Many professional photographers prefer shooting RAW images — instead of the more popular JPEG — for the obvious benefits of this format. When set in RAW mode, the camera’s sensor captures everything, or as close as you can get to what you see with your naked eye. This translates into great image quality, wonderful view of details and high levels of brightness, among others. Plus, during post-processing, photographers have the chance to customize RAW photos according to several criteria, retouching and adjusting colors the way they want.

As RAW images tend to take up a lot of space and sometimes slow down the camera, not to mention they are not viewable or printable using regular viewers or printers, their conversion to more accessible formats is an actual must.

While some users are put off by the seemingly tiresome editing process, which is commonly known to require specialized software and some specific skills, with reaConverter’s latest edition it can all be managed in no more than a few clicks. Controlling photo brightness and white balance — two of the most widely applied corrections of RAW images — just got faster and easier.

Install reaConverter

How does it work?

Load one or more RAW images you intend to process. Find them by browsing the internal hard-drive of your computer or add them from an open window using the drag-and-drop tool.

You can also add entire folders or use the Advanced file select option, which allows you to pick a designated group of files, according to their extension or size.

RAW loading settings

Go to the Menu button and click Loading settings → RAW formats loading settings

Here you can opt for automatic white balance, for the camera’s default white balance options or for no balance at all. You can also adjust brightness manually, according to your needs. Other available options here are customizing the interpolation, which is connected to resizing or remapping the photo, and correcting aspects such as noise and color.

Edit images

Optionally, go to the Edit images tab and apply further actions, including Color adjustments (contrast, filters etc.), Creative retouching (border, change background, lens correction etc.) and many more.

Save the result

Decide on a particular output format — JPG, PNG and TIFF are among the most popular — and select it from the buttons conveniently placed in the lower part of the window. Then go to Saving options and pick a location for the resulting images.

Next, simply press Start and your newly converted RAWs will soon be ready.

Video Tutorial

Advanced users can process RAW photos using command line interface or DLL in manual, automated or scheduled mode. You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

Nikon is one of the most popular brands of digital cameras, widely favored both by professional and amateur photographers. But if you are the fresh owner of a Nikon camera and you have just downloaded the first series of photographs taken with it, you might be puzzled by the extension of the image files stocked on your computer.

NEF is the trademarked extension of RAW photos taken with Nikon cameras. Many photographers prefer to take RAW photos (also called “digital negatives”), instead of the usual JPEG, because they contain minimally processed data and they can easily be customized using digital editing software. However, their size tends to be very large and they are not supported by regular image viewers. Plus, handling them requires the use of advanced digital editing programs, which are not particularly easy to use. Moreover, sending or uploading RAW images to photo sharing sites is impossible if you don’t convert them to a more accessible format.

Instead of converting RAW images to JPEG, which usually implies some severe compromise in terms of image quality, a more viable option is converting to TIFF (Tagged Image File Format), because the latter can ensure a lossless compression of the image file.

So, if you are fan of shooting in RAW mode with your Nikon camera, but at the same time want to avoid the costs and the hassle of buying and operating an advanced image editing software, we recommend an easier and faster way to handle your NEF images. Here is what you need to do:

Pick a powerful converter, which will not only allow you to change the extension of the image file, but will also offer you a large variety of image editing options. reaConverter might be one of the best options, since it supports batch conversion for over 500 image formats, including NEF. Moreover, it has a free trial period and once you install it you will discover it does not take too much space on your computer and has a user-friendly interface.

Install reaConverter

Start reaConverter and load your NEF files

Load all the NEF images you need to convert:

Take your time to discover all the image editing options supported by reaConverter:

Adjusting the image, adding effects or watermarking will only take a few moments and the software’s ability to support batch image processing will help you save many hours of doing repetitive operations.

Choose the destination folder and TIFF as output format

In the last step of the conversion process, choose the destination folder and the format of your output file:

Pick TIF from the bottom and if you want to opt for lossless conversion, go to the Menu → Saving settings → Format Saving Settings and choose No compression

Start the conversion process

Then start the conversion and enjoy your newly converted .tif images!

Video Tutorial

Advanced users can process RAW photos into lossless TIFF images automatically using Command Line Interface, Watch Folders, or DLL. You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

RAW image conversion represents a key feature used by professional photographers, graphic artists, web designers and other types of advanced image editors. In case you are a developer who designs a program addressed to these users and which can deliver RAW conversion, together with a wide array of image editing options, reaConverter Pro is just what you need! Why? Because, as opposed to many other converters, reaConverter Pro not only supports a GUI interface, but can also be operated through command-line. Which means it can help you integrate a large variety of image conversions — including from the RAW format — in your very own custom solution.

