
+                    self.shape = (image_depth, image_length, image_width)
+                    self.axes = 'ZYX'
+        elif self.is_rgb or samples_per_pixel > 1:
+            if self.is_contig:
+                self._shape = (1, 1, image_depth, image_length, image_width,
+                               samples_per_pixel)
+                if image_depth == 1:
+                    self.shape = (image_length, image_width, samples_per_pixel)
+                    self.axes = 'YXS'
+                else:
+                    self.shape = (image_depth, image_length, image_width,
+                                  samples_per_pixel)
+                    self.axes = 'ZYXS'
+            else:
+                self._shape = (1, samples_per_pixel, image_depth,
+                               image_length, image_width, 1)
+                if image_depth == 1:
+                    self.shape = (samples_per_pixel, image_length, image_width)
+                    self.axes = 'SYX'
+                else:
+                    self.shape = (samples_per_pixel, image_depth,
+                                  image_length, image_width)
+                    self.axes = 'SZYX'
+            if False and self.is_rgb and 'extra_samples' in self.tags:
+                # DISABLED: only use RGB and first alpha channel if exists
+                extra_samples = self.extra_samples
+                if self.tags['extra_samples'].count == 1:
+                    extra_samples = (extra_samples, )
+                for exs in extra_samples:
+                    if exs in ('unassalpha', 'assocalpha', 'unspecified'):
+                        if self.is_contig:
+                            self.shape = self.shape[:-1] + (4,)
+                        else:
+                            self.shape = (4,) + self.shape[1:]
+                        break
+        else:
+            self._shape = (1, 1, image_depth, image_length, image_width, 1)
+            if image_depth == 1:
+                self.shape = (image_length, image_width)
+                self.axes = 'YX'
+            else:
+                self.shape = (image_depth, image_length, image_width)
+                self.axes = 'ZYX'
+        if not self.compression and 'strip_byte_counts' not in tags:
+            self.strip_byte_counts = (
+                product(self.shape) * (self.bits_per_sample // 8), )
+
+        assert len(self.shape) == len(self.axes)
+
+    def asarray(self, squeeze=True, colormapped=True, rgbonly=False,
+                scale_mdgel=False, memmap=False, reopen=True):
+        """Read image data from file and return as numpy array.
+
+        Raise ValueError if format is unsupported.
+        If any of 'squeeze', 'colormapped', or 'rgbonly' are not the default,
+        the shape of the returned array might be different from the page shape.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        squeeze : bool
+            If True, all length-1 dimensions (except X and Y) are
+            squeezed out from result.
+        colormapped : bool
+            If True, color mapping is applied for palette-indexed images.
+        rgbonly : bool
+            If True, return RGB(A) image without additional extra samples.
+        memmap : bool
+            If True, use numpy.memmap to read arrays from file if possible.
+            For use on 64 bit systems and files with few huge contiguous data.
+        reopen : bool
+            If True and the parent file handle is closed, the file is
+            temporarily re-opened (and closed if no exception occurs).
+        scale_mdgel : bool
+            If True, MD Gel data will be scaled according to the private
+            metadata in the second TIFF page. The dtype will be float32.
+
+        """
+        if not self._shape:
+            return
+
+        if self.dtype is None:
+            raise ValueError("data type not supported: %s%i" % (
+                self.sample_format, self.bits_per_sample))
+        if self.compression not in TIFF_DECOMPESSORS:
+            raise ValueError("cannot decompress %s" % self.compression)
+        tag = self.tags['sample_format']
+        if tag.count != 1 and any((i-tag.value[0] for i in tag.value)):
+            raise ValueError("sample formats don't match %s" % str(tag.value))
+
+        fh = self.parent.filehandle
+        closed = fh.closed
+        if closed:
+            if reopen:
+                fh.open()
+            else:
+                raise IOError("file handle is closed")
+
+        dtype = self._dtype
+        shape = self._shape
+        image_width = self.image_width
+        image_length = self.image_length
+        image_depth = self.image_depth
+        typecode = self.parent.byteorder + dtype
+        bits_per_sample = self.bits_per_sample
+
+        if self.is_tiled:
+            if 'tile_offsets' in self.tags:
+                byte_counts = self.tile_byte_counts
+                offsets = self.tile_offsets
+            else:
+                byte_counts = self.strip_byte_counts
+                offsets = self.strip_offsets
+            tile_width = self.tile_width
+            tile_length = self.tile_length
+            tile_depth = self.tile_depth if 'tile_depth' in self.tags else 1
+            tw = (image_width + tile_width - 1) // tile_width
+            tl = (image_length + tile_length - 1) // tile_length
+            td = (image_depth + tile_depth - 1) // tile_depth
+            shape = (shape[0], shape[1],
+                     td*tile_depth, tl*tile_length, tw*tile_width, shape[-1])
+            tile_shape = (tile_depth, tile_length, tile_width, shape[-1])
+            runlen = tile_width
+        else:
+            byte_counts = self.strip_byte_counts
+            offsets = self.strip_offsets
+            runlen = image_width
+
+        if any(o < 2 for o in offsets):
+            raise ValueError("corrupted page")
+
+        if memmap and self._is_memmappable(rgbonly, colormapped):
+            result = fh.memmap_array(typecode, shape, offset=offsets[0])
+        elif self.is_contiguous:
+            fh.seek(offsets[0])
+            result = fh.read_array(typecode, product(shape))
+            result = result.astype('=' + dtype)
+        else:
+            if self.is_contig:
+                runlen *= self.samples_per_pixel
+            if bits_per_sample in (8, 16, 32, 64, 128):
+                if (bits_per_sample * runlen) % 8:
+                    raise ValueError("data and sample size mismatch")
+
+                def unpack(x):
+                    try:
+                        return numpy.fromstring(x, typecode)
+                    except ValueError as e:
+                        # strips may be missing EOI
+                        warnings.warn("unpack: %s" % e)
+                        xlen = ((len(x) // (bits_per_sample // 8))
+                                * (bits_per_sample // 8))
+                        return numpy.fromstring(x[:xlen], typecode)
+
+            elif isinstance(bits_per_sample, tuple):
+                def unpack(x):
+                    return unpackrgb(x, typecode, bits_per_sample)
+            else:
+                def unpack(x):
+                    return unpackints(x, typecode, bits_per_sample, runlen)
+
+            decompress = TIFF_DECOMPESSORS[self.compression]
+            if self.compression == 'jpeg':
+                table = self.jpeg_tables if 'jpeg_tables' in self.tags else b''
+                decompress = lambda x: decodejpg(x, table, self.photometric)
+
+            if self.is_tiled:
+                result = numpy.empty(shape, dtype)
+                tw, tl, td, pl = 0, 0, 0, 0
+                for offset, bytecount in zip(offsets, byte_counts):
+                    fh.seek(offset)
+                    tile = unpack(decompress(fh.read(bytecount)))
+                    tile.shape = tile_shape
+                    if self.predictor == 'horizontal':
+                        numpy.cumsum(tile, axis=-2, dtype=dtype, out=tile)
+                    result[0, pl, td:td+tile_depth,
+                           tl:tl+tile_length, tw:tw+tile_width, :] = tile
+                    del tile
+                    tw += tile_width
+                    if tw >= shape[4]:
+                        tw, tl = 0, tl + tile_length
+                        if tl >= shape[3]:
+                            tl, td = 0, td + tile_depth
+                            if td >= shape[2]:
+                                td, pl = 0, pl + 1
+                result = result[...,
+                                :image_depth, :image_length, :image_width, :]
+            else:
+                strip_size = (self.rows_per_strip * self.image_width *
+                              self.samples_per_pixel)
+                result = numpy.empty(shape, dtype).reshape(-1)
+                index = 0
+                for offset, bytecount in zip(offsets, byte_counts):
+                    fh.seek(offset)
+                    strip = fh.read(bytecount)
+                    strip = decompress(strip)
+                    strip = unpack(strip)
+                    size = min(result.size, strip.size, strip_size,
+                               result.size - index)
+                    result[index:index+size] = strip[:size]
+                    del strip
+                    index += size
+
+        result.shape = self._shape
+
+        if self.predictor == 'horizontal' and not (self.is_tiled and not
+                                                   self.is_contiguous):
+            # work around bug in LSM510 software
+            if not (self.parent.is_lsm and not self.compression):
+                numpy.cumsum(result, axis=-2, dtype=dtype, out=result)
+
+        if colormapped and self.is_palette:
+            if self.color_map.shape[1] >= 2**bits_per_sample:
+                # FluoView and LSM might fail here
+                result = numpy.take(self.color_map,
+                                    result[:, 0, :, :, :, 0], axis=1)
+        elif rgbonly and self.is_rgb and 'extra_samples' in self.tags:
+            # return only RGB and first alpha channel if exists
+            extra_samples = self.extra_samples
+            if self.tags['extra_samples'].count == 1:
+                extra_samples = (extra_samples, )
+            for i, exs in enumerate(extra_samples):
+                if exs in ('unassalpha', 'assocalpha', 'unspecified'):
+                    if self.is_contig:
+                        result = result[..., [0, 1, 2, 3+i]]
+                    else:
+                        result = result[:, [0, 1, 2, 3+i]]
+                    break
+            else:
+                if self.is_contig:
+                    result = result[..., :3]
+                else:
+                    result = result[:, :3]
+
+        if squeeze:
+            try:
+                result.shape = self.shape
+            except ValueError:
+                warnings.warn("failed to reshape from %s to %s" % (
+                    str(result.shape), str(self.shape)))
+
+        if scale_mdgel and self.parent.is_mdgel:
+            # MD Gel stores private metadata in the second page
+            tags = self.parent.pages[1]
+            if tags.md_file_tag in (2, 128):
+                scale = tags.md_scale_pixel
+                scale = scale[0] / scale[1]  # rational
+                result = result.astype('float32')
+                if tags.md_file_tag == 2:
+                    result **= 2  # squary root data format
+                result *= scale
+
+        if closed:
+            # TODO: file remains open if an exception occurred above
+            fh.close()
+        return result
+
+    def _is_memmappable(self, rgbonly, colormapped):
+        """Return if image data in file can be memory mapped."""
+        if not self.parent.filehandle.is_file or not self.is_contiguous:
+            return False
+        return not (self.predictor or
+                    (rgbonly and 'extra_samples' in self.tags) or
+                    (colormapped and self.is_palette) or
+                    ({'big': '>', 'little': '<'}[sys.byteorder] !=
+                     self.parent.byteorder))
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_contiguous(self):
+        """Return offset and size of contiguous data, else None.
+
+        Excludes prediction and colormapping.
+
+        """
+        if self.compression or self.bits_per_sample not in (8, 16, 32, 64):
+            return
+        if self.is_tiled:
+            if (self.image_width != self.tile_width or
+                    self.image_length % self.tile_length or
+                    self.tile_width % 16 or self.tile_length % 16):
+                return
+            if ('image_depth' in self.tags and 'tile_depth' in self.tags and
+                (self.image_length != self.tile_length or
+                 self.image_depth % self.tile_depth)):
+                return
+            offsets = self.tile_offsets
+            byte_counts = self.tile_byte_counts
+        else:
+            offsets = self.strip_offsets
+            byte_counts = self.strip_byte_counts
+        if len(offsets) == 1:
+            return offsets[0], byte_counts[0]
+        if self.is_stk or all(offsets[i] + byte_counts[i] == offsets[i+1]
+                              or byte_counts[i+1] == 0  # no data/ignore offset
+                              for i in range(len(offsets)-1)):
+            return offsets[0], sum(byte_counts)
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        """Return string containing information about page."""
+        s = ', '.join(s for s in (
+            ' x '.join(str(i) for i in self.shape),
+            str(numpy.dtype(self.dtype)),
+            '%s bit' % str(self.bits_per_sample),
+            self.photometric if 'photometric' in self.tags else '',
+            self.compression if self.compression else 'raw',
+            '|'.join(t[3:] for t in (
+                'is_stk', 'is_lsm', 'is_nih', 'is_ome', 'is_imagej',
+                'is_micromanager', 'is_fluoview', 'is_mdgel', 'is_mediacy',
+                'is_sgi', 'is_reduced', 'is_tiled',
+                'is_contiguous') if getattr(self, t))) if s)
+        return "Page %i: %s" % (self.index, s)
+
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        """Return tag value."""
+        if name in self.tags:
+            value = self.tags[name].value
+            setattr(self, name, value)
+            return value
+        raise AttributeError(name)
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def uic_tags(self):
+        """Consolidate UIC tags."""
+        if not self.is_stk:
+            raise AttributeError("uic_tags")
+        tags = self.tags
+        result = Record()
+        result.number_planes = tags['uic2tag'].count
+        if 'image_description' in tags:
+            result.plane_descriptions = self.image_description.split(b'\x00')
+        if 'uic1tag' in tags:
+            result.update(tags['uic1tag'].value)
+        if 'uic3tag' in tags:
+            result.update(tags['uic3tag'].value)  # wavelengths
+        if 'uic4tag' in tags:
+            result.update(tags['uic4tag'].value)  # override uic1 tags
+        uic2tag = tags['uic2tag'].value
+        result.z_distance = uic2tag.z_distance
+        result.time_created = uic2tag.time_created
+        result.time_modified = uic2tag.time_modified
+        try:
+            result.datetime_created = [
+                julian_datetime(*dt) for dt in
+                zip(uic2tag.date_created, uic2tag.time_created)]
+            result.datetime_modified = [
+                julian_datetime(*dt) for dt in
+                zip(uic2tag.date_modified, uic2tag.time_modified)]
+        except ValueError as e:
+            warnings.warn("uic_tags: %s" % e)
+        return result
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def imagej_tags(self):
+        """Consolidate ImageJ metadata."""
+        if not self.is_imagej:
+            raise AttributeError("imagej_tags")
+        tags = self.tags
+        if 'image_description_1' in tags:
+            # MicroManager
+            result = imagej_description(tags['image_description_1'].value)
+        else:
+            result = imagej_description(tags['image_description'].value)
+        if 'imagej_metadata' in tags:
+            try:
+                result.update(imagej_metadata(
+                    tags['imagej_metadata'].value,
+                    tags['imagej_byte_counts'].value,
+                    self.parent.byteorder))
+            except Exception as e:
+                warnings.warn(str(e))
+        return Record(result)
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_rgb(self):
+        """True if page contains a RGB image."""
+        return ('photometric' in self.tags and
+                self.tags['photometric'].value == 2)
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_contig(self):
+        """True if page contains a contiguous image."""
+        return ('planar_configuration' in self.tags and
+                self.tags['planar_configuration'].value == 1)
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_palette(self):
+        """True if page contains a palette-colored image and not OME or STK."""
+        try:
+            # turn off color mapping for OME-TIFF and STK
+            if self.is_stk or self.is_ome or self.parent.is_ome:
+                return False
+        except IndexError:
+            pass  # OME-XML not found in first page
+        return ('photometric' in self.tags and
+                self.tags['photometric'].value == 3)
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_tiled(self):
+        """True if page contains tiled image."""
+        return 'tile_width' in self.tags
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_reduced(self):
+        """True if page is a reduced image of another image."""
+        return bool(self.tags['new_subfile_type'].value & 1)
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_mdgel(self):
+        """True if page contains md_file_tag tag."""
+        return 'md_file_tag' in self.tags
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_mediacy(self):
+        """True if page contains Media Cybernetics Id tag."""
+        return ('mc_id' in self.tags and
+                self.tags['mc_id'].value.startswith(b'MC TIFF'))
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_stk(self):
+        """True if page contains UIC2Tag tag."""
+        return 'uic2tag' in self.tags
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_lsm(self):
+        """True if page contains LSM CZ_LSM_INFO tag."""
+        return 'cz_lsm_info' in self.tags
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_fluoview(self):
+        """True if page contains FluoView MM_STAMP tag."""
+        return 'mm_stamp' in self.tags
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_nih(self):
+        """True if page contains NIH image header."""
+        return 'nih_image_header' in self.tags
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_sgi(self):
+        """True if page contains SGI image and tile depth tags."""
+        return 'image_depth' in self.tags and 'tile_depth' in self.tags
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_ome(self):
+        """True if page contains OME-XML in image_description tag."""
+        return ('image_description' in self.tags and self.tags[
+            'image_description'].value.startswith(b'<?xml version='))
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_shaped(self):
+        """True if page contains shape in image_description tag."""
