If ImageIO can support TIFF files (can't remember if it does so automatically) you can use BufferedImage for all operations. Keep in mind that to use a BufferedImage on a web application you will probably need to use an Applet (JApplet) as Ulf suggested. With
servlets /
JSP pages it's still possible to use BufferedImage but you will probably need to store it in your session somehow* and render it (using ImageIO) every time you need to display it.
* BufferedImage is not Serializable...