Hi Mike,
Pleasure, although I know of some who have used this package I haven't
myself.
It used to be very popular and I guess still has a loyal following.
Some time ago, I wrote a program that converted from various plotter
formats. I know very little about the TIFF format, but there are such a
plethora of free programs out there, I'm sure a search will come up with
some conversion software that you need.
TIFF is essentially a compressed bitmap. So, not a straightforward
conversion to a vector-oriented format (which I think is true of
most plotter formats, e.g. Gerber) where they are actually trying
to "steer" a marking element (aperture) around a surface.
[Of course, that's not to say there aren't algorithms to do exactly
this sort of conversion]
I think what makes Gerber to netlist/schematic much easier is
that you already have the connectivity implicit in the "motions"
of the plotter (i.e., if it never goes to a certain (x,y), then
there is no connection to the object located at that (x,y)!)
Thanks, I'll investigate (busy trying to finish up "year end"
stuff... always too much to get done in too short of a window!)
--don