+        return ('image_description' in self.tags and self.tags[
+            'image_description'].value.startswith(b'shape=('))
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_imagej(self):
+        """True if page contains ImageJ description."""
+        return (
+            ('image_description' in self.tags and
+             self.tags['image_description'].value.startswith(b'ImageJ=')) or
+            ('image_description_1' in self.tags and  # Micromanager
+             self.tags['image_description_1'].value.startswith(b'ImageJ=')))
+
+    @lazyattr
+    def is_micromanager(self):
+        """True if page contains Micro-Manager metadata."""
+        return 'micromanager_metadata' in self.tags
+
+
+class TiffTag(object):
+    """A TIFF tag structure.
+
+    Attributes
+    ----------
+    name : string
+        Attribute name of tag.
+    code : int
+        Decimal code of tag.
+    dtype : str
+        Datatype of tag data. One of TIFF_DATA_TYPES.
+    count : int
+        Number of values.
+    value : various types
+        Tag data as Python object.
+    value_offset : int
+        Location of value in file, if any.
+
+    All attributes are read-only.
+
+    """
+    __slots__ = ('code', 'name', 'count', 'dtype', 'value', 'value_offset',
+                 '_offset', '_value', '_type')
+
+    class Error(Exception):
+        pass
+
+    def __init__(self, arg, **kwargs):
+        """Initialize instance from file or arguments."""
+        self._offset = None
+        if hasattr(arg, '_fh'):
+            self._fromfile(arg, **kwargs)
+        else:
+            self._fromdata(arg, **kwargs)
+
+    def _fromdata(self, code, dtype, count, value, name=None):
+        """Initialize instance from arguments."""
+        self.code = int(code)
+        self.name = name if name else str(code)
+        self.dtype = TIFF_DATA_TYPES[dtype]
+        self.count = int(count)
+        self.value = value
+        self._value = value
+        self._type = dtype
+
+    def _fromfile(self, parent):
+        """Read tag structure from open file. Advance file cursor."""
+        fh = parent.filehandle
+        byteorder = parent.byteorder
+        self._offset = fh.tell()
+        self.value_offset = self._offset + parent.offset_size + 4
+
+        fmt, size = {4: ('HHI4s', 12), 8: ('HHQ8s', 20)}[parent.offset_size]
+        data = fh.read(size)
+        code, dtype = struct.unpack(byteorder + fmt[:2], data[:4])
+        count, value = struct.unpack(byteorder + fmt[2:], data[4:])
+        self._value = value
+        self._type = dtype
+
+        if code in TIFF_TAGS:
+            name = TIFF_TAGS[code][0]
+        elif code in CUSTOM_TAGS:
+            name = CUSTOM_TAGS[code][0]
+        else:
+            name = str(code)
+
+        try:
+            dtype = TIFF_DATA_TYPES[self._type]
+        except KeyError:
+            raise TiffTag.Error("unknown tag data type %i" % self._type)
+
+        fmt = '%s%i%s' % (byteorder, count*int(dtype[0]), dtype[1])
+        size = struct.calcsize(fmt)
+        if size > parent.offset_size or code in CUSTOM_TAGS:
+            pos = fh.tell()
+            tof = {4: 'I', 8: 'Q'}[parent.offset_size]
+            self.value_offset = offset = struct.unpack(byteorder+tof, value)[0]
+            if offset < 0 or offset > parent.filehandle.size:
+                raise TiffTag.Error("corrupt file - invalid tag value offset")
+            elif offset < 4:
+                raise TiffTag.Error("corrupt value offset for tag %i" % code)
+            fh.seek(offset)
+            if code in CUSTOM_TAGS:
+                readfunc = CUSTOM_TAGS[code][1]
+                value = readfunc(fh, byteorder, dtype, count)
+                if isinstance(value, dict):  # numpy.core.records.record
+                    value = Record(value)
+            elif code in TIFF_TAGS or dtype[-1] == 's':
+                value = struct.unpack(fmt, fh.read(size))
+            else:
+                value = read_numpy(fh, byteorder, dtype, count)
+            fh.seek(pos)
+        else:
+            value = struct.unpack(fmt, value[:size])
+
+        if code not in CUSTOM_TAGS and code not in (273, 279, 324, 325):
+            # scalar value if not strip/tile offsets/byte_counts
+            if len(value) == 1:
+                value = value[0]
+
+        if (dtype.endswith('s') and isinstance(value, bytes)
+                and self._type != 7):
+            # TIFF ASCII fields can contain multiple strings,
+            # each terminated with a NUL
+            value = stripascii(value)
+
+        self.code = code
+        self.name = name
+        self.dtype = dtype
+        self.count = count
+        self.value = value
+
+    def _correct_lsm_bitspersample(self, parent):
+        """Correct LSM bitspersample tag.
+
+        Old LSM writers may use a separate region for two 16-bit values,
+        although they fit into the tag value element of the tag.
+
+        """
+        if self.code == 258 and self.count == 2:
+            # TODO: test this. Need example file.
+            warnings.warn("correcting LSM bitspersample tag")
+            fh = parent.filehandle
+            tof = {4: '<I', 8: '<Q'}[parent.offset_size]
+            self.value_offset = struct.unpack(tof, self._value)[0]
+            fh.seek(self.value_offset)
+            self.value = struct.unpack("<HH", fh.read(4))
+
+    def as_str(self):
+        """Return value as human readable string."""
+        return ((str(self.value).split('\n', 1)[0]) if (self._type != 7)
+                else '<undefined>')
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        """Return string containing information about tag."""
+        return ' '.join(str(getattr(self, s)) for s in self.__slots__)
+
+
+class TiffSequence(object):
+    """Sequence of image files.
+
+    The data shape and dtype of all files must match.
+
+    Properties
+    ----------
+    files : list
+        List of file names.
+    shape : tuple
+        Shape of image sequence.
+    axes : str
+        Labels of axes in shape.
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> tifs = TiffSequence("test.oif.files/*.tif")  # doctest: +SKIP
+    >>> tifs.shape, tifs.axes  # doctest: +SKIP
+    ((2, 100), 'CT')
+    >>> data = tifs.asarray()  # doctest: +SKIP
+    >>> data.shape  # doctest: +SKIP
+    (2, 100, 256, 256)
+
+    """
+    _patterns = {
+        'axes': r"""
+            # matches Olympus OIF and Leica TIFF series
+            _?(?:(q|l|p|a|c|t|x|y|z|ch|tp)(\d{1,4}))
+            _?(?:(q|l|p|a|c|t|x|y|z|ch|tp)(\d{1,4}))?
+            _?(?:(q|l|p|a|c|t|x|y|z|ch|tp)(\d{1,4}))?
+            _?(?:(q|l|p|a|c|t|x|y|z|ch|tp)(\d{1,4}))?
+            _?(?:(q|l|p|a|c|t|x|y|z|ch|tp)(\d{1,4}))?
+            _?(?:(q|l|p|a|c|t|x|y|z|ch|tp)(\d{1,4}))?
+            _?(?:(q|l|p|a|c|t|x|y|z|ch|tp)(\d{1,4}))?
+            """}
+
+    class ParseError(Exception):
+        pass
+
+    def __init__(self, files, imread=TiffFile, pattern='axes',
+                 *args, **kwargs):
+        """Initialize instance from multiple files.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        files : str, or sequence of str
+            Glob pattern or sequence of file names.
+        imread : function or class
+            Image read function or class with asarray function returning numpy
+            array from single file.
+        pattern : str
+            Regular expression pattern that matches axes names and sequence
+            indices in file names.
+            By default this matches Olympus OIF and Leica TIFF series.
+
+        """
+        if isinstance(files, basestring):
+            files = natural_sorted(glob.glob(files))
+        files = list(files)
+        if not files:
+            raise ValueError("no files found")
+        #if not os.path.isfile(files[0]):
+        #    raise ValueError("file not found")
+        self.files = files
+
+        if hasattr(imread, 'asarray'):
+            # redefine imread
+            _imread = imread
+
+            def imread(fname, *args, **kwargs):
+                with _imread(fname) as im:
+                    return im.asarray(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        self.imread = imread
+
+        self.pattern = self._patterns.get(pattern, pattern)
+        try:
+            self._parse()
+            if not self.axes:
+                self.axes = 'I'
+        except self.ParseError:
+            self.axes = 'I'
+            self.shape = (len(files),)
+            self._start_index = (0,)
+            self._indices = tuple((i,) for i in range(len(files)))
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        """Return string with information about image sequence."""
+        return "\n".join([
+            self.files[0],
+            '* files: %i' % len(self.files),
+            '* axes: %s' % self.axes,
+            '* shape: %s' % str(self.shape)])
+
+    def __len__(self):
+        return len(self.files)
+
+    def __enter__(self):
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_value, traceback):
+        self.close()
+
+    def close(self):
+        pass
+
+    def asarray(self, memmap=False, *args, **kwargs):
+        """Read image data from all files and return as single numpy array.
+
+        If memmap is True, return an array stored in a binary file on disk.
+        The args and kwargs parameters are passed to the imread function.
+
+        Raise IndexError or ValueError if image shapes don't match.
+
+        """
+        im = self.imread(self.files[0], *args, **kwargs)
+        shape = self.shape + im.shape
+        if memmap:
+            with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile() as fh:
+                result = numpy.memmap(fh, dtype=im.dtype, shape=shape)
+        else:
+            result = numpy.zeros(shape, dtype=im.dtype)
+        result = result.reshape(-1, *im.shape)
+        for index, fname in zip(self._indices, self.files):
+            index = [i-j for i, j in zip(index, self._start_index)]
+            index = numpy.ravel_multi_index(index, self.shape)
+            im = self.imread(fname, *args, **kwargs)
+            result[index] = im
+        result.shape = shape
+        return result
+
+    def _parse(self):
+        """Get axes and shape from file names."""
+        if not self.pattern:
+            raise self.ParseError("invalid pattern")
+        pattern = re.compile(self.pattern, re.IGNORECASE | re.VERBOSE)
+        matches = pattern.findall(self.files[0])
+        if not matches:
+            raise self.ParseError("pattern doesn't match file names")
+        matches = matches[-1]
+        if len(matches) % 2:
+            raise self.ParseError("pattern doesn't match axis name and index")
+        axes = ''.join(m for m in matches[::2] if m)
+        if not axes:
+            raise self.ParseError("pattern doesn't match file names")
+
+        indices = []
+        for fname in self.files:
+            matches = pattern.findall(fname)[-1]
+            if axes != ''.join(m for m in matches[::2] if m):
+                raise ValueError("axes don't match within the image sequence")
+            indices.append([int(m) for m in matches[1::2] if m])
+        shape = tuple(numpy.max(indices, axis=0))
+        start_index = tuple(numpy.min(indices, axis=0))
+        shape = tuple(i-j+1 for i, j in zip(shape, start_index))
+        if product(shape) != len(self.files):
+            warnings.warn("files are missing. Missing data are zeroed")
+
+        self.axes = axes.upper()
+        self.shape = shape
+        self._indices = indices
+        self._start_index = start_index
+
+
+class Record(dict):
+    """Dictionary with attribute access.
+
+    Can also be initialized with numpy.core.records.record.
+
+    """
+    __slots__ = ()
+
+    def __init__(self, arg=None, **kwargs):
+        if kwargs:
+            arg = kwargs
+        elif arg is None:
+            arg = {}
+        try:
+            dict.__init__(self, arg)
+        except (TypeError, ValueError):
+            for i, name in enumerate(arg.dtype.names):
+                v = arg[i]
+                self[name] = v if v.dtype.char != 'S' else stripnull(v)
+
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        return self[name]
+
+    def __setattr__(self, name, value):
+        self.__setitem__(name, value)
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        """Pretty print Record."""
+        s = []
+        lists = []
+        for k in sorted(self):
+            try:
+                if k.startswith('_'):  # does not work with byte
+                    continue
+            except AttributeError:
+                pass
+            v = self[k]
+            if isinstance(v, (list, tuple)) and len(v):
+                if isinstance(v[0], Record):
+                    lists.append((k, v))
+                    continue
+                elif isinstance(v[0], TiffPage):
+                    v = [i.index for i in v if i]
+            s.append(
+                ("* %s: %s" % (k, str(v))).split("\n", 1)[0]
+                [:PRINT_LINE_LEN].rstrip())
+        for k, v in lists:
+            l = []
+            for i, w in enumerate(v):
+                l.append("* %s[%i]\n  %s" % (k, i,
+                                             str(w).replace("\n", "\n  ")))
+            s.append('\n'.join(l))
+        return '\n'.join(s)
+
+
+class TiffTags(Record):
+    """Dictionary of TiffTag with attribute access."""
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        """Return string with information about all tags."""
+        s = []
+        for tag in sorted(self.values(), key=lambda x: x.code):
+            typecode = "%i%s" % (tag.count * int(tag.dtype[0]), tag.dtype[1])
+            line = "* %i %s (%s) %s" % (
+                tag.code, tag.name, typecode, tag.as_str())
+            s.append(line[:PRINT_LINE_LEN].lstrip())
+        return '\n'.join(s)
+
+
+class FileHandle(object):
+    """Binary file handle.
+
+    * Handle embedded files (for CZI within CZI files).
+    * Allow to re-open closed files (for multi file formats such as OME-TIFF).
+    * Read numpy arrays and records from file like objects.
+
+    Only binary read, seek, tell, and close are supported on embedded files.
+    When initialized from another file handle, do not use it unless this
+    FileHandle is closed.
+
+    Attributes
+    ----------
+    name : str
+        Name of the file.
+    path : str
+        Absolute path to file.
+    size : int
+        Size of file in bytes.
+    is_file : bool
+        If True, file has a filno and can be memory mapped.
+
+    All attributes are read-only.
+
+    """
+    __slots__ = ('_fh', '_arg', '_mode', '_name', '_dir',
+                 '_offset', '_size', '_close', 'is_file')
+
+    def __init__(self, arg, mode='rb', name=None, offset=None, size=None):
+        """Initialize file handle from file name or another file handle.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        arg : str, File, or FileHandle
+            File name or open file handle.
+        mode : str
+            File open mode in case 'arg' is a file name.
+        name : str
+            Optional name of file in case 'arg' is a file handle.
+        offset : int
+            Optional start position of embedded file. By default this is
+            the current file position.
+        size : int
+            Optional size of embedded file. By default this is the number
+            of bytes from the 'offset' to the end of the file.
+
+        """
+        self._fh = None
+        self._arg = arg
+        self._mode = mode
+        self._name = name
+        self._dir = ''
+        self._offset = offset
+        self._size = size
+        self._close = True
+        self.is_file = False
+        self.open()
+
+    def open(self):
+        """Open or re-open file."""
+        if self._fh:
+            return  # file is open
+
+        if isinstance(self._arg, basestring):
+            # file name
+            self._arg = os.path.abspath(self._arg)
+            self._dir, self._name = os.path.split(self._arg)
+            self._fh = open(self._arg, self._mode)
+            self._close = True
+            if self._offset is None:
+                self._offset = 0
+        elif isinstance(self._arg, FileHandle):
+            # FileHandle
+            self._fh = self._arg._fh
+            if self._offset is None:
+                self._offset = 0
+            self._offset += self._arg._offset
+            self._close = False
+            if not self._name:
+                if self._offset:
+                    name, ext = os.path.splitext(self._arg._name)
+                    self._name = "%s@%i%s" % (name, self._offset, ext)
+                else:
+                    self._name = self._arg._name
+            self._dir = self._arg._dir
+        else:
+            # open file object
+            self._fh = self._arg
+            if self._offset is None:
+                self._offset = self._arg.tell()
+            self._close = False
+            if not self._name:
+                try:
+                    self._dir, self._name = os.path.split(self._fh.name)
+                except AttributeError:
+                    self._name = "Unnamed stream"
+
+        if self._offset:
+            self._fh.seek(self._offset)
+
+        if self._size is None:
+            pos = self._fh.tell()
+            self._fh.seek(self._offset, 2)
+            self._size = self._fh.tell()
+            self._fh.seek(pos)
+
+        try:
+            self._fh.fileno()
+            self.is_file = True
+        except Exception:
+            self.is_file = False
+
+    def read(self, size=-1):
+        """Read 'size' bytes from file, or until EOF is reached."""
