About raw files
“Raw” is not one format but a family. Each camera maker has its own: Canon's CR2 and CR3, Nikon's NEF, Sony's ARW, Fujifilm's RAF, Olympus's ORF, Panasonic's RW2, Pentax's PEF, and Adobe's openly documented DNG, which some makers and most phones use. What they share is the idea: store what the sensor recorded, with minimal processing, so the photographer can decide later how it should look.
That flexibility is why photographers shoot raw. White balance can be changed after the fact without loss, highlights and shadows hold far more detail than a JPG, and edits start from the richest data the camera has.
Why raw files need converting
Raw files are not finished pictures. They must be developed, and only software that understands the particular camera can do it. Browsers, phones, social networks and most apps cannot show them. Converting to JPG makes them viewable and shareable; to PNG or TIFF, editable without further loss.
How the conversion works here
This site uses LibRaw, the open-source raw library behind many photo tools, compiled to run in your browser. Files are developed with the white balance your camera recorded, and nothing is uploaded. The result is neutral: no in-camera picture style, sharpening or noise reduction, which makes it a good base for editing.
RAW at a glance
| First released | Late 1990s, varies by maker |
|---|---|
| Compression | Sensor data, uncompressed or lightly compressed |
| Transparency | No |
| Animation or pages | No (holds a JPEG preview) |
| Best for | Editing photos with the most latitude |
| Support | Raw editors and camera software; not browsers |
Questions people ask
Which raw formats are supported?
CR2, CR3, CRW, NEF, NRW, ARW, SRF, SR2, DNG, RAF, ORF, RW2, PEF, SRW, 3FR, IIQ and more, from most cameras of the last two decades.
Is my raw file uploaded?
No. It is developed in your browser.
Why is conversion slower than for JPGs?
Developing a raw file involves demosaicing and colour processing of tens of millions of values.