TIF files and mental ray

In some occasions while rendering with mental ray you will be faced with this error

// Error: (Mayatomr.Output) : file error: C:/Texturefile.tif //

Depending on how the file was created for this error to appear in your render log.

Scenario 1:

Using LZW as a the type of TIF compression is not supported by mental ray

Solution :

Re-save the TIF file without the LZW compression.

Scenario 2:

The TIF file was created on a MAC, then used to render on a PC

Solution:

Re-save the TIF on the PC or use a different file format such as TGA or EXR.