RAW image files, also known as digital negatives, store image details with a high degree of accuracy. Most professional photographers prefer to set their cameras in the RAW shooting mode because this means the lens will capture images that are as close as they can get to what you can see with your naked one. Moreover, RAW image files are preferred by professionals because they allow a wide range of computer processing. In other words, they provide more control for the photographer on aspects such as contrast and saturation, applying color filters and correcting the white balance.

However, in addition to all these advantages, RAW images also have an important drawback: they tend to be huge! One RAW file can get up to 6 times larger than a JPEG, which means RAWs are more difficult to send by e-mail and they take a lot of space on your computer. In addition, they are not compatible with most regular image viewers and can often be opened and edited only using an advanced graphics editing program, such as Corel Draw or Adobe Photoshop.

reaConverter Pro provides a quick and easy way to convert RAW images and apply a wide-ranging set of image editing options, which you can include in your own integrated solution. A program of this kind will help its user automate the reoccurring operations related to handling their RAW files, thus spending less time repeating the same operations, and generally increasing productivity and being more effective.

Install reaConverter

How does it work?

Through reaConverter’s command-line tool, cons_rcp.exe. Over 500 image formats can be processed and converted through this tool, including digital camera RAW images. The tool can be accessed directly from the command-line interface.

The tool allows you to set the output format of the RAW file — several accessible formats are available, such as JPG, PNG or TIF.

To convert one CR2 raw file run from cmd:

cons_rcp.exe -s "C:\Path_to\input_file.cr2" -o "C:\Path_to\output_file.jpg"

You can use config.cfg and action .act files for batch raw conversion and editing:

cons_rcp.exe "C:\Path_to\cfg_file.cfg" "C:\Path_to\act_file.act" -f source_file1 source_file2 source_file3

Configuration (.cfg) and action (.act) files are useful to automate the image conversion and editing process, especially when dealing with large numbers of images.

Configuration files contain details about the output extension of the converted images and the destination folder, as well as other additional features, such as RAW Formats Loading Settings, file name modifications or other conversion options.

Action files include the actual editing actions that will be applied to images, such as resizing, cropping, rotating, adjusting white balance, watermarking, etc.

The .cfg and .act files can be created using any text editor, but it is easier to create them using directly reaConverter.

Any parameter from .cfg or .act file can be specified in a command line, for example

cons_rcp.exe -s "C:\Path_to\input_file.cr2" -o "C:\Path_to\output_file.jpg" -resize 50x50% qh 1 -jpg_quality 100

You can specify the exact processes you want to apply to your files, involving image editing. A complete set of instructions on how to use reaConverter Pro to integrate RAW command-line image conversion in your own custom solution, including a list of parameters, is available in our (CLI) Command Line Interface Reference Guide.

You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

If you are the proud owner of a freshly released NX300, or of another Samsung camera model, you might soon discover that answering the question in the title is not as easy as it seems. When downloading the first series of photos on your computer, you might discover their format is not JPEG, PNG or any another image extension that your regular photo viewer can easily recognize. Instead, you will see a bunch of SRW files that your computer does not know how to open and edit.

SRW is the extension typically used by Samsung cameras for RAW images. Or in other words, images that include a minimum of processing from your camera’s digital sensor, which makes them as close as they can get to what you actually saw with your naked eye when taking the photo. No colour corrections, no noise reduction. The RAW format is great to use if you care about the quality of your photographs, because it allows you to carefully control how the image will look like by adding digital editing yourself. However, as RAW images store a lot of data, they tend to have very large sizes and this makes them difficult to send and store, especially if you are not using a powerful computer. Moreover, opening SRW files requires having an advanced image editing program installed, such as Adobe Photoshop. Such programs are not always easy to buy, install and use, and take up a lot of space on your computer.

For these reasons, a quicker and easier way to handle your SRW files: get a powerful converter! One which will not only allow you to transform them into image files that are easier to store and send, but will also allow you to apply an extensive set of image editing options. We recommend using reaConverter.

Install reaConverter

And this is not only because it’s quick to install, easy to operate and can be downloaded and tested for free. But for a few other reasons too, such as:

• It allows for batch conversion, which means you won’t have to load every image individually, as other online free converters usually require, but convert all files at once. This will save you a lot of time and energy!
• It offers you a wide range of formats to convert your photos in. JPG, TIFF, BMP and PNG are just some of the options.
• It provides an impressive array of image editing options, which basically let you have all the advantages of using an advanced graphics editing program, but without the hassle of having one actually installed on your computer. reaConverter allows you to really fine-tune the quality of your output image, by adjusting the RGB and HLS balance, resizing or applying colour correction, watermarking pictures.