+        if size < 0 and self._offset:
+            size = self._size
+        return self._fh.read(size)
+
+    def memmap_array(self, dtype, shape, offset=0, mode='r', order='C'):
+        """Return numpy.memmap of data stored in file."""
+        if not self.is_file:
+            raise ValueError("Can not memory map file without fileno.")
+        return numpy.memmap(self._fh, dtype=dtype, mode=mode,
+                            offset=self._offset + offset,
+                            shape=shape, order=order)
+
+    def read_array(self, dtype, count=-1, sep=""):
+        """Return numpy array from file.
+
+        Work around numpy issue #2230, "numpy.fromfile does not accept
+        StringIO object" https://github.com/numpy/numpy/issues/2230.
+
+        """
+        try:
+            return numpy.fromfile(self._fh, dtype, count, sep)
+        except IOError:
+            if count < 0:
+                size = self._size
+            else:
+                size = count * numpy.dtype(dtype).itemsize
+            data = self._fh.read(size)
+            return numpy.fromstring(data, dtype, count, sep)
+
+    def read_record(self, dtype, shape=1, byteorder=None):
+        """Return numpy record from file."""
+        try:
+            rec = numpy.rec.fromfile(self._fh, dtype, shape,
+                                     byteorder=byteorder)
+        except Exception:
+            dtype = numpy.dtype(dtype)
+            if shape is None:
+                shape = self._size // dtype.itemsize
+            size = product(sequence(shape)) * dtype.itemsize
+            data = self._fh.read(size)
+            return numpy.rec.fromstring(data, dtype, shape,
+                                        byteorder=byteorder)
+        return rec[0] if shape == 1 else rec
+
+    def tell(self):
+        """Return file's current position."""
+        return self._fh.tell() - self._offset
+
+    def seek(self, offset, whence=0):
+        """Set file's current position."""
+        if self._offset:
+            if whence == 0:
+                self._fh.seek(self._offset + offset, whence)
+                return
+            elif whence == 2:
+                self._fh.seek(self._offset + self._size + offset, 0)
+                return
+        self._fh.seek(offset, whence)
+
+    def close(self):
+        """Close file."""
+        if self._close and self._fh:
+            self._fh.close()
+            self._fh = None
+            self.is_file = False
+
+    def __enter__(self):
+        return self
+
+    def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_value, traceback):
+        self.close()
+
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        """Return attribute from underlying file object."""
+        if self._offset:
+            warnings.warn(
+                "FileHandle: '%s' not implemented for embedded files" % name)
+        return getattr(self._fh, name)
+
+    @property
+    def name(self):
+        return self._name
+
+    @property
+    def dirname(self):
+        return self._dir
+
+    @property
+    def path(self):
+        return os.path.join(self._dir, self._name)
+
+    @property
+    def size(self):
+        return self._size
+
+    @property
+    def closed(self):
+        return self._fh is None
+
+
+def read_bytes(fh, byteorder, dtype, count):
+    """Read tag data from file and return as byte string."""
+    dtype = 'b' if dtype[-1] == 's' else byteorder+dtype[-1]
+    return fh.read_array(dtype, count).tostring()
+
+
+def read_numpy(fh, byteorder, dtype, count):
+    """Read tag data from file and return as numpy array."""
+    dtype = 'b' if dtype[-1] == 's' else byteorder+dtype[-1]
+    return fh.read_array(dtype, count)
+
+
+def read_json(fh, byteorder, dtype, count):
+    """Read JSON tag data from file and return as object."""
+    data = fh.read(count)
+    try:
+        return json.loads(unicode(stripnull(data), 'utf-8'))
+    except ValueError:
+        warnings.warn("invalid JSON `%s`" % data)
+
+
+def read_mm_header(fh, byteorder, dtype, count):
+    """Read MM_HEADER tag from file and return as numpy.rec.array."""
+    return fh.read_record(MM_HEADER, byteorder=byteorder)
+
+
+def read_mm_stamp(fh, byteorder, dtype, count):
+    """Read MM_STAMP tag from file and return as numpy.array."""
+    return fh.read_array(byteorder+'f8', 8)
+
+
+def read_uic1tag(fh, byteorder, dtype, count, plane_count=None):
+    """Read MetaMorph STK UIC1Tag from file and return as dictionary.
+
+    Return empty dictionary if plane_count is unknown.
+
+    """
+    assert dtype in ('2I', '1I') and byteorder == '<'
+    result = {}
+    if dtype == '2I':
+        # pre MetaMorph 2.5 (not tested)
+        values = fh.read_array('<u4', 2*count).reshape(count, 2)
+        result = {'z_distance': values[:, 0] / values[:, 1]}
+    elif plane_count:
+        for i in range(count):
+            tagid = struct.unpack('<I', fh.read(4))[0]
+            if tagid in (28, 29, 37, 40, 41):
+                # silently skip unexpected tags
+                fh.read(4)
+                continue
+            name, value = read_uic_tag(fh, tagid, plane_count, offset=True)
+            result[name] = value
+    return result
+
+
+def read_uic2tag(fh, byteorder, dtype, plane_count):
+    """Read MetaMorph STK UIC2Tag from file and return as dictionary."""
+    assert dtype == '2I' and byteorder == '<'
+    values = fh.read_array('<u4', 6*plane_count).reshape(plane_count, 6)
+    return {
+        'z_distance': values[:, 0] / values[:, 1],
+        'date_created': values[:, 2],  # julian days
+        'time_created': values[:, 3],  # milliseconds
+        'date_modified': values[:, 4],  # julian days
+        'time_modified': values[:, 5],  # milliseconds
+    }
+
+
+def read_uic3tag(fh, byteorder, dtype, plane_count):
+    """Read MetaMorph STK UIC3Tag from file and return as dictionary."""
+    assert dtype == '2I' and byteorder == '<'
+    values = fh.read_array('<u4', 2*plane_count).reshape(plane_count, 2)
+    return {'wavelengths': values[:, 0] / values[:, 1]}
+
+
+def read_uic4tag(fh, byteorder, dtype, plane_count):
+    """Read MetaMorph STK UIC4Tag from file and return as dictionary."""
+    assert dtype == '1I' and byteorder == '<'
+    result = {}
+    while True:
+        tagid = struct.unpack('<H', fh.read(2))[0]
+        if tagid == 0:
+            break
+        name, value = read_uic_tag(fh, tagid, plane_count, offset=False)
+        result[name] = value
+    return result
+
+
+def read_uic_tag(fh, tagid, plane_count, offset):
+    """Read a single UIC tag value from file and return tag name and value.
+
+    UIC1Tags use an offset.
+
+    """
+    def read_int(count=1):
+        value = struct.unpack('<%iI' % count, fh.read(4*count))
+        return value[0] if count == 1 else value
+
+    try:
+        name, dtype = UIC_TAGS[tagid]
+    except KeyError:
+        # unknown tag
+        return '_tagid_%i' % tagid, read_int()
+
+    if offset:
+        pos = fh.tell()
+        if dtype not in (int, None):
+            off = read_int()
+            if off < 8:
+                warnings.warn("invalid offset for uic tag '%s': %i"
+                              % (name, off))
+                return name, off
+            fh.seek(off)
+
+    if dtype is None:
+        # skip
+        name = '_' + name
+        value = read_int()
+    elif dtype is int:
+        # int
+        value = read_int()
+    elif dtype is Fraction:
+        # fraction
+        value = read_int(2)
+        value = value[0] / value[1]
+    elif dtype is julian_datetime:
+        # datetime
+        value = julian_datetime(*read_int(2))
+    elif dtype is read_uic_image_property:
+        # ImagePropertyEx
+        value = read_uic_image_property(fh)
+    elif dtype is str:
+        # pascal string
+        size = read_int()
+        if 0 <= size < 2**10:
+            value = struct.unpack('%is' % size, fh.read(size))[0][:-1]
+            value = stripnull(value)
+        elif offset:
+            value = ''
+            warnings.warn("corrupt string in uic tag '%s'" % name)
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("invalid string size %i" % size)
+    elif dtype == '%ip':
+        # sequence of pascal strings
+        value = []
+        for i in range(plane_count):
+            size = read_int()
+            if 0 <= size < 2**10:
+                string = struct.unpack('%is' % size, fh.read(size))[0][:-1]
+                string = stripnull(string)
+                value.append(string)
+            elif offset:
+                warnings.warn("corrupt string in uic tag '%s'" % name)
+            else:
+                raise ValueError("invalid string size %i" % size)
+    else:
+        # struct or numpy type
+        dtype = '<' + dtype
+        if '%i' in dtype:
+            dtype = dtype % plane_count
+        if '(' in dtype:
+            # numpy type
+            value = fh.read_array(dtype, 1)[0]
+            if value.shape[-1] == 2:
+                # assume fractions
+                value = value[..., 0] / value[..., 1]
+        else:
+            # struct format
+            value = struct.unpack(dtype, fh.read(struct.calcsize(dtype)))
+            if len(value) == 1:
+                value = value[0]
+
+    if offset:
+        fh.seek(pos + 4)
+
+    return name, value
+
+
+def read_uic_image_property(fh):
+    """Read UIC ImagePropertyEx tag from file and return as dict."""
+    # TODO: test this
+    size = struct.unpack('B', fh.read(1))[0]
+    name = struct.unpack('%is' % size, fh.read(size))[0][:-1]
+    flags, prop = struct.unpack('<IB', fh.read(5))
+    if prop == 1:
+        value = struct.unpack('II', fh.read(8))
+        value = value[0] / value[1]
+    else:
+        size = struct.unpack('B', fh.read(1))[0]
+        value = struct.unpack('%is' % size, fh.read(size))[0]
+    return dict(name=name, flags=flags, value=value)
+
+
+def read_cz_lsm_info(fh, byteorder, dtype, count):
+    """Read CS_LSM_INFO tag from file and return as numpy.rec.array."""
+    assert byteorder == '<'
+    magic_number, structure_size = struct.unpack('<II', fh.read(8))
+    if magic_number not in (50350412, 67127628):
+        raise ValueError("not a valid CS_LSM_INFO structure")
+    fh.seek(-8, 1)
+
+    if structure_size < numpy.dtype(CZ_LSM_INFO).itemsize:
+        # adjust structure according to structure_size
+        cz_lsm_info = []
+        size = 0
+        for name, dtype in CZ_LSM_INFO:
+            size += numpy.dtype(dtype).itemsize
+            if size > structure_size:
+                break
+            cz_lsm_info.append((name, dtype))
+    else:
+        cz_lsm_info = CZ_LSM_INFO
+
+    return fh.read_record(cz_lsm_info, byteorder=byteorder)
+
+
+def read_cz_lsm_floatpairs(fh):
+    """Read LSM sequence of float pairs from file and return as list."""
+    size = struct.unpack('<i', fh.read(4))[0]
+    return fh.read_array('<2f8', count=size)
+
+
+def read_cz_lsm_positions(fh):
+    """Read LSM positions from file and return as list."""
+    size = struct.unpack('<I', fh.read(4))[0]
+    return fh.read_array('<2f8', count=size)
+
+
+def read_cz_lsm_time_stamps(fh):
+    """Read LSM time stamps from file and return as list."""
+    size, count = struct.unpack('<ii', fh.read(8))
+    if size != (8 + 8 * count):
+        raise ValueError("lsm_time_stamps block is too short")
+    # return struct.unpack('<%dd' % count, fh.read(8*count))
+    return fh.read_array('<f8', count=count)
+
+
+def read_cz_lsm_event_list(fh):
+    """Read LSM events from file and return as list of (time, type, text)."""
+    count = struct.unpack('<II', fh.read(8))[1]
+    events = []
+    while count > 0:
+        esize, etime, etype = struct.unpack('<IdI', fh.read(16))
+        etext = stripnull(fh.read(esize - 16))
+        events.append((etime, etype, etext))
+        count -= 1
+    return events
+
+
+def read_cz_lsm_scan_info(fh):
+    """Read LSM scan information from file and return as Record."""
+    block = Record()
+    blocks = [block]
+    unpack = struct.unpack
+    if 0x10000000 != struct.unpack('<I', fh.read(4))[0]:
+        # not a Recording sub block
+        raise ValueError("not a lsm_scan_info structure")
+    fh.read(8)
+    while True:
+        entry, dtype, size = unpack('<III', fh.read(12))
+        if dtype == 2:
+            # ascii
+            value = stripnull(fh.read(size))
+        elif dtype == 4:
+            # long
+            value = unpack('<i', fh.read(4))[0]
+        elif dtype == 5:
+            # rational
+            value = unpack('<d', fh.read(8))[0]
+        else:
+            value = 0
+        if entry in CZ_LSM_SCAN_INFO_ARRAYS:
+            blocks.append(block)
+            name = CZ_LSM_SCAN_INFO_ARRAYS[entry]
+            newobj = []
+            setattr(block, name, newobj)
+            block = newobj
+        elif entry in CZ_LSM_SCAN_INFO_STRUCTS:
+            blocks.append(block)
+            newobj = Record()
+            block.append(newobj)
+            block = newobj
+        elif entry in CZ_LSM_SCAN_INFO_ATTRIBUTES:
+            name = CZ_LSM_SCAN_INFO_ATTRIBUTES[entry]
+            setattr(block, name, value)
+        elif entry == 0xffffffff:
+            # end sub block
+            block = blocks.pop()
+        else:
+            # unknown entry
+            setattr(block, "entry_0x%x" % entry, value)
+        if not blocks:
+            break
+    return block
+
+
+def read_nih_image_header(fh, byteorder, dtype, count):
+    """Read NIH_IMAGE_HEADER tag from file and return as numpy.rec.array."""
+    a = fh.read_record(NIH_IMAGE_HEADER, byteorder=byteorder)
+    a = a.newbyteorder(byteorder)
+    a.xunit = a.xunit[:a._xunit_len]
+    a.um = a.um[:a._um_len]
+    return a
+
+
+def read_micromanager_metadata(fh):
+    """Read MicroManager non-TIFF settings from open file and return as dict.
+
+    The settings can be used to read image data without parsing the TIFF file.
+
+    Raise ValueError if file does not contain valid MicroManager metadata.
+
+    """
+    fh.seek(0)
+    try:
+        byteorder = {b'II': '<', b'MM': '>'}[fh.read(2)]
+    except IndexError:
+        raise ValueError("not a MicroManager TIFF file")
+
+    results = {}
+    fh.seek(8)
+    (index_header, index_offset, display_header, display_offset,
+     comments_header, comments_offset, summary_header, summary_length
+     ) = struct.unpack(byteorder + "IIIIIIII", fh.read(32))
+
+    if summary_header != 2355492:
+        raise ValueError("invalid MicroManager summary_header")
+    results['summary'] = read_json(fh, byteorder, None, summary_length)
+
+    if index_header != 54773648:
+        raise ValueError("invalid MicroManager index_header")
+    fh.seek(index_offset)
+    header, count = struct.unpack(byteorder + "II", fh.read(8))
+    if header != 3453623:
+        raise ValueError("invalid MicroManager index_header")
+    data = struct.unpack(byteorder + "IIIII"*count, fh.read(20*count))
+    results['index_map'] = {
+        'channel': data[::5], 'slice': data[1::5], 'frame': data[2::5],
+        'position': data[3::5], 'offset': data[4::5]}
+
+    if display_header != 483765892:
+        raise ValueError("invalid MicroManager display_header")
+    fh.seek(display_offset)
+    header, count = struct.unpack(byteorder + "II", fh.read(8))
+    if header != 347834724:
+        raise ValueError("invalid MicroManager display_header")
+    results['display_settings'] = read_json(fh, byteorder, None, count)
+
+    if comments_header != 99384722:
+        raise ValueError("invalid MicroManager comments_header")
+    fh.seek(comments_offset)
+    header, count = struct.unpack(byteorder + "II", fh.read(8))
+    if header != 84720485:
+        raise ValueError("invalid MicroManager comments_header")
+    results['comments'] = read_json(fh, byteorder, None, count)
+
+    return results
+
+
+def imagej_metadata(data, bytecounts, byteorder):
+    """Return dict from ImageJ metadata tag value."""
