How to Open and Convert Camera RAW Files (CR2, NEF, ARW, DNG, RAF, RW2) to JPG
On this page
Short answer: a RAW file is unprocessed sensor data, and most apps cannot show it. To get a normal picture, convert it to JPG (or PNG). Imgovo’s RAW to JPG converter develops the file in your browser, so the photo never leaves your device.
RAW vs JPG
When a camera saves a JPG, it processes the sensor data itself, applies a look and throws away the information it considers surplus. A RAW file keeps the sensor data with minimal processing, so photographers can adjust exposure, white balance and colour later.
| RAW | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| What it holds | Sensor data, not yet a finished picture | A processed, compressed picture |
| File size | Large | Much smaller |
| Editing room | A lot | Limited |
| Opens everywhere | No, needs software that knows your camera | Yes |
| Best for | Editing, archiving originals | Sharing, uploading, printing |
If you only want to view or share a photo, JPG is what you need. If you intend to edit in depth, keep the RAW original as well.
Why RAW files will not open
Every camera maker has its own RAW format, and even different models from one maker can differ. Operating systems and viewers often lack support for newer cameras. That is why a file that works in one program shows nothing in another, or is rejected by a website’s upload form.
Formats Imgovo supports
Imgovo uses the LibRaw decoder. The converter’s page lists these formats: CR2, CR3, NEF, NRW, ARW, SR2, SRF, DNG, RAF, RW2, ORF, PEF, SRW, RWL, 3FR and IIQ, and notes that more may work.
| Maker | Common extensions | Dedicated page |
|---|---|---|
| Canon | CR2, CR3 | CR2 to JPG |
| Nikon | NEF, NRW | NEF to JPG |
| Sony | ARW, SR2, SRF | ARW to JPG |
| Adobe DNG (also used by some phones and cameras) | DNG | DNG to JPG |
| Fujifilm | RAF | RAF to JPG |
| Panasonic | RW2 | RW2 to JPG |
| Olympus, Pentax, Samsung, Leica, Hasselblad, Phase One | ORF, PEF, SRW, RWL, 3FR, IIQ | RAW to JPG |
The converter page says it was tested with real files from Canon (CR2), Nikon (NEF), Sony (ARW), Panasonic (RW2), Fujifilm (RAF) and Ricoh (DNG). The other makers are supported by the decoder but may not have been checked with real files. If your file does not convert, the cause could be that.
Step by step
- Open RAW to JPG, or the page for your format from the table above.
- Add one or more RAW files.
- Choose the output format. JPG is the default. RAW to PNG is available if you want lossless output, and the “Convert to” menu lists other formats too.
- Convert and check the preview.
- Download the files individually or as a ZIP.
The default JPG quality is 90%. The output is 8-bit sRGB, which is what most screens and websites expect. Camera model, settings and GPS data are not copied into the result, and the stored rotation is applied.
What the converter does
The tool does not just pull out the small preview. It fully develops the RAW file on your device: it sets white balance, calculates the colour of each pixel and converts to sRGB. If development fails, it falls back to the JPEG preview that almost every camera stores inside the RAW file, and it tells you that it did so. A fallback preview can be smaller than the full image.
Because the camera’s picture style is not applied, the result can look flatter or darker than the JPG your camera would have made. That is normal. A little contrast and saturation in the Image Editor usually brings it close.
How long it takes and what the limits are
For files of roughly 8 to 25 megapixels, the converter page reports about two to five seconds per photo in its tests. Fujifilm X-Trans files took about twice as long, and phones are slower than computers. The page gives no fixed file size limit.
A conversion can fail when the file is damaged or incomplete, comes from a very new camera or compression mode that the decoder does not know yet, or is too large for the device’s memory. Across the site, images are capped at 100 megapixels and 16,384 px on the longest side, and the cap is lower on iPhone and iPad.
JPG or PNG?
Use JPG for sharing and uploading. Use PNG if you will edit the result further and want to avoid another round of lossy compression, accepting larger files. The comparison of JPG, PNG, WebP and AVIF goes into the details.
If you also shoot with an iPhone
iPhone photos in HEIC are a different problem with a similar fix. See How to convert HEIC to JPG.
Is it safe?
Conversion happens in the browser, and your files are not uploaded. The first use downloads the decoder code to your browser. For how to check that claim on any site, read Are online image converters safe?.
Do it now
Open RAW to JPG, add your files and download JPGs that open anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
What is a RAW file?
A RAW file holds the data recorded by the camera sensor with little processing. It is not a finished picture. Software has to develop it by setting white balance, calculating colours and converting it to a normal image format.
Why does my RAW file look flatter than the camera's JPG?
The camera's own picture style, such as contrast and colour boosts, is applied when the camera makes its JPG. A converter that develops the RAW file itself does not apply that style, so the result can look flatter or darker. You can adjust it afterwards.
Is my RAW file uploaded?
No. Imgovo develops the file in your browser, so the image stays on your device.
What if the conversion fails?
The file may be damaged or cut off, come from a very new camera or compression mode, or be too large for the device. If full development fails, the tool falls back to the JPEG preview inside the RAW file and tells you. If there is no usable preview, you get an error message.
Can I convert many RAW files at once?
Yes. Files are converted one after another and can be downloaded individually or as a ZIP.