Here Is How reaConverter Works:

Download and install reaConverter. It can be downloaded and for free from reaconverter.com. Pick Standard edition to handle SRW photos.

Load Your SRW Files

Start reaConverter and load one or more SRW files from your camera into reaConverter by using the drag-and-drop tool or by browsing them manually.

Apply Image Editing

Go the Edit images tab, click Add action, to add image editing and color correction to your images.

Apply Editing and Save the Result in Desired Format

Go the Saving options tab and decide where you want to save your converted pictures. Finally, pick a new extension for your output files. Click on one of the buttons placed in the lower part of the screen or find more options by clicking the +

Then simply press the Start button and enjoy your converted and edited photos soon.

Online SRW Converter:

reaConverter is a highly efficient tool for managing a large amount of SRW pictures on a frequent basis. However, if you are planning to convert only a few CR2 photos and only once in a while, then you can also try online RAW photo converter imverter.com.

Advanced users can convert SRW files via command line interface or DLL in manual, automated or scheduled mode. You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

Whether you are practicing photography professionally or just as a hobby, you probably like to enhance the quality of your digital pictures by adjusting things such as framing, contrast, white balance and exposure. And in order to have all the control you need on such aspects and several others when it comes to customizing your photo, you probably prefer creating images in a RAW format. In case you are also a Pentax fan, and just got a sleek K-30 model, for example, which you immediately set to take RAW images, you might be puzzled to discover a bunch of PEF files recorded on your camera’s memory card. What are these files and how to handle them?

The PEF extension is used for RAW image files taken with a Pentax camera. As opposed to JPGs or PNGs, RAW images are not processed automatically according to your camera’s predefined settings and are not compressed, so they retain most details and colours that you saw with your own eyes when taking the picture. Setting your camera to take a photo that looks almost exactly like you saw it in reality is really great for a passionate photographer, because he/she has a lot of freedom to apply further editing on the digital photo, highlighting or foregrounding specific details, playing with lights and shadows. But how to do this if you are not an expert in using an advanced digital editing software? Or if you do not have a computer with high processing power, that would be able to handle the huge size of a RAW image without freezing when you least expect it?

The answer is simple: convert your PEF images! Or even better, pick a converter that not only allows you to transform your image into a more accessible format, but also lets you apply a wide range of editing options to your output image. So here is a step-by-step guide for doing this fast and easy:

Install reaConverter

Download and install a piece of quality software, which allows batch conversion and doesn’t take too much space on your hard drive. reaConverter can be downloaded and tried for free at this address: www.reaconverter.com

Load PEF photos

Load all the PEF files you need to convert and then select from the long list of editing options available. You can choose to rotate or resize your images, to mirror or crop them. And my personal favourite is the Watermarking option, which is exactly what a photographer needs in order to protect the copyright of photos. Watermarking means that you can apply a text or an image on each of the converted photos, with a customizable size, position and degree of transparency. This is wonderful when you want to make sure no one will take your photos and use them without your permission.

Convert

Choose the format of your output image: JPG, PNG, and TIF are just some of the available options.

And then just start the conversion and enjoy your images in no time!

Video Tutorial

Online PEF Converter:

reaConverter is a highly efficient tool for managing a large amount of PEF photos on a frequent basis. However, if you are planning to convert only a few PEF files and only once in a while, then you can also try online RAW converter imverter.com

Advanced users can convert PEF pictures via command line interface in manual, automated or scheduled mode. You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

If you are a fan of Canon cameras, you probably have a bunch of CR2 images stocked on your computer. CR2 is the proprietary format of Canon cameras, used for creating RAW images. Or in other words, images that you can later edit using advanced graphics editing software. While this format might be OK to use if you are a professional designer and if you have Adobe Photoshop or other similar programs installed on your computer, transfer CR2 images, sending or posting them online might pose some problems.

As in the case of most RAW image files, CR2s tend to have a very large size, so storing them or sending them by e-mail can be difficult. In addition, they are not compatible with many regular image viewing aditing programs and they are not accepted by photo labs or image sharing websites. So, how to deal with them in this case?

The best solution for handling your CR2 images is converting them to a more popular image format, which takes less space and is supported by more image viewers. You can choose from several extensions, including JPG or TIF. But while converting CR2 to JPG usually implies some serious compromise in terms of image quality, when it comes to the TIF format, preserving image quality is no longer an issue.