+    _str = str if sys.version_info[0] < 3 else lambda x: str(x, 'cp1252')
+
+    def read_string(data, byteorder):
+        return _str(stripnull(data[0 if byteorder == '<' else 1::2]))
+
+    def read_double(data, byteorder):
+        return struct.unpack(byteorder+('d' * (len(data) // 8)), data)
+
+    def read_bytes(data, byteorder):
+        #return struct.unpack('b' * len(data), data)
+        return numpy.fromstring(data, 'uint8')
+
+    metadata_types = {  # big endian
+        b'info': ('info', read_string),
+        b'labl': ('labels', read_string),
+        b'rang': ('ranges', read_double),
+        b'luts': ('luts', read_bytes),
+        b'roi ': ('roi', read_bytes),
+        b'over': ('overlays', read_bytes)}
+    metadata_types.update(  # little endian
+        dict((k[::-1], v) for k, v in metadata_types.items()))
+
+    if not bytecounts:
+        raise ValueError("no ImageJ metadata")
+
+    if not data[:4] in (b'IJIJ', b'JIJI'):
+        raise ValueError("invalid ImageJ metadata")
+
+    header_size = bytecounts[0]
+    if header_size < 12 or header_size > 804:
+        raise ValueError("invalid ImageJ metadata header size")
+
+    ntypes = (header_size - 4) // 8
+    header = struct.unpack(byteorder+'4sI'*ntypes, data[4:4+ntypes*8])
+    pos = 4 + ntypes * 8
+    counter = 0
+    result = {}
+    for mtype, count in zip(header[::2], header[1::2]):
+        values = []
+        name, func = metadata_types.get(mtype, (_str(mtype), read_bytes))
+        for _ in range(count):
+            counter += 1
+            pos1 = pos + bytecounts[counter]
+            values.append(func(data[pos:pos1], byteorder))
+            pos = pos1
+        result[name.strip()] = values[0] if count == 1 else values
+    return result
+
+
+def imagej_description(description):
+    """Return dict from ImageJ image_description tag."""
+    def _bool(val):
+        return {b'true': True, b'false': False}[val.lower()]
+
+    _str = str if sys.version_info[0] < 3 else lambda x: str(x, 'cp1252')
+    result = {}
+    for line in description.splitlines():
+        try:
+            key, val = line.split(b'=')
+        except Exception:
+            continue
+        key = key.strip()
+        val = val.strip()
+        for dtype in (int, float, _bool, _str):
+            try:
+                val = dtype(val)
+                break
+            except Exception:
+                pass
+        result[_str(key)] = val
+    return result
+
+
+def decodejpg(encoded, tables=b'', photometric=None,
+              ycbcr_subsampling=None, ycbcr_positioning=None):
+    """Decode JPEG encoded byte string (using _czifile extension module)."""
+    import _czifile
+    image = _czifile.decodejpg(encoded, tables)
+    if photometric == 'rgb' and ycbcr_subsampling and ycbcr_positioning:
+        # TODO: convert YCbCr to RGB
+        pass
+    return image.tostring()
+
+
+def decodepackbits(encoded):
+    """Decompress PackBits encoded byte string.
+
+    PackBits is a simple byte-oriented run-length compression scheme.
+
+    """
+    func = ord if sys.version[0] == '2' else lambda x: x
+    result = []
+    result_extend = result.extend
+    i = 0
+    try:
+        while True:
+            n = func(encoded[i]) + 1
+            i += 1
+            if n < 129:
+                result_extend(encoded[i:i+n])
+                i += n
+            elif n > 129:
+                result_extend(encoded[i:i+1] * (258-n))
+                i += 1
+    except IndexError:
+        pass
+    return b''.join(result) if sys.version[0] == '2' else bytes(result)
+
+
+def decodelzw(encoded):
+    """Decompress LZW (Lempel-Ziv-Welch) encoded TIFF strip (byte string).
+
+    The strip must begin with a CLEAR code and end with an EOI code.
+
+    This is an implementation of the LZW decoding algorithm described in (1).
+    It is not compatible with old style LZW compressed files like quad-lzw.tif.
+
+    """
+    len_encoded = len(encoded)
+    bitcount_max = len_encoded * 8
+    unpack = struct.unpack
+
+    if sys.version[0] == '2':
+        newtable = [chr(i) for i in range(256)]
+    else:
+        newtable = [bytes([i]) for i in range(256)]
+    newtable.extend((0, 0))
+
+    def next_code():
+        """Return integer of `bitw` bits at `bitcount` position in encoded."""
+        start = bitcount // 8
+        s = encoded[start:start+4]
+        try:
+            code = unpack('>I', s)[0]
+        except Exception:
+            code = unpack('>I', s + b'\x00'*(4-len(s)))[0]
+        code <<= bitcount % 8
+        code &= mask
+        return code >> shr
+
+    switchbitch = {  # code: bit-width, shr-bits, bit-mask
+        255: (9, 23, int(9*'1'+'0'*23, 2)),
+        511: (10, 22, int(10*'1'+'0'*22, 2)),
+        1023: (11, 21, int(11*'1'+'0'*21, 2)),
+        2047: (12, 20, int(12*'1'+'0'*20, 2)), }
+    bitw, shr, mask = switchbitch[255]
+    bitcount = 0
+
+    if len_encoded < 4:
+        raise ValueError("strip must be at least 4 characters long")
+
+    if next_code() != 256:
+        raise ValueError("strip must begin with CLEAR code")
+
+    code = 0
+    oldcode = 0
+    result = []
+    result_append = result.append
+    while True:
+        code = next_code()  # ~5% faster when inlining this function
+        bitcount += bitw
+        if code == 257 or bitcount >= bitcount_max:  # EOI
+            break
+        if code == 256:  # CLEAR
+            table = newtable[:]
+            table_append = table.append
+            lentable = 258
+            bitw, shr, mask = switchbitch[255]
+            code = next_code()
+            bitcount += bitw
+            if code == 257:  # EOI
+                break
+            result_append(table[code])
+        else:
+            if code < lentable:
+                decoded = table[code]
+                newcode = table[oldcode] + decoded[:1]
+            else:
+                newcode = table[oldcode]
+                newcode += newcode[:1]
+                decoded = newcode
+            result_append(decoded)
+            table_append(newcode)
+            lentable += 1
+        oldcode = code
+        if lentable in switchbitch:
+            bitw, shr, mask = switchbitch[lentable]
+
+    if code != 257:
+        warnings.warn("unexpected end of lzw stream (code %i)" % code)
+
+    return b''.join(result)
+
+
+def unpackints(data, dtype, itemsize, runlen=0):
+    """Decompress byte string to array of integers of any bit size <= 32.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    data : byte str
+        Data to decompress.
+    dtype : numpy.dtype or str
+        A numpy boolean or integer type.
+    itemsize : int
+        Number of bits per integer.
+    runlen : int
+        Number of consecutive integers, after which to start at next byte.
+
+    """
+    if itemsize == 1:  # bitarray
+        data = numpy.fromstring(data, '|B')
+        data = numpy.unpackbits(data)
+        if runlen % 8:
+            data = data.reshape(-1, runlen + (8 - runlen % 8))
+            data = data[:, :runlen].reshape(-1)
+        return data.astype(dtype)
+
+    dtype = numpy.dtype(dtype)
+    if itemsize in (8, 16, 32, 64):
+        return numpy.fromstring(data, dtype)
+    if itemsize < 1 or itemsize > 32:
+        raise ValueError("itemsize out of range: %i" % itemsize)
+    if dtype.kind not in "biu":
+        raise ValueError("invalid dtype")
+
+    itembytes = next(i for i in (1, 2, 4, 8) if 8 * i >= itemsize)
+    if itembytes != dtype.itemsize:
+        raise ValueError("dtype.itemsize too small")
+    if runlen == 0:
+        runlen = len(data) // itembytes
+    skipbits = runlen*itemsize % 8
+    if skipbits:
+        skipbits = 8 - skipbits
+    shrbits = itembytes*8 - itemsize
+    bitmask = int(itemsize*'1'+'0'*shrbits, 2)
+    dtypestr = '>' + dtype.char  # dtype always big endian?
+
+    unpack = struct.unpack
+    l = runlen * (len(data)*8 // (runlen*itemsize + skipbits))
+    result = numpy.empty((l, ), dtype)
+    bitcount = 0
+    for i in range(len(result)):
+        start = bitcount // 8
+        s = data[start:start+itembytes]
+        try:
+            code = unpack(dtypestr, s)[0]
+        except Exception:
+            code = unpack(dtypestr, s + b'\x00'*(itembytes-len(s)))[0]
+        code <<= bitcount % 8
+        code &= bitmask
+        result[i] = code >> shrbits
+        bitcount += itemsize
+        if (i+1) % runlen == 0:
+            bitcount += skipbits
+    return result
+
+
+def unpackrgb(data, dtype='<B', bitspersample=(5, 6, 5), rescale=True):
+    """Return array from byte string containing packed samples.
+
+    Use to unpack RGB565 or RGB555 to RGB888 format.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    data : byte str
+        The data to be decoded. Samples in each pixel are stored consecutively.
+        Pixels are aligned to 8, 16, or 32 bit boundaries.
+    dtype : numpy.dtype
+        The sample data type. The byteorder applies also to the data stream.
+    bitspersample : tuple
+        Number of bits for each sample in a pixel.
+    rescale : bool
+        Upscale samples to the number of bits in dtype.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    result : ndarray
+        Flattened array of unpacked samples of native dtype.
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> data = struct.pack('BBBB', 0x21, 0x08, 0xff, 0xff)
+    >>> print(unpackrgb(data, '<B', (5, 6, 5), False))
+    [ 1  1  1 31 63 31]
+    >>> print(unpackrgb(data, '<B', (5, 6, 5)))
+    [  8   4   8 255 255 255]
+    >>> print(unpackrgb(data, '<B', (5, 5, 5)))
+    [ 16   8   8 255 255 255]
+
+    """
+    dtype = numpy.dtype(dtype)
+    bits = int(numpy.sum(bitspersample))
+    if not (bits <= 32 and all(i <= dtype.itemsize*8 for i in bitspersample)):
+        raise ValueError("sample size not supported %s" % str(bitspersample))
+    dt = next(i for i in 'BHI' if numpy.dtype(i).itemsize*8 >= bits)
+    data = numpy.fromstring(data, dtype.byteorder+dt)
+    result = numpy.empty((data.size, len(bitspersample)), dtype.char)
+    for i, bps in enumerate(bitspersample):
+        t = data >> int(numpy.sum(bitspersample[i+1:]))
+        t &= int('0b'+'1'*bps, 2)
+        if rescale:
+            o = ((dtype.itemsize * 8) // bps + 1) * bps
+            if o > data.dtype.itemsize * 8:
+                t = t.astype('I')
+            t *= (2**o - 1) // (2**bps - 1)
+            t //= 2**(o - (dtype.itemsize * 8))
+        result[:, i] = t
+    return result.reshape(-1)
+
+
+def reorient(image, orientation):
+    """Return reoriented view of image array.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    image : numpy array
+        Non-squeezed output of asarray() functions.
+        Axes -3 and -2 must be image length and width respectively.
+    orientation : int or str
+        One of TIFF_ORIENTATIONS keys or values.
+
+    """
+    o = TIFF_ORIENTATIONS.get(orientation, orientation)
+    if o == 'top_left':
+        return image
+    elif o == 'top_right':
+        return image[..., ::-1, :]
+    elif o == 'bottom_left':
+        return image[..., ::-1, :, :]
+    elif o == 'bottom_right':
+        return image[..., ::-1, ::-1, :]
+    elif o == 'left_top':
+        return numpy.swapaxes(image, -3, -2)
+    elif o == 'right_top':
+        return numpy.swapaxes(image, -3, -2)[..., ::-1, :]
+    elif o == 'left_bottom':
+        return numpy.swapaxes(image, -3, -2)[..., ::-1, :, :]
+    elif o == 'right_bottom':
+        return numpy.swapaxes(image, -3, -2)[..., ::-1, ::-1, :]
+
+
+def squeeze_axes(shape, axes, skip='XY'):
+    """Return shape and axes with single-dimensional entries removed.
+
+    Remove unused dimensions unless their axes are listed in 'skip'.
+
+    >>> squeeze_axes((5, 1, 2, 1, 1), 'TZYXC')
+    ((5, 2, 1), 'TYX')
+
+    """
+    if len(shape) != len(axes):
+        raise ValueError("dimensions of axes and shape don't match")
+    shape, axes = zip(*(i for i in zip(shape, axes)
+                        if i[0] > 1 or i[1] in skip))
+    return shape, ''.join(axes)
+
+
+def transpose_axes(data, axes, asaxes='CTZYX'):
+    """Return data with its axes permuted to match specified axes.
+
+    A view is returned if possible.
+
+    >>> transpose_axes(numpy.zeros((2, 3, 4, 5)), 'TYXC', asaxes='CTZYX').shape
+    (5, 2, 1, 3, 4)
+
+    """
+    for ax in axes:
+        if ax not in asaxes:
+            raise ValueError("unknown axis %s" % ax)
+    # add missing axes to data
+    shape = data.shape
+    for ax in reversed(asaxes):
+        if ax not in axes:
+            axes = ax + axes
+            shape = (1,) + shape
+    data = data.reshape(shape)
+    # transpose axes
+    data = data.transpose([axes.index(ax) for ax in asaxes])
+    return data
+
+
+def stack_pages(pages, memmap=False, *args, **kwargs):
+    """Read data from sequence of TiffPage and stack them vertically.
+
+    If memmap is True, return an array stored in a binary file on disk.
+    Additional parameters are passsed to the page asarray function.
+
+    """
+    if len(pages) == 0:
+        raise ValueError("no pages")
+
+    if len(pages) == 1:
+        return pages[0].asarray(memmap=memmap, *args, **kwargs)
+
+    result = pages[0].asarray(*args, **kwargs)
+    shape = (len(pages),) + result.shape
+    if memmap:
+        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile() as fh:
+            result = numpy.memmap(fh, dtype=result.dtype, shape=shape)
+    else:
+        result = numpy.empty(shape, dtype=result.dtype)
+
+    for i, page in enumerate(pages):
+        result[i] = page.asarray(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    return result
+
+
+def stripnull(string):
+    """Return string truncated at first null character.
+
+    Clean NULL terminated C strings.
+
+    >>> stripnull(b'string\\x00')  # doctest: +SKIP
+    b'string'
+
+    """
+    i = string.find(b'\x00')
+    return string if (i < 0) else string[:i]
+
+
+def stripascii(string):
+    """Return string truncated at last byte that is 7bit ASCII.
+
+    Clean NULL separated and terminated TIFF strings.
+
+    >>> stripascii(b'string\\x00string\\n\\x01\\x00')  # doctest: +SKIP
+    b'string\\x00string\\n'
+    >>> stripascii(b'\\x00')  # doctest: +SKIP
+    b''
+
+    """
+    # TODO: pythonize this
+    ord_ = ord if sys.version_info[0] < 3 else lambda x: x
+    i = len(string)
+    while i:
+        i -= 1
+        if 8 < ord_(string[i]) < 127:
+            break
+    else:
+        i = -1
+    return string[:i+1]
+
+
+def format_size(size):
+    """Return file size as string from byte size."""
+    for unit in ('B', 'KB', 'MB', 'GB', 'TB'):
+        if size < 2048:
+            return "%.f %s" % (size, unit)
+        size /= 1024.0
+
+
+def sequence(value):
+    """Return tuple containing value if value is not a sequence.
+
+    >>> sequence(1)
+    (1,)
+    >>> sequence([1])
+    [1]
+
+    """
+    try:
+        len(value)
+        return value
+    except TypeError:
+        return (value, )
+
+
+def product(iterable):
+    """Return product of sequence of numbers.
+
+    Equivalent of functools.reduce(operator.mul, iterable, 1).
+
+    >>> product([2**8, 2**30])
+    274877906944
+    >>> product([])
+    1
+
+    """
+    prod = 1
+    for i in iterable:
+        prod *= i
+    return prod
+
+
+def natural_sorted(iterable):
+    """Return human sorted list of strings.
+
+    E.g. for sorting file names.
+
+    >>> natural_sorted(['f1', 'f2', 'f10'])
+    ['f1', 'f2', 'f10']
+
+    """
+    def sortkey(x):
+        return [(int(c) if c.isdigit() else c) for c in re.split(numbers, x)]
+    numbers = re.compile(r'(\d+)')
+    return sorted(iterable, key=sortkey)
+
+
+def excel_datetime(timestamp, epoch=datetime.datetime.fromordinal(693594)):
+    """Return datetime object from timestamp in Excel serial format.
