How do I convert RAW to JPG?

Upload your RAW file to the converter and choose JPG. It's developed with the camera's color settings.

Which RAW formats can you convert?

CR2, CR3, CRW, NEF, ARW, DNG, RAF, ORF, RW2, PEF, 3FR, DCR, ERF, MOS, MRW, X3F and RAW.

RAW vs JPG: Which Should You Shoot?

A RAW file (CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, DNG, RAF…) is the unprocessed data from your camera's sensor. A JPG is a finished image the camera has already processed and compressed.

RAW vs JPG

Shoot RAW when you plan to edit and want maximum quality. Shoot JPG (or RAW + JPG) when you need ready-to-share photos and small files.

Convert RAW to JPG

RAW vs JPG at a glance

Property	RAW	JPG
Compression	Unprocessed sensor data	Lossy (small files, some detail discarded)
Transparency	No	No
Animation	No	No
Opens in	None (needs a RAW editor)	All browsers and devices
Best for	Straight-from-camera photos for editing	Photos, sharing, email, social media
Typical file size	20–60 MB per photo	3–10 MB per photo
Color depth	12–14 bits per channel	8 bits per channel

Use RAW for

Serious editing: exposure, white balance, shadows
High-contrast and low-light scenes
Professional and commercial work

Use JPG for

Sharing straight from the camera
Events and sports with many shots
Saving card and disk space

Key differences

Editing latitude

RAW keeps far more tonal information, so you can recover highlights and shadows and change white balance without damage.

Workflow

RAW files must be developed in an editor before sharing. JPGs are ready immediately.

Compatibility

Each camera brand has its own RAW format that needs a RAW-capable app. JPG opens everywhere.

RAW

What is a RAW file?

The RAW file extension refers to a minimally processed image file format used primarily by older Panasonic and Leica digital cameras, or as a generic descriptor for binary raw data streams. In the context of photography, these files contain the direct readout from the CCD or CMOS image sensor, preserved at high bit depths (typically 12-bit or 14-bit) without lossy compression or in-camera processing like sharpening or white balance application. This 'digital negative' format retains the maximum dynamic range captured by the hardware.

How to open a RAW file

Opening RAW files necessitates image processing software equipped with the specific demosaicing algorithms for the camera model used. Adobe Photoshop (via Camera Raw), Adobe Lightroom, and Corel PaintShop Pro are standard professional tools. For open-source alternatives, Darktable and UFRaw utilize the libraw library to decode these files. Native OS support on Windows and macOS is generally robust for recognized camera models, provided the OS is updated with the latest raw compatibility drivers.

Full Name: Raw Image Data File
Developed By: Panasonic / Leica (Primary Users)
Initial Release: N/A
MIME Type: image/x-panasonic-raw

JPG

What is a JPG file?

JPG is functionally identical to the JPEG format, differing only in the file extension length, a legacy constraint from the MS-DOS 8.3 filename limit (which allowed only three characters for extensions). It implements the same ISO/IEC 10918 standard, using lossy compression based on Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) and Huffman coding to store photorealistic images. The file structure contains markers such as Start of Image (SOI) and End of Image (EOI) and supports color spaces like sRGB and CMYK, making it interchangeable with .jpeg files in all software contexts.

How to open a JPG file

As one of the most ubiquitous file types in computing, JPG files open natively on Windows, macOS, and Linux without external software. Default viewers like Microsoft Photos, Apple Preview, and Linux image viewers handle the format automatically. For editing or conversion, industry-standard tools including Adobe Photoshop, Paint.NET, and XnView provide extensive support. Web browsers universally render JPGs without plugins.

Full Name: Joint Photographic Experts Group
Developed By: Joint Photographic Experts Group
Initial Release: 1992
MIME Type: image/jpeg