+
+    Convert LSM time stamps.
+
+    >>> excel_datetime(40237.029999999795)
+    datetime.datetime(2010, 2, 28, 0, 43, 11, 999982)
+
+    """
+    return epoch + datetime.timedelta(timestamp)
+
+
+def julian_datetime(julianday, milisecond=0):
+    """Return datetime from days since 1/1/4713 BC and ms since midnight.
+
+    Convert Julian dates according to MetaMorph.
+
+    >>> julian_datetime(2451576, 54362783)
+    datetime.datetime(2000, 2, 2, 15, 6, 2, 783)
+
+    """
+    if julianday <= 1721423:
+        # no datetime before year 1
+        return None
+
+    a = julianday + 1
+    if a > 2299160:
+        alpha = math.trunc((a - 1867216.25) / 36524.25)
+        a += 1 + alpha - alpha // 4
+    b = a + (1524 if a > 1721423 else 1158)
+    c = math.trunc((b - 122.1) / 365.25)
+    d = math.trunc(365.25 * c)
+    e = math.trunc((b - d) / 30.6001)
+
+    day = b - d - math.trunc(30.6001 * e)
+    month = e - (1 if e < 13.5 else 13)
+    year = c - (4716 if month > 2.5 else 4715)
+
+    hour, milisecond = divmod(milisecond, 1000 * 60 * 60)
+    minute, milisecond = divmod(milisecond, 1000 * 60)
+    second, milisecond = divmod(milisecond, 1000)
+
+    return datetime.datetime(year, month, day,
+                             hour, minute, second, milisecond)
+
+
+def test_tifffile(directory='testimages', verbose=True):
+    """Read all images in directory.
+
+    Print error message on failure.
+
+    >>> test_tifffile(verbose=False)
+
+    """
+    successful = 0
+    failed = 0
+    start = time.time()
+    for f in glob.glob(os.path.join(directory, '*.*')):
+        if verbose:
+            print("\n%s>\n" % f.lower(), end='')
+        t0 = time.time()
+        try:
+            tif = TiffFile(f, multifile=True)
+        except Exception as e:
+            if not verbose:
+                print(f, end=' ')
+            print("ERROR:", e)
+            failed += 1
+            continue
+        try:
+            img = tif.asarray()
+        except ValueError:
+            try:
+                img = tif[0].asarray()
+            except Exception as e:
+                if not verbose:
+                    print(f, end=' ')
+                print("ERROR:", e)
+                failed += 1
+                continue
+        finally:
+            tif.close()
+        successful += 1
+        if verbose:
+            print("%s, %s %s, %s, %.0f ms" % (
+                str(tif), str(img.shape), img.dtype, tif[0].compression,
+                (time.time()-t0) * 1e3))
+    if verbose:
+        print("\nSuccessfully read %i of %i files in %.3f s\n" % (
+            successful, successful+failed, time.time()-start))
+
+
+class TIFF_SUBFILE_TYPES(object):
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        result = []
+        if key & 1:
+            result.append('reduced_image')
+        if key & 2:
+            result.append('page')
+        if key & 4:
+            result.append('mask')
+        return tuple(result)
+
+
+TIFF_PHOTOMETRICS = {
+    0: 'miniswhite',
+    1: 'minisblack',
+    2: 'rgb',
+    3: 'palette',
+    4: 'mask',
+    5: 'separated',  # CMYK
+    6: 'ycbcr',
+    8: 'cielab',
+    9: 'icclab',
+    10: 'itulab',
+    32803: 'cfa',  # Color Filter Array
+    32844: 'logl',
+    32845: 'logluv',
+    34892: 'linear_raw'
+}
+
+TIFF_COMPESSIONS = {
+    1: None,
+    2: 'ccittrle',
+    3: 'ccittfax3',
+    4: 'ccittfax4',
+    5: 'lzw',
+    6: 'ojpeg',
+    7: 'jpeg',
+    8: 'adobe_deflate',
+    9: 't85',
+    10: 't43',
+    32766: 'next',
+    32771: 'ccittrlew',
+    32773: 'packbits',
+    32809: 'thunderscan',
+    32895: 'it8ctpad',
+    32896: 'it8lw',
+    32897: 'it8mp',
+    32898: 'it8bl',
+    32908: 'pixarfilm',
+    32909: 'pixarlog',
+    32946: 'deflate',
+    32947: 'dcs',
+    34661: 'jbig',
+    34676: 'sgilog',
+    34677: 'sgilog24',
+    34712: 'jp2000',
+    34713: 'nef',
+}
+
+TIFF_DECOMPESSORS = {
+    None: lambda x: x,
+    'adobe_deflate': zlib.decompress,
+    'deflate': zlib.decompress,
+    'packbits': decodepackbits,
+    'lzw': decodelzw,
+    # 'jpeg': decodejpg
+}
+
+TIFF_DATA_TYPES = {
+    1: '1B',   # BYTE 8-bit unsigned integer.
+    2: '1s',   # ASCII 8-bit byte that contains a 7-bit ASCII code;
+               #   the last byte must be NULL (binary zero).
+    3: '1H',   # SHORT 16-bit (2-byte) unsigned integer
+    4: '1I',   # LONG 32-bit (4-byte) unsigned integer.
+    5: '2I',   # RATIONAL Two LONGs: the first represents the numerator of
+               #   a fraction; the second, the denominator.
+    6: '1b',   # SBYTE An 8-bit signed (twos-complement) integer.
+    7: '1s',   # UNDEFINED An 8-bit byte that may contain anything,
+               #   depending on the definition of the field.
+    8: '1h',   # SSHORT A 16-bit (2-byte) signed (twos-complement) integer.
+    9: '1i',   # SLONG A 32-bit (4-byte) signed (twos-complement) integer.
+    10: '2i',  # SRATIONAL Two SLONGs: the first represents the numerator
+               #   of a fraction, the second the denominator.
+    11: '1f',  # FLOAT Single precision (4-byte) IEEE format.
+    12: '1d',  # DOUBLE Double precision (8-byte) IEEE format.
+    13: '1I',  # IFD unsigned 4 byte IFD offset.
+    #14: '',   # UNICODE
+    #15: '',   # COMPLEX
+    16: '1Q',  # LONG8 unsigned 8 byte integer (BigTiff)
+    17: '1q',  # SLONG8 signed 8 byte integer (BigTiff)
+    18: '1Q',  # IFD8 unsigned 8 byte IFD offset (BigTiff)
+}
+
+TIFF_SAMPLE_FORMATS = {
+    1: 'uint',
+    2: 'int',
+    3: 'float',
+    #4: 'void',
+    #5: 'complex_int',
+    6: 'complex',
+}
+
+TIFF_SAMPLE_DTYPES = {
+    ('uint', 1): '?',  # bitmap
+    ('uint', 2): 'B',
+    ('uint', 3): 'B',
+    ('uint', 4): 'B',
+    ('uint', 5): 'B',
+    ('uint', 6): 'B',
+    ('uint', 7): 'B',
+    ('uint', 8): 'B',
+    ('uint', 9): 'H',
+    ('uint', 10): 'H',
+    ('uint', 11): 'H',
+    ('uint', 12): 'H',
+    ('uint', 13): 'H',
+    ('uint', 14): 'H',
+    ('uint', 15): 'H',
+    ('uint', 16): 'H',
+    ('uint', 17): 'I',
+    ('uint', 18): 'I',
+    ('uint', 19): 'I',
+    ('uint', 20): 'I',
+    ('uint', 21): 'I',
+    ('uint', 22): 'I',
+    ('uint', 23): 'I',
+    ('uint', 24): 'I',
+    ('uint', 25): 'I',
+    ('uint', 26): 'I',
+    ('uint', 27): 'I',
+    ('uint', 28): 'I',
+    ('uint', 29): 'I',
+    ('uint', 30): 'I',
+    ('uint', 31): 'I',
+    ('uint', 32): 'I',
+    ('uint', 64): 'Q',
+    ('int', 8): 'b',
+    ('int', 16): 'h',
+    ('int', 32): 'i',
+    ('int', 64): 'q',
+    ('float', 16): 'e',
+    ('float', 32): 'f',
+    ('float', 64): 'd',
+    ('complex', 64): 'F',
+    ('complex', 128): 'D',
+    ('uint', (5, 6, 5)): 'B',
+}
+
+TIFF_ORIENTATIONS = {
+    1: 'top_left',
+    2: 'top_right',
+    3: 'bottom_right',
+    4: 'bottom_left',
+    5: 'left_top',
+    6: 'right_top',
+    7: 'right_bottom',
+    8: 'left_bottom',
+}
+
+# TODO: is there a standard for character axes labels?
+AXES_LABELS = {
+    'X': 'width',
+    'Y': 'height',
+    'Z': 'depth',
+    'S': 'sample',  # rgb(a)
+    'I': 'series',  # general sequence, plane, page, IFD
+    'T': 'time',
+    'C': 'channel',  # color, emission wavelength
+    'A': 'angle',
+    'P': 'phase',  # formerly F    # P is Position in LSM!
+    'R': 'tile',  # region, point, mosaic
+    'H': 'lifetime',  # histogram
+    'E': 'lambda',  # excitation wavelength
+    'L': 'exposure',  # lux
+    'V': 'event',
+    'Q': 'other',
+    #'M': 'mosaic',  # LSM 6
+}
+
+AXES_LABELS.update(dict((v, k) for k, v in AXES_LABELS.items()))
+
+# Map OME pixel types to numpy dtype
+OME_PIXEL_TYPES = {
+    'int8': 'i1',
+    'int16': 'i2',
+    'int32': 'i4',
+    'uint8': 'u1',
+    'uint16': 'u2',
+    'uint32': 'u4',
+    'float': 'f4',
+    # 'bit': 'bit',
+    'double': 'f8',
+    'complex': 'c8',
+    'double-complex': 'c16',
+}
+
+# NIH Image PicHeader v1.63
+NIH_IMAGE_HEADER = [
+    ('fileid', 'a8'),
+    ('nlines', 'i2'),
+    ('pixelsperline', 'i2'),
+    ('version', 'i2'),
+    ('oldlutmode', 'i2'),
+    ('oldncolors', 'i2'),
+    ('colors', 'u1', (3, 32)),
+    ('oldcolorstart', 'i2'),
+    ('colorwidth', 'i2'),
+    ('extracolors', 'u2', (6, 3)),
+    ('nextracolors', 'i2'),
+    ('foregroundindex', 'i2'),
+    ('backgroundindex', 'i2'),
+    ('xscale', 'f8'),
+    ('_x0', 'i2'),
+    ('_x1', 'i2'),
+    ('units_t', 'i2'),  # NIH_UNITS_TYPE
+    ('p1', [('x', 'i2'), ('y', 'i2')]),
+    ('p2', [('x', 'i2'), ('y', 'i2')]),
+    ('curvefit_t', 'i2'),  # NIH_CURVEFIT_TYPE
+    ('ncoefficients', 'i2'),
+    ('coeff', 'f8', 6),
+    ('_um_len', 'u1'),
+    ('um', 'a15'),
+    ('_x2', 'u1'),
+    ('binarypic', 'b1'),
+    ('slicestart', 'i2'),
+    ('sliceend', 'i2'),
+    ('scalemagnification', 'f4'),
+    ('nslices', 'i2'),
+    ('slicespacing', 'f4'),
+    ('currentslice', 'i2'),
+    ('frameinterval', 'f4'),
+    ('pixelaspectratio', 'f4'),
+    ('colorstart', 'i2'),
+    ('colorend', 'i2'),
+    ('ncolors', 'i2'),
+    ('fill1', '3u2'),
+    ('fill2', '3u2'),
+    ('colortable_t', 'u1'),  # NIH_COLORTABLE_TYPE
+    ('lutmode_t', 'u1'),  # NIH_LUTMODE_TYPE
+    ('invertedtable', 'b1'),
+    ('zeroclip', 'b1'),
+    ('_xunit_len', 'u1'),
+    ('xunit', 'a11'),
+    ('stacktype_t', 'i2'),  # NIH_STACKTYPE_TYPE
+]
+
+NIH_COLORTABLE_TYPE = (
+    'CustomTable', 'AppleDefault', 'Pseudo20', 'Pseudo32', 'Rainbow',
+    'Fire1', 'Fire2', 'Ice', 'Grays', 'Spectrum')
+
+NIH_LUTMODE_TYPE = (
+    'PseudoColor', 'OldAppleDefault', 'OldSpectrum', 'GrayScale',
+    'ColorLut', 'CustomGrayscale')
+
+NIH_CURVEFIT_TYPE = (
+    'StraightLine', 'Poly2', 'Poly3', 'Poly4', 'Poly5', 'ExpoFit',
+    'PowerFit', 'LogFit', 'RodbardFit', 'SpareFit1', 'Uncalibrated',
+    'UncalibratedOD')
+
+NIH_UNITS_TYPE = (
+    'Nanometers', 'Micrometers', 'Millimeters', 'Centimeters', 'Meters',
+    'Kilometers', 'Inches', 'Feet', 'Miles', 'Pixels', 'OtherUnits')
+
+NIH_STACKTYPE_TYPE = (
+    'VolumeStack', 'RGBStack', 'MovieStack', 'HSVStack')
+
+# Map Universal Imaging Corporation MetaMorph internal tag ids to name and type
+UIC_TAGS = {
+    0: ('auto_scale', int),
+    1: ('min_scale', int),
+    2: ('max_scale', int),
+    3: ('spatial_calibration', int),
+    4: ('x_calibration', Fraction),
+    5: ('y_calibration', Fraction),
+    6: ('calibration_units', str),
+    7: ('name', str),
+    8: ('thresh_state', int),
+    9: ('thresh_state_red', int),
+    10: ('tagid_10', None),  # undefined
+    11: ('thresh_state_green', int),
+    12: ('thresh_state_blue', int),
+    13: ('thresh_state_lo', int),
+    14: ('thresh_state_hi', int),
+    15: ('zoom', int),
+    16: ('create_time', julian_datetime),
+    17: ('last_saved_time', julian_datetime),
+    18: ('current_buffer', int),
+    19: ('gray_fit', None),
+    20: ('gray_point_count', None),
+    21: ('gray_x', Fraction),
+    22: ('gray_y', Fraction),
+    23: ('gray_min', Fraction),
+    24: ('gray_max', Fraction),
+    25: ('gray_unit_name', str),
+    26: ('standard_lut', int),
+    27: ('wavelength', int),
+    28: ('stage_position', '(%i,2,2)u4'),  # N xy positions as fractions
+    29: ('camera_chip_offset', '(%i,2,2)u4'),  # N xy offsets as fractions
+    30: ('overlay_mask', None),
+    31: ('overlay_compress', None),
+    32: ('overlay', None),
+    33: ('special_overlay_mask', None),
+    34: ('special_overlay_compress', None),
+    35: ('special_overlay', None),
+    36: ('image_property', read_uic_image_property),
+    37: ('stage_label', '%ip'),  # N str
+    38: ('autoscale_lo_info', Fraction),
+    39: ('autoscale_hi_info', Fraction),
+    40: ('absolute_z', '(%i,2)u4'),  # N fractions
+    41: ('absolute_z_valid', '(%i,)u4'),  # N long
+    42: ('gamma', int),
+    43: ('gamma_red', int),
+    44: ('gamma_green', int),
+    45: ('gamma_blue', int),
+    46: ('camera_bin', int),
+    47: ('new_lut', int),
+    48: ('image_property_ex', None),
+    49: ('plane_property', int),
+    50: ('user_lut_table', '(256,3)u1'),
+    51: ('red_autoscale_info', int),
+    52: ('red_autoscale_lo_info', Fraction),
+    53: ('red_autoscale_hi_info', Fraction),
+    54: ('red_minscale_info', int),
+    55: ('red_maxscale_info', int),
+    56: ('green_autoscale_info', int),
+    57: ('green_autoscale_lo_info', Fraction),
+    58: ('green_autoscale_hi_info', Fraction),
+    59: ('green_minscale_info', int),
+    60: ('green_maxscale_info', int),
+    61: ('blue_autoscale_info', int),
+    62: ('blue_autoscale_lo_info', Fraction),
+    63: ('blue_autoscale_hi_info', Fraction),
+    64: ('blue_min_scale_info', int),
+    65: ('blue_max_scale_info', int),
+    #66: ('overlay_plane_color', read_uic_overlay_plane_color),
+}
+
+
+# Olympus FluoView
+MM_DIMENSION = [
+    ('name', 'a16'),
+    ('size', 'i4'),
+    ('origin', 'f8'),
+    ('resolution', 'f8'),
+    ('unit', 'a64'),
+]
+
+MM_HEADER = [
+    ('header_flag', 'i2'),
+    ('image_type', 'u1'),
+    ('image_name', 'a257'),
+    ('offset_data', 'u4'),
+    ('palette_size', 'i4'),
+    ('offset_palette0', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_palette1', 'u4'),
+    ('comment_size', 'i4'),
+    ('offset_comment', 'u4'),
+    ('dimensions', MM_DIMENSION, 10),
+    ('offset_position', 'u4'),
+    ('map_type', 'i2'),
+    ('map_min', 'f8'),
+    ('map_max', 'f8'),
+    ('min_value', 'f8'),
+    ('max_value', 'f8'),
+    ('offset_map', 'u4'),
+    ('gamma', 'f8'),
+    ('offset', 'f8'),
+    ('gray_channel', MM_DIMENSION),
+    ('offset_thumbnail', 'u4'),
+    ('voice_field', 'i4'),
+    ('offset_voice_field', 'u4'),
+]
+
+# Carl Zeiss LSM
+CZ_LSM_INFO = [
+    ('magic_number', 'u4'),
+    ('structure_size', 'i4'),
+    ('dimension_x', 'i4'),
+    ('dimension_y', 'i4'),
+    ('dimension_z', 'i4'),
+    ('dimension_channels', 'i4'),
+    ('dimension_time', 'i4'),
+    ('data_type', 'i4'),  # CZ_DATA_TYPES
+    ('thumbnail_x', 'i4'),
+    ('thumbnail_y', 'i4'),
+    ('voxel_size_x', 'f8'),
+    ('voxel_size_y', 'f8'),
+    ('voxel_size_z', 'f8'),
+    ('origin_x', 'f8'),
+    ('origin_y', 'f8'),
+    ('origin_z', 'f8'),
+    ('scan_type', 'u2'),
+    ('spectral_scan', 'u2'),
+    ('type_of_data', 'u4'),  # CZ_TYPE_OF_DATA
+    ('offset_vector_overlay', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_input_lut', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_output_lut', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_channel_colors', 'u4'),
+    ('time_interval', 'f8'),
+    ('offset_channel_data_types', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_scan_info', 'u4'),  # CZ_LSM_SCAN_INFO
+    ('offset_ks_data', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_time_stamps', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_event_list', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_roi', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_bleach_roi', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_next_recording', 'u4'),
+    # LSM 2.0 ends here
+    ('display_aspect_x', 'f8'),
+    ('display_aspect_y', 'f8'),
+    ('display_aspect_z', 'f8'),
+    ('display_aspect_time', 'f8'),
+    ('offset_mean_of_roi_overlay', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_topo_isoline_overlay', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_topo_profile_overlay', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_linescan_overlay', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_toolbar_flags', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_channel_wavelength', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_channel_factors', 'u4'),
+    ('objective_sphere_correction', 'f8'),
+    ('offset_unmix_parameters', 'u4'),
+    # LSM 3.2, 4.0 end here
+    ('offset_acquisition_parameters', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_characteristics', 'u4'),
+    ('offset_palette', 'u4'),
+    ('time_difference_x', 'f8'),
+    ('time_difference_y', 'f8'),
+    ('time_difference_z', 'f8'),
+    ('internal_use_1', 'u4'),
+    ('dimension_p', 'i4'),
+    ('dimension_m', 'i4'),
+    ('dimensions_reserved', '16i4'),
+    ('offset_tile_positions', 'u4'),
+    ('reserved_1', '9u4'),
+    ('offset_positions', 'u4'),
+    ('reserved_2', '21u4'),  # must be 0
+]
+
+# Import functions for LSM_INFO sub-records
+CZ_LSM_INFO_READERS = {
+    'scan_info': read_cz_lsm_scan_info,
+    'time_stamps': read_cz_lsm_time_stamps,
+    'event_list': read_cz_lsm_event_list,
+    'channel_colors': read_cz_lsm_floatpairs,
+    'positions': read_cz_lsm_floatpairs,
+    'tile_positions': read_cz_lsm_floatpairs,
+}
+
+# Map cz_lsm_info.scan_type to dimension order
+CZ_SCAN_TYPES = {
+    0: 'XYZCT',  # x-y-z scan
+    1: 'XYZCT',  # z scan (x-z plane)
+    2: 'XYZCT',  # line scan
+    3: 'XYTCZ',  # time series x-y
+    4: 'XYZTC',  # time series x-z
+    5: 'XYTCZ',  # time series 'Mean of ROIs'
+    6: 'XYZTC',  # time series x-y-z
+    7: 'XYCTZ',  # spline scan
+    8: 'XYCZT',  # spline scan x-z
+    9: 'XYTCZ',  # time series spline plane x-z
+    10: 'XYZCT',  # point mode
+}
+
+# Map dimension codes to cz_lsm_info attribute
+CZ_DIMENSIONS = {
+    'X': 'dimension_x',
+    'Y': 'dimension_y',
+    'Z': 'dimension_z',
+    'C': 'dimension_channels',
+    'T': 'dimension_time',
+}
+
+# Description of cz_lsm_info.data_type
+CZ_DATA_TYPES = {
+    0: 'varying data types',
+    1: '8 bit unsigned integer',
+    2: '12 bit unsigned integer',
+    5: '32 bit float',
+}
+
+# Description of cz_lsm_info.type_of_data
+CZ_TYPE_OF_DATA = {
+    0: 'Original scan data',
+    1: 'Calculated data',
+    2: '3D reconstruction',
+    3: 'Topography height map',
+}
+
+CZ_LSM_SCAN_INFO_ARRAYS = {
+    0x20000000: "tracks",
+    0x30000000: "lasers",
+    0x60000000: "detection_channels",
+    0x80000000: "illumination_channels",
+    0xa0000000: "beam_splitters",
+    0xc0000000: "data_channels",
+    0x11000000: "timers",
+    0x13000000: "markers",
+}
+
+CZ_LSM_SCAN_INFO_STRUCTS = {
+    # 0x10000000: "recording",
+    0x40000000: "track",
+    0x50000000: "laser",
+    0x70000000: "detection_channel",
+    0x90000000: "illumination_channel",
+    0xb0000000: "beam_splitter",
+    0xd0000000: "data_channel",
+    0x12000000: "timer",
+    0x14000000: "marker",
+}
+
+CZ_LSM_SCAN_INFO_ATTRIBUTES = {
+    # recording
+    0x10000001: "name",
+    0x10000002: "description",
+    0x10000003: "notes",
+    0x10000004: "objective",
+    0x10000005: "processing_summary",
+    0x10000006: "special_scan_mode",
+    0x10000007: "scan_type",
+    0x10000008: "scan_mode",
+    0x10000009: "number_of_stacks",
+    0x1000000a: "lines_per_plane",
+    0x1000000b: "samples_per_line",
+    0x1000000c: "planes_per_volume",
+    0x1000000d: "images_width",
+    0x1000000e: "images_height",
+    0x1000000f: "images_number_planes",
+    0x10000010: "images_number_stacks",
+    0x10000011: "images_number_channels",
+    0x10000012: "linscan_xy_size",
+    0x10000013: "scan_direction",
+    0x10000014: "time_series",
+    0x10000015: "original_scan_data",
+    0x10000016: "zoom_x",
+    0x10000017: "zoom_y",
+    0x10000018: "zoom_z",
+    0x10000019: "sample_0x",
+    0x1000001a: "sample_0y",
+    0x1000001b: "sample_0z",
+    0x1000001c: "sample_spacing",
+    0x1000001d: "line_spacing",
+    0x1000001e: "plane_spacing",
+    0x1000001f: "plane_width",
+    0x10000020: "plane_height",
+    0x10000021: "volume_depth",
+    0x10000023: "nutation",
+    0x10000034: "rotation",
+    0x10000035: "precession",
+    0x10000036: "sample_0time",
+    0x10000037: "start_scan_trigger_in",
+    0x10000038: "start_scan_trigger_out",
+    0x10000039: "start_scan_event",
+    0x10000040: "start_scan_time",
+    0x10000041: "stop_scan_trigger_in",
+    0x10000042: "stop_scan_trigger_out",
+    0x10000043: "stop_scan_event",
+    0x10000044: "stop_scan_time",
+    0x10000045: "use_rois",
+    0x10000046: "use_reduced_memory_rois",
+    0x10000047: "user",
+    0x10000048: "use_bc_correction",
+    0x10000049: "position_bc_correction1",
+    0x10000050: "position_bc_correction2",
+    0x10000051: "interpolation_y",
+    0x10000052: "camera_binning",
+    0x10000053: "camera_supersampling",
+    0x10000054: "camera_frame_width",
+    0x10000055: "camera_frame_height",
+    0x10000056: "camera_offset_x",
+    0x10000057: "camera_offset_y",
+    0x10000059: "rt_binning",
+    0x1000005a: "rt_frame_width",
+    0x1000005b: "rt_frame_height",
+    0x1000005c: "rt_region_width",
+    0x1000005d: "rt_region_height",
+    0x1000005e: "rt_offset_x",
+    0x1000005f: "rt_offset_y",
+    0x10000060: "rt_zoom",
+    0x10000061: "rt_line_period",
+    0x10000062: "prescan",
+    0x10000063: "scan_direction_z",
+    # track
+    0x40000001: "multiplex_type",  # 0 after line; 1 after frame
+    0x40000002: "multiplex_order",
+    0x40000003: "sampling_mode",  # 0 sample; 1 line average; 2 frame average
+    0x40000004: "sampling_method",  # 1 mean; 2 sum
+    0x40000005: "sampling_number",
+    0x40000006: "acquire",
+    0x40000007: "sample_observation_time",
+    0x4000000b: "time_between_stacks",
+    0x4000000c: "name",
+    0x4000000d: "collimator1_name",
+    0x4000000e: "collimator1_position",
+    0x4000000f: "collimator2_name",
+    0x40000010: "collimator2_position",
+    0x40000011: "is_bleach_track",
+    0x40000012: "is_bleach_after_scan_number",
+    0x40000013: "bleach_scan_number",
+    0x40000014: "trigger_in",
+    0x40000015: "trigger_out",
+    0x40000016: "is_ratio_track",
+    0x40000017: "bleach_count",
+    0x40000018: "spi_center_wavelength",
+    0x40000019: "pixel_time",
+    0x40000021: "condensor_frontlens",
+    0x40000023: "field_stop_value",
+    0x40000024: "id_condensor_aperture",
+    0x40000025: "condensor_aperture",
+    0x40000026: "id_condensor_revolver",
+    0x40000027: "condensor_filter",
+    0x40000028: "id_transmission_filter1",
+    0x40000029: "id_transmission1",
+    0x40000030: "id_transmission_filter2",
+    0x40000031: "id_transmission2",
+    0x40000032: "repeat_bleach",
+    0x40000033: "enable_spot_bleach_pos",
+    0x40000034: "spot_bleach_posx",
+    0x40000035: "spot_bleach_posy",
+    0x40000036: "spot_bleach_posz",
+    0x40000037: "id_tubelens",
+    0x40000038: "id_tubelens_position",
+    0x40000039: "transmitted_light",
+    0x4000003a: "reflected_light",
+    0x4000003b: "simultan_grab_and_bleach",
+    0x4000003c: "bleach_pixel_time",
+    # laser
+    0x50000001: "name",
+    0x50000002: "acquire",
+    0x50000003: "power",
+    # detection_channel
+    0x70000001: "integration_mode",
+    0x70000002: "special_mode",
+    0x70000003: "detector_gain_first",
+    0x70000004: "detector_gain_last",
+    0x70000005: "amplifier_gain_first",
+    0x70000006: "amplifier_gain_last",
+    0x70000007: "amplifier_offs_first",
+    0x70000008: "amplifier_offs_last",
+    0x70000009: "pinhole_diameter",
+    0x7000000a: "counting_trigger",
+    0x7000000b: "acquire",
+    0x7000000c: "point_detector_name",
+    0x7000000d: "amplifier_name",
+    0x7000000e: "pinhole_name",
+    0x7000000f: "filter_set_name",
+    0x70000010: "filter_name",
+    0x70000013: "integrator_name",
+    0x70000014: "channel_name",
+    0x70000015: "detector_gain_bc1",
+    0x70000016: "detector_gain_bc2",
+    0x70000017: "amplifier_gain_bc1",
+    0x70000018: "amplifier_gain_bc2",
+    0x70000019: "amplifier_offset_bc1",
+    0x70000020: "amplifier_offset_bc2",
+    0x70000021: "spectral_scan_channels",
+    0x70000022: "spi_wavelength_start",
+    0x70000023: "spi_wavelength_stop",
+    0x70000026: "dye_name",
+    0x70000027: "dye_folder",
+    # illumination_channel
+    0x90000001: "name",
+    0x90000002: "power",
+    0x90000003: "wavelength",
+    0x90000004: "aquire",
+    0x90000005: "detchannel_name",
+    0x90000006: "power_bc1",
+    0x90000007: "power_bc2",
+    # beam_splitter
+    0xb0000001: "filter_set",
+    0xb0000002: "filter",
+    0xb0000003: "name",
+    # data_channel
+    0xd0000001: "name",
+    0xd0000003: "acquire",
+    0xd0000004: "color",
+    0xd0000005: "sample_type",
+    0xd0000006: "bits_per_sample",
+    0xd0000007: "ratio_type",
+    0xd0000008: "ratio_track1",
+    0xd0000009: "ratio_track2",
+    0xd000000a: "ratio_channel1",
+    0xd000000b: "ratio_channel2",
+    0xd000000c: "ratio_const1",
+    0xd000000d: "ratio_const2",
+    0xd000000e: "ratio_const3",
+    0xd000000f: "ratio_const4",
+    0xd0000010: "ratio_const5",
+    0xd0000011: "ratio_const6",
+    0xd0000012: "ratio_first_images1",
+    0xd0000013: "ratio_first_images2",
+    0xd0000014: "dye_name",
+    0xd0000015: "dye_folder",
+    0xd0000016: "spectrum",
+    0xd0000017: "acquire",
+    # timer
+    0x12000001: "name",
+    0x12000002: "description",
+    0x12000003: "interval",
+    0x12000004: "trigger_in",
+    0x12000005: "trigger_out",
+    0x12000006: "activation_time",
+    0x12000007: "activation_number",
+    # marker
+    0x14000001: "name",
+    0x14000002: "description",
+    0x14000003: "trigger_in",
+    0x14000004: "trigger_out",
+}
+
+# Map TIFF tag code to attribute name, default value, type, count, validator
+TIFF_TAGS = {
+    254: ('new_subfile_type', 0, 4, 1, TIFF_SUBFILE_TYPES()),
+    255: ('subfile_type', None, 3, 1,
+          {0: 'undefined', 1: 'image', 2: 'reduced_image', 3: 'page'}),
+    256: ('image_width', None, 4, 1, None),
+    257: ('image_length', None, 4, 1, None),
+    258: ('bits_per_sample', 1, 3, 1, None),
+    259: ('compression', 1, 3, 1, TIFF_COMPESSIONS),
+    262: ('photometric', None, 3, 1, TIFF_PHOTOMETRICS),
+    266: ('fill_order', 1, 3, 1, {1: 'msb2lsb', 2: 'lsb2msb'}),
+    269: ('document_name', None, 2, None, None),
+    270: ('image_description', None, 2, None, None),
+    271: ('make', None, 2, None, None),
+    272: ('model', None, 2, None, None),
+    273: ('strip_offsets', None, 4, None, None),
+    274: ('orientation', 1, 3, 1, TIFF_ORIENTATIONS),
+    277: ('samples_per_pixel', 1, 3, 1, None),
+    278: ('rows_per_strip', 2**32-1, 4, 1, None),
+    279: ('strip_byte_counts', None, 4, None, None),
+    280: ('min_sample_value', None, 3, None, None),
+    281: ('max_sample_value', None, 3, None, None),  # 2**bits_per_sample
+    282: ('x_resolution', None, 5, 1, None),
+    283: ('y_resolution', None, 5, 1, None),
+    284: ('planar_configuration', 1, 3, 1, {1: 'contig', 2: 'separate'}),
+    285: ('page_name', None, 2, None, None),
+    286: ('x_position', None, 5, 1, None),
+    287: ('y_position', None, 5, 1, None),
+    296: ('resolution_unit', 2, 4, 1, {1: 'none', 2: 'inch', 3: 'centimeter'}),
+    297: ('page_number', None, 3, 2, None),
+    305: ('software', None, 2, None, None),
+    306: ('datetime', None, 2, None, None),
+    315: ('artist', None, 2, None, None),
+    316: ('host_computer', None, 2, None, None),
+    317: ('predictor', 1, 3, 1, {1: None, 2: 'horizontal'}),
+    318: ('white_point', None, 5, 2, None),
+    319: ('primary_chromaticities', None, 5, 6, None),
+    320: ('color_map', None, 3, None, None),
+    322: ('tile_width', None, 4, 1, None),
+    323: ('tile_length', None, 4, 1, None),
+    324: ('tile_offsets', None, 4, None, None),
+    325: ('tile_byte_counts', None, 4, None, None),
+    338: ('extra_samples', None, 3, None,
+          {0: 'unspecified', 1: 'assocalpha', 2: 'unassalpha'}),
+    339: ('sample_format', 1, 3, 1, TIFF_SAMPLE_FORMATS),
+    340: ('smin_sample_value', None, None, None, None),
+    341: ('smax_sample_value', None, None, None, None),
+    347: ('jpeg_tables', None, 7, None, None),
+    530: ('ycbcr_subsampling', 1, 3, 2, None),
+    531: ('ycbcr_positioning', 1, 3, 1, None),
+    32996: ('sgi_matteing', None, None, 1, None),  # use extra_samples
+    32996: ('sgi_datatype', None, None, 1, None),  # use sample_format
+    32997: ('image_depth', None, 4, 1, None),
+    32998: ('tile_depth', None, 4, 1, None),
+    33432: ('copyright', None, 1, None, None),
+    33445: ('md_file_tag', None, 4, 1, None),
+    33446: ('md_scale_pixel', None, 5, 1, None),
+    33447: ('md_color_table', None, 3, None, None),
+    33448: ('md_lab_name', None, 2, None, None),
+    33449: ('md_sample_info', None, 2, None, None),
+    33450: ('md_prep_date', None, 2, None, None),
+    33451: ('md_prep_time', None, 2, None, None),
+    33452: ('md_file_units', None, 2, None, None),
+    33550: ('model_pixel_scale', None, 12, 3, None),
+    33922: ('model_tie_point', None, 12, None, None),
+    34665: ('exif_ifd', None, None, 1, None),
+    34735: ('geo_key_directory', None, 3, None, None),
+    34736: ('geo_double_params', None, 12, None, None),
+    34737: ('geo_ascii_params', None, 2, None, None),
+    34853: ('gps_ifd', None, None, 1, None),
+    37510: ('user_comment', None, None, None, None),
+    42112: ('gdal_metadata', None, 2, None, None),
+    42113: ('gdal_nodata', None, 2, None, None),
+    50289: ('mc_xy_position', None, 12, 2, None),
+    50290: ('mc_z_position', None, 12, 1, None),
+    50291: ('mc_xy_calibration', None, 12, 3, None),
+    50292: ('mc_lens_lem_na_n', None, 12, 3, None),
+    50293: ('mc_channel_name', None, 1, None, None),
+    50294: ('mc_ex_wavelength', None, 12, 1, None),
+    50295: ('mc_time_stamp', None, 12, 1, None),
+    50838: ('imagej_byte_counts', None, None, None, None),
+    65200: ('flex_xml', None, 2, None, None),
+    # code: (attribute name, default value, type, count, validator)
+}
+
+# Map custom TIFF tag codes to attribute names and import functions
+CUSTOM_TAGS = {
+    700: ('xmp', read_bytes),
+    34377: ('photoshop', read_numpy),
+    33723: ('iptc', read_bytes),
+    34675: ('icc_profile', read_bytes),
+    33628: ('uic1tag', read_uic1tag),  # Universal Imaging Corporation STK
+    33629: ('uic2tag', read_uic2tag),
+    33630: ('uic3tag', read_uic3tag),
+    33631: ('uic4tag', read_uic4tag),
+    34361: ('mm_header', read_mm_header),  # Olympus FluoView
+    34362: ('mm_stamp', read_mm_stamp),
+    34386: ('mm_user_block', read_bytes),
+    34412: ('cz_lsm_info', read_cz_lsm_info),  # Carl Zeiss LSM
+    43314: ('nih_image_header', read_nih_image_header),
+    # 40001: ('mc_ipwinscal', read_bytes),
+    40100: ('mc_id_old', read_bytes),
+    50288: ('mc_id', read_bytes),
+    50296: ('mc_frame_properties', read_bytes),
+    50839: ('imagej_metadata', read_bytes),
+    51123: ('micromanager_metadata', read_json),
+}
+
+# Max line length of printed output
+PRINT_LINE_LEN = 79
+
+
+def imshow(data, title=None, vmin=0, vmax=None, cmap=None,
+           bitspersample=None, photometric='rgb', interpolation='nearest',
+           dpi=96, figure=None, subplot=111, maxdim=8192, **kwargs):
+    """Plot n-dimensional images using matplotlib.pyplot.
+
+    Return figure, subplot and plot axis.
+    Requires pyplot already imported ``from matplotlib import pyplot``.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    bitspersample : int or None
+        Number of bits per channel in integer RGB images.
+    photometric : {'miniswhite', 'minisblack', 'rgb', or 'palette'}
+        The color space of the image data.
+    title : str
+        Window and subplot title.
+    figure : matplotlib.figure.Figure (optional).
+        Matplotlib to use for plotting.
+    subplot : int
+        A matplotlib.pyplot.subplot axis.
+    maxdim : int
+        maximum image size in any dimension.
+    kwargs : optional
+        Arguments for matplotlib.pyplot.imshow.
+
+    """
+    #if photometric not in ('miniswhite', 'minisblack', 'rgb', 'palette'):
+    #    raise ValueError("Can't handle %s photometrics" % photometric)
+    # TODO: handle photometric == 'separated' (CMYK)
+    isrgb = photometric in ('rgb', 'palette')
+    data = numpy.atleast_2d(data.squeeze())
+    data = data[(slice(0, maxdim), ) * len(data.shape)]
+
+    dims = data.ndim
+    if dims < 2:
+        raise ValueError("not an image")
+    elif dims == 2:
+        dims = 0
+        isrgb = False
+    else:
+        if isrgb and data.shape[-3] in (3, 4):
+            data = numpy.swapaxes(data, -3, -2)
+            data = numpy.swapaxes(data, -2, -1)
+        elif not isrgb and (data.shape[-1] < data.shape[-2] // 16 and
+                            data.shape[-1] < data.shape[-3] // 16 and
+                            data.shape[-1] < 5):
+            data = numpy.swapaxes(data, -3, -1)
+            data = numpy.swapaxes(data, -2, -1)
+        isrgb = isrgb and data.shape[-1] in (3, 4)
+        dims -= 3 if isrgb else 2
+
+    if photometric == 'palette' and isrgb:
+        datamax = data.max()
+        if datamax > 255:
+            data >>= 8  # possible precision loss
+        data = data.astype('B')
+    elif data.dtype.kind in 'ui':
+        if not (isrgb and data.dtype.itemsize <= 1) or bitspersample is None:
+            try:
+                bitspersample = int(math.ceil(math.log(data.max(), 2)))
+            except Exception:
+                bitspersample = data.dtype.itemsize * 8
+        elif not isinstance(bitspersample, int):
+            # bitspersample can be tuple, e.g. (5, 6, 5)
+            bitspersample = data.dtype.itemsize * 8
+        datamax = 2**bitspersample
+        if isrgb:
+            if bitspersample < 8:
+                data <<= 8 - bitspersample
+            elif bitspersample > 8:
+                data >>= bitspersample - 8  # precision loss
+            data = data.astype('B')
+    elif data.dtype.kind == 'f':
+        datamax = data.max()
+        if isrgb and datamax > 1.0:
+            if data.dtype.char == 'd':
+                data = data.astype('f')
+            data /= datamax
+    elif data.dtype.kind == 'b':
+        datamax = 1
+    elif data.dtype.kind == 'c':
+        raise NotImplementedError("complex type")  # TODO: handle complex types
+
+    if not isrgb:
+        if vmax is None:
+            vmax = datamax
+        if vmin is None:
+            if data.dtype.kind == 'i':
+                dtmin = numpy.iinfo(data.dtype).min
+                vmin = numpy.min(data)
+                if vmin == dtmin:
+                    vmin = numpy.min(data > dtmin)
+            if data.dtype.kind == 'f':
+                dtmin = numpy.finfo(data.dtype).min
+                vmin = numpy.min(data)
+                if vmin == dtmin:
+                    vmin = numpy.min(data > dtmin)
+            else:
+                vmin = 0
+
+    pyplot = sys.modules['matplotlib.pyplot']
+
+    if figure is None:
+        pyplot.rc('font', family='sans-serif', weight='normal', size=8)
+        figure = pyplot.figure(dpi=dpi, figsize=(10.3, 6.3), frameon=True,
+                               facecolor='1.0', edgecolor='w')
+        try:
+            figure.canvas.manager.window.title(title)
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        pyplot.subplots_adjust(bottom=0.03*(dims+2), top=0.9,
+                               left=0.1, right=0.95, hspace=0.05, wspace=0.0)
+    subplot = pyplot.subplot(subplot)
+
+    if title:
+        try:
+            title = unicode(title, 'Windows-1252')
+        except TypeError:
+            pass
+        pyplot.title(title, size=11)
+
+    if cmap is None:
+        if data.dtype.kind in 'ubf' or vmin == 0:
+            cmap = 'cubehelix'
+        else:
+            cmap = 'coolwarm'
+        if photometric == 'miniswhite':
+            cmap += '_r'
+
+    image = pyplot.imshow(data[(0, ) * dims].squeeze(), vmin=vmin, vmax=vmax,
+                          cmap=cmap, interpolation=interpolation, **kwargs)
+
+    if not isrgb:
+        pyplot.colorbar()  # panchor=(0.55, 0.5), fraction=0.05
+
+    def format_coord(x, y):
+        # callback function to format coordinate display in toolbar
+        x = int(x + 0.5)
+        y = int(y + 0.5)
+        try:
+            if dims:
+                return "%s @ %s [%4i, %4i]" % (cur_ax_dat[1][y, x],
+                                               current, x, y)
+            else:
+                return "%s @ [%4i, %4i]" % (data[y, x], x, y)
+        except IndexError:
+            return ""
+
+    pyplot.gca().format_coord = format_coord
+
+    if dims:
+        current = list((0, ) * dims)
+        cur_ax_dat = [0, data[tuple(current)].squeeze()]
+        sliders = [pyplot.Slider(
+            pyplot.axes([0.125, 0.03*(axis+1), 0.725, 0.025]),
+            'Dimension %i' % axis, 0, data.shape[axis]-1, 0, facecolor='0.5',
+            valfmt='%%.0f [%i]' % data.shape[axis]) for axis in range(dims)]
+        for slider in sliders:
+            slider.drawon = False
+
+        def set_image(current, sliders=sliders, data=data):
+            # change image and redraw canvas
+            cur_ax_dat[1] = data[tuple(current)].squeeze()
+            image.set_data(cur_ax_dat[1])
+            for ctrl, index in zip(sliders, current):
+                ctrl.eventson = False
+                ctrl.set_val(index)
+                ctrl.eventson = True
+            figure.canvas.draw()
+
+        def on_changed(index, axis, data=data, current=current):
+            # callback function for slider change event
+            index = int(round(index))
+            cur_ax_dat[0] = axis
+            if index == current[axis]:
+                return
+            if index >= data.shape[axis]:
+                index = 0
+            elif index < 0:
+                index = data.shape[axis] - 1
+            current[axis] = index
+            set_image(current)
+
+        def on_keypressed(event, data=data, current=current):
+            # callback function for key press event
+            key = event.key
+            axis = cur_ax_dat[0]
+            if str(key) in '0123456789':
+                on_changed(key, axis)
+            elif key == 'right':
+                on_changed(current[axis] + 1, axis)
+            elif key == 'left':
+                on_changed(current[axis] - 1, axis)
+            elif key == 'up':
+                cur_ax_dat[0] = 0 if axis == len(data.shape)-1 else axis + 1
+            elif key == 'down':
+                cur_ax_dat[0] = len(data.shape)-1 if axis == 0 else axis - 1
+            elif key == 'end':
+                on_changed(data.shape[axis] - 1, axis)
+            elif key == 'home':
+                on_changed(0, axis)
+
+        figure.canvas.mpl_connect('key_press_event', on_keypressed)
+        for axis, ctrl in enumerate(sliders):
+            ctrl.on_changed(lambda k, a=axis: on_changed(k, a))
+
+    return figure, subplot, image
+
+
+def _app_show():
+    """Block the GUI. For use as skimage plugin."""
+    pyplot = sys.modules['matplotlib.pyplot']
+    pyplot.show()
+
+
+def main(argv=None):
+    """Command line usage main function."""
+    if float(sys.version[0:3]) < 2.6:
+        print("This script requires Python version 2.6 or better.")
+        print("This is Python version %s" % sys.version)
+        return 0
+    if argv is None:
+        argv = sys.argv
+
+    import optparse
+
+    parser = optparse.OptionParser(
+        usage="usage: %prog [options] path",
+        description="Display image data in TIFF files.",
+        version="%%prog %s" % __version__)
+    opt = parser.add_option
+    opt('-p', '--page', dest='page', type='int', default=-1,
+        help="display single page")
+    opt('-s', '--series', dest='series', type='int', default=-1,
+        help="display series of pages of same shape")
+    opt('--nomultifile', dest='nomultifile', action='store_true',
+        default=False, help="don't read OME series from multiple files")
+    opt('--noplot', dest='noplot', action='store_true', default=False,
+        help="don't display images")
+    opt('--interpol', dest='interpol', metavar='INTERPOL', default='bilinear',
+        help="image interpolation method")
+    opt('--dpi', dest='dpi', type='int', default=96,
+        help="set plot resolution")
+    opt('--debug', dest='debug', action='store_true', default=False,
+        help="raise exception on failures")
+    opt('--test', dest='test', action='store_true', default=False,
+        help="try read all images in path")
+    opt('--doctest', dest='doctest', action='store_true', default=False,
+        help="runs the docstring examples")
+    opt('-v', '--verbose', dest='verbose', action='store_true', default=True)
+    opt('-q', '--quiet', dest='verbose', action='store_false')
+
+    settings, path = parser.parse_args()
+    path = ' '.join(path)
+
+    if settings.doctest:
+        import doctest
+        doctest.testmod()
+        return 0
+    if not path:
+        parser.error("No file specified")
+    if settings.test:
+        test_tifffile(path, settings.verbose)
+        return 0
+
+    if any(i in path for i in '?*'):
+        path = glob.glob(path)
+        if not path:
+            print('no files match the pattern')
+            return 0
+        # TODO: handle image sequences
+        #if len(path) == 1:
+        path = path[0]
+
+    print("Reading file structure...", end=' ')
+    start = time.time()
+    try:
+        tif = TiffFile(path, multifile=not settings.nomultifile)
+    except Exception as e:
+        if settings.debug:
+            raise
+        else:
+            print("\n", e)
+            sys.exit(0)
+    print("%.3f ms" % ((time.time()-start) * 1e3))
+
+    if tif.is_ome:
+        settings.norgb = True
+
+    images = [(None, tif[0 if settings.page < 0 else settings.page])]
+    if not settings.noplot:
+        print("Reading image data... ", end=' ')
+
+        def notnone(x):
+            return next(i for i in x if i is not None)
+        start = time.time()
+        try:
+            if settings.page >= 0:
+                images = [(tif.asarray(key=settings.page),
+                           tif[settings.page])]
+            elif settings.series >= 0:
+                images = [(tif.asarray(series=settings.series),
+                           notnone(tif.series[settings.series].pages))]
+            else:
+                images = []
+                for i, s in enumerate(tif.series):
+                    try:
+                        images.append(
+                            (tif.asarray(series=i), notnone(s.pages)))
+                    except ValueError as e:
+                        images.append((None, notnone(s.pages)))
+                        if settings.debug:
+                            raise
+                        else:
+                            print("\n* series %i failed: %s... " % (i, e),
+                                  end='')
+            print("%.3f ms" % ((time.time()-start) * 1e3))
+        except Exception as e:
+            if settings.debug:
+                raise
+            else:
+                print(e)
+
+    tif.close()
+
+    print("\nTIFF file:", tif)
+    print()
+    for i, s in enumerate(tif.series):
+        print("Series %i" % i)
+        print(s)
+        print()
+    for i, page in images:
+        print(page)
+        print(page.tags)
+        if page.is_palette:
+            print("\nColor Map:", page.color_map.shape, page.color_map.dtype)
+        for attr in ('cz_lsm_info', 'cz_lsm_scan_info', 'uic_tags',
+                     'mm_header', 'imagej_tags', 'micromanager_metadata',
+                     'nih_image_header'):
+            if hasattr(page, attr):
+                print("", attr.upper(), Record(getattr(page, attr)), sep="\n")
+        print()
+        if page.is_micromanager:
+            print('MICROMANAGER_FILE_METADATA')
+            print(Record(tif.micromanager_metadata))
+
+    if images and not settings.noplot:
+        try:
+            import matplotlib
+            matplotlib.use('TkAgg')
+            from matplotlib import pyplot
+        except ImportError as e:
+            warnings.warn("failed to import matplotlib.\n%s" % e)
+        else:
+            for img, page in images:
+                if img is None:
+                    continue
+                vmin, vmax = None, None
+                if 'gdal_nodata' in page.tags:
+                    try:
+                        vmin = numpy.min(img[img > float(page.gdal_nodata)])
+                    except ValueError:
+                        pass
+                if page.is_stk:
+                    try:
+                        vmin = page.uic_tags['min_scale']
+                        vmax = page.uic_tags['max_scale']
+                    except KeyError:
+                        pass
+                    else:
+                        if vmax <= vmin:
+                            vmin, vmax = None, None
+                title = "%s\n %s" % (str(tif), str(page))
+                imshow(img, title=title, vmin=vmin, vmax=vmax,
+                       bitspersample=page.bits_per_sample,
+                       photometric=page.photometric,
+                       interpolation=settings.interpol,
+                       dpi=settings.dpi)
+            pyplot.show()
+
+
+TIFFfile = TiffFile  # backwards compatibility
+
+if sys.version_info[0] > 2:
+    basestring = str, bytes
+    unicode = str
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(main())
diff --git a/imageio/plugins/tifffile.py b/imageio/plugins/tifffile.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6e4eba0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/imageio/plugins/tifffile.py
@@ -0,0 +1,229 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+# Copyright (c) 2015, imageio contributors
+# imageio is distributed under the terms of the (new) BSD License.
+
+""" Storage of image data in tiff format.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, division
+
+from .. import formats
+from ..core import Format
+
+import numpy as np
+
+_tifffile = None  # Defer loading to lib() function.
+
+
+def load_lib():
+    global _tifffile
+    try:
+        import tifffile as _tifffile
+    except ImportError:
+        from . import _tifffile
+    return _tifffile
+
+
+TIFF_FORMATS = ('.tif', '.tiff', '.stk', '.lsm')
+WRITE_METADATA_KEYS = ('photometric', 'planarconfig', 'resolution',
+                       'description', 'compress', 'volume', 'writeshape',
+                       'extratags')
+READ_METADATA_KEYS = ('planar_configuration', 'is_fluoview', 'is_nih',
+                      'is_contig', 'is_micromanager', 'is_ome', 'is_lsm'
+                      'is_palette', 'is_reduced', 'is_rgb', 'is_sgi',
+                      'is_shaped', 'is_stk', 'is_tiled', 'is_mdgel'
+                      'resolution_unit', 'compression', 'is_mediacy',
+                      'orientation')
+
+
+class TiffFormat(Format):
+
+    """ Provides support for a wide range of Tiff images.
+
+    Parameters for reading
+    ----------------------
+    offset : int
+        Optional start position of embedded file. By default this is
+        the current file position.
+    size : int
+        Optional size of embedded file. By default this is the number
+        of bytes from the 'offset' to the end of the file.
+    multifile : bool
+        If True (default), series may include pages from multiple files.
+        Currently applies to OME-TIFF only.
+    multifile_close : bool
+        If True (default), keep the handles of other files in multifile
+        series closed. This is inefficient when few files refer to
+        many pages. If False, the C runtime may run out of resources.
+
+    Parameters for saving
+    ---------------------
+    bigtiff : bool
+        If True, the BigTIFF format is used.
+    byteorder : {'<', '>'}
+        The endianness of the data in the file.
+        By default this is the system's native byte order.
+    software : str
+        Name of the software used to create the image.
+        Saved with the first page only.
+
+    Metadata for reading
+    --------------------
+    planar_configuration : {'contig', 'planar'}
+        Specifies if samples are stored contiguous or in separate planes.
+        By default this setting is inferred from the data shape.
+        'contig': last dimension contains samples.
+        'planar': third last dimension contains samples.
+    resolution_unit : (float, float) or ((int, int), (int, int))
+        X and Y resolution in dots per inch as float or rational numbers.
+    compression : int
+        Values from 0 to 9 indicating the level of zlib compression.
+        If 0, data is uncompressed.
+    orientation : {'top_left', 'bottom_right', ...}
+        Oriented of image array.
+    is_rgb : bool
+        True if page contains a RGB image.
+    is_contig : bool
+        True if page contains a contiguous image.
+    is_tiled : bool
+        True if page contains tiled image.
+    is_palette : bool
+        True if page contains a palette-colored image and not OME or STK.
+    is_reduced : bool
+        True if page is a reduced image of another image.
+    is_shaped : bool
+        True if page contains shape in image_description tag.
+    is_fluoview : bool
+        True if page contains FluoView MM_STAMP tag.
+    is_nih : bool
+        True if page contains NIH image header.
+    is_micromanager : bool
+        True if page contains Micro-Manager metadata.
+    is_ome : bool
+        True if page contains OME-XML in image_description tag.
+    is_sgi : bool
+        True if page contains SGI image and tile depth tags.
+    is_stk : bool
+        True if page contains UIC2Tag tag.
+    is_mdgel : bool
+        True if page contains md_file_tag tag.
+    is_mediacy : bool
+        True if page contains Media Cybernetics Id tag.
+    is_stk : bool
+        True if page contains UIC2Tag tag.
+    is_lsm : bool
+        True if page contains LSM CZ_LSM_INFO tag.
+
+    Metadata for writing
+    --------------------
+    photometric : {'minisblack', 'miniswhite', 'rgb'}
+        The color space of the image data.
+        By default this setting is inferred from the data shape.
+    planarconfig : {'contig', 'planar'}
+        Specifies if samples are stored contiguous or in separate planes.
+        By default this setting is inferred from the data shape.
+        'contig': last dimension contains samples.
+        'planar': third last dimension contains samples.
+    resolution : (float, float) or ((int, int), (int, int))
+        X and Y resolution in dots per inch as float or rational numbers.
+    description : str
+        The subject of the image. Saved with the first page only.
+    compress : int
+        Values from 0 to 9 controlling the level of zlib compression.
+        If 0, data are written uncompressed (default).
+    volume : bool
+        If True, volume data are stored in one tile (if applicable) using
+        the SGI image_depth and tile_depth tags.
+        Image width and depth must be multiple of 16.
+        Few software can read this format, e.g. MeVisLab.
+    writeshape : bool
+        If True, write the data shape to the image_description tag
+        if necessary and no other description is given.
+    extratags: sequence of tuples
+        Additional tags as [(code, dtype, count, value, writeonce)].
+
+        code : int
+            The TIFF tag Id.
+        dtype : str
+            Data type of items in 'value' in Python struct format.
+            One of B, s, H, I, 2I, b, h, i, f, d, Q, or q.
+        count : int
+            Number of data values. Not used for string values.
+        value : sequence
+            'Count' values compatible with 'dtype'.
+        writeonce : bool
+            If True, the tag is written to the first page only.
+    """
+
+    def _can_read(self, request):
+        # We support any kind of image data
+        return request.filename.lower().endswith(TIFF_FORMATS)
+
+    def _can_write(self, request):
+        # We support any kind of image data
+        return request.filename.lower().endswith(TIFF_FORMATS)
+
+    # -- reader
+
+    class Reader(Format.Reader):
+
+        def _open(self, **kwargs):
+            if not _tifffile:
+                load_lib()
+            self._tf = _tifffile.TiffFile(self.request.get_file(), **kwargs)
+
+            # metadata is the same for all images
+            self._meta = {}
+
+        def _close(self):
+            self._tf.close()
+
+        def _get_length(self):
+            return len(self._tf)
+
+        def _get_data(self, index):
+            # Get data
+            if index < 0 or index >= len(self._tf):
+                raise IndexError(
+                    'Index out of range while reading from tiff file')
+            im = self._tf[index].asarray()
+            meta = self._meta or self._get_meta_data(index)
+            # Return array and empty meta data
+            return im, meta
+
+        def _get_meta_data(self, index):
+            page = self._tf[index or 0]
+            for key in READ_METADATA_KEYS:
+                try:
+                    self._meta[key] = getattr(page, key)
+                except Exception:
+                    pass
+            return self._meta
+
+    # -- writer
+    class Writer(Format.Writer):
+
+        def _open(self, bigtiff=None, byteorder=None, software=None):
+            if not _tifffile:
+                load_lib()
+            self._tf = _tifffile.TiffWriter(self.request.get_local_filename(),
+                                            bigtiff, byteorder, software)
+            self._meta = {}
+
+        def _close(self):
+            self._tf.close()
+
+        def _append_data(self, im, meta):
+            meta = meta or self._meta
+            print(meta)
+            self._tf.save(np.asanyarray(im), **meta)
+
+        def set_meta_data(self, meta):
+            self._meta = {}
+            for (key, value) in meta.items():
+                if key in WRITE_METADATA_KEYS:
+                    self._meta[key] = value
+
+# Register
+format = TiffFormat('tiff', "TIFF format", 'tif tiff stk lsm', 'iIvV')
+formats.add_format(format)

Plugin: scientific TIFF files
In some fields a variant of the TIFF format is heavily used, e.g. for multiplanar microscopic images. Like OME-TIFF (https://www.openmicroscopy.org/site/support/ome-model/ome-tiff/).
The freeimage TIFF reader only deals with basic TIFF.

This is not really my field, so could use some input on what is needed.

One implementation that we could potentially use is: http://www.lfd.uci.edu/~gohlke/code/tifffile.py.html
I believe there was another, but I cannot remember.
diff --git a/tests/test_meta.py b/tests/test_meta.py
index d8bcf21..2d08a82 100644
--- a/tests/test_meta.py
+++ b/tests/test_meta.py
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ def test_import_dependencies():
     # Get the difference; what do we import extra?
     extra_modules = modnames_new.difference(modnames_ref)
     
-    known_modules = ['zipfile', 'importlib']  # discard these
+    known_modules = ['zipfile', 'importlib', 'json', 'decimal',
+                     'fractions']  # discard these
     
     # Remove modules in standard library
     stdloc = os.path.dirname(os.__file__)
diff --git a/tests/test_tifffile.py b/tests/test_tifffile.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..67fb089
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_tifffile.py
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+""" Test tifffile plugin functionality.
+"""
+
+import os
+
+import numpy as np
+
+from pytest import raises
+from imageio.testing import run_tests_if_main, get_test_dir
+
+import imageio
+
+test_dir = get_test_dir()
+
+
+def test_tifffile_format():
+    # Test selection
+    for name in ['tiff', '.tif']:
+        format = imageio.formats['tiff']
+        assert format.name == 'TIFF'
+
+
+def test_tifffile_reading_writing():
+    """ Test reading and saveing tiff """
+    im2 = np.ones((10, 10, 3), np.uint8) * 2
+
+    filename1 = os.path.join(test_dir, 'test_tiff.tiff')
+
+    # One image
+    imageio.imsave(filename1, im2)
+    im = imageio.imread(filename1)
+    ims = imageio.mimread(filename1)
+    assert (im == im2).all()
+    assert len(ims) == 1
+
+    # Multiple images
+    imageio.mimsave(filename1, [im2, im2, im2])
+    im = imageio.imread(filename1)
+    ims = imageio.mimread(filename1)
+    assert (im == im2).all()
+    assert len(ims) == 3, ims[0].shape
+
+    # Mixed
+    W = imageio.save(filename1)
+    W.set_meta_data({'planarconfig': 'planar'})
+    assert W.format.name == 'TIFF'
+    W.append_data(im2)
+    W.append_data(im2)
+    W.close()
+    #
+    R = imageio.read(filename1)
+    assert R.format.name == 'TIFF'
+    ims = list(R)  # == [im for im in R]
+    assert (ims[0] == im2).all()
+    meta = R.get_meta_data()
+    assert meta['is_rgb']
+    # Fail
+    raises(IndexError, R.get_data, -1)
+    raises(IndexError, R.get_data, 3)
+
+run_tests_if_main()

pip install -e .[dev]
parse_log_pytest
numpy>=1.16.0
pytest pytest-cov
apt-get update apt-get install -y libfreeimage3
3.9
pytest --no-header -rA --tb=line --color=no -p no:cacheprovider -W ignore::DeprecationWarning
coverage==7.8.0
exceptiongroup==1.2.2
-e git+https://github.com/imageio/imageio.git@d99d9a25cd8db0920d42cf5d3f372471776865fe#egg=imageio
iniconfig==2.1.0
numpy @ file:///croot/numpy_and_numpy_base_1736283260865/work/dist/numpy-2.0.2-cp39-cp39-linux_x86_64.whl#sha256=3387e3e62932fa288bc18e8f445ce19e998b418a65ed2064dd40a054f976a6c7
packaging==24.2
pluggy==1.5.0
pytest==8.3.5
pytest-cov==6.0.0
tomli==2.2.1

name: imageio
channels:
  - defaults
  - https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main
  - https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/r
  - conda-forge
dependencies:
  - _libgcc_mutex=0.1=main
  - _openmp_mutex=5.1=1_gnu
  - blas=1.0=openblas
  - ca-certificates=2025.2.25=h06a4308_0
  - ld_impl_linux-64=2.40=h12ee557_0
  - libffi=3.4.4=h6a678d5_1
  - libgcc-ng=11.2.0=h1234567_1
  - libgfortran-ng=11.2.0=h00389a5_1
  - libgfortran5=11.2.0=h1234567_1
  - libgomp=11.2.0=h1234567_1
  - libopenblas=0.3.21=h043d6bf_0
  - libstdcxx-ng=11.2.0=h1234567_1
  - ncurses=6.4=h6a678d5_0
  - numpy=2.0.2=py39heeff2f4_0
  - numpy-base=2.0.2=py39h8a23956_0
  - openssl=3.0.16=h5eee18b_0
  - pip=25.0=py39h06a4308_0
  - python=3.9.21=he870216_1
  - readline=8.2=h5eee18b_0
  - setuptools=72.1.0=py39h06a4308_0
  - sqlite=3.45.3=h5eee18b_0
  - tk=8.6.14=h39e8969_0
  - tzdata=2025a=h04d1e81_0
  - wheel=0.45.1=py39h06a4308_0
  - xz=5.6.4=h5eee18b_1
  - zlib=1.2.13=h5eee18b_1
  - pip:
      - coverage==7.8.0
      - exceptiongroup==1.2.2
      - iniconfig==2.1.0
      - packaging==24.2
      - pluggy==1.5.0
      - pytest==8.3.5
      - pytest-cov==6.0.0
      - tomli==2.2.1
prefix: /opt/conda/envs/imageio

tests/test_tifffile.py::test_tifffile_reading_writing
tests/test_meta.py::test_namespace tests/test_meta.py::test_import_nothing tests/test_meta.py::test_import_modules tests/test_meta.py::test_import_dependencies tests/test_tifffile.py::test_tifffile_format
imageio/plugins/__init__.py imageio/plugins/_tifffile.py imageio/plugins/tifffile.py
imageio/plugins/__init__.py imageio/plugins/_tifffile.py imageio/plugins/tifffile.py