As opposed to JPG, which is a lossy compression format, TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) can ensure a lossless compression of the image. Or in other words, it helps you maintain image quality when you switch from CR2. However, for this conversion to take place successfully, you need to use a powerful piece of software, with advanced conversion settings. We recommend ReaConverter, which supports conversions to and from over 400 image formats, including CR2.

All you need to do is:

Download and Install reaConverter

Go to the reaConverter’s website reaConverter.com, download and install the software to your PC.

Load Your CR2 Files

Start it and load all the image files you need to convert because, as opposed to most free online converters, reaConverter supports batch conversion. So you can save the time and energy you would lose with doing repetitive operations.

Edit CR2 photos

You can tune CR2 loading settings with RAW Formats Loading Settings option.

Adjust white balance, brightness and interpolation, or apply denoise filter and color correction.

reaConverter also lets you choose between a wide array of image editing options. Here you can opt for rotating or cropping your images, for adding filters, effects or watermarking. You can easily check the effect of the image options you select here by ticking the Preview button.

Save in TIFF

Go to Saving options and pick a location for your TIF images. Pick the TIF extension for your output files by clicking the corresponding button from the lower part of the window.

Consequently, click on the TIF format settings button and go to the TIF menu in the newly opened window. Then select No compression in order to have a lossless conversion from CR2 to TIF.

After completing this step, simply start the conversion and in a few moments you will be able to enjoy your newly converted TIFF image files!

   Download reaConverter   

Video Tutorial

Online CR2 Converter:

reaConverter is a highly efficient tool for managing a large amount of CR2 files on a frequent basis. However, if you are planning to convert only a few CR2 photos and only once in a while, then you can also try online RAW photo converter imverter.com.

Advanced users can convert CR2 photos to TIFF files into images via command line interface in manual, automated or scheduled mode. You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

We got this question from a reader who had just been sent an e-mail with an ORF file attached and wasn’t sure whether opening such files is safe or not. Moreover, if it is safe, what software would he need to open it? Because Windows did not seem to be able to handle the file with the regular programs installed.

ORF is a file extension used for RAW image files created with an Olympus camera. Our reader probably received a photograph that did not have a more popular format, such as JPEG or PNG, because its owner wanted to allow future editing to the image, including advanced customization such as correcting exposure or white balance. Most photographers prefer using the RAW format for their images, because this way they have more options to add digital adjustments and make the image look the way they want. However, as opposed to JPEG files, for example, RAW images have the disadvantage of taking a lot of space and of being difficult to open and handle. Because they can be up to 6 times larger than JPEGs, they are also difficult to send and archive.

Hence, the answer to our reader would be the following: yes, it is safe to open an ORF file. However, in order to do this you would probably need a not-so-easy-to-find and potentially not very user-friendly software. Programs that can open ORF files include Corel Draw and Adobe Photoshop. All tend to have large sizes, to be rather expensive and not particularly easy to use. So our recommendation would be to download the ORF file from the e-mail attachment and then convert it to a format that is easier to handle. How to do this?

The quick and simple way to handle your ORF conversions is to get a quality piece of software, such as reaConverter. You can download and try it for free at reaconverter.com. Although it is small, this software is extremely efficient in managing a wide range of conversions. As you will soon realize, ReaConverter will help you avoid spending countless hours trying to figure out how to use an advanced digital editing program to open the photos you made with your brand new Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ, for example. But at the same time, it will allow you to apply a wide range of editing options.

Here is a glimpse of what this program can do with your images:

• Resize your output image by defining its width and height, or resolution.
• Crop a particular number of pixels from your image.
• Rotate your image by using a specific angle.
• Change the background colour of your output image.
• Convert your photo to black and white.
• Apply watermarking to protect the copyright of your image. Image or text watermarking are available and you have several options to make sure the watermark goes exactly where you want it on the photograph.
• …and much more!

Download and try reaConverter  (~35 MiB)

Advanced users can process ORF files using command line converter in manual, automated or scheduled mode. You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

Online ORF conversion:

reaConverter is a great solution for efficiently managing a large amount of files, on a frequent basis. However, if you are planning to convert only a few ORF photos and only once in a while, then you can also try Imverter, free online photo converter.

Though when Adobe released the DNG (Digital Negative) format, in 2004, many people were skeptical about the need for an additional type of raw file when each camera manufacturer already had a typical raw extension for each brand — NEF for Nikon, ORF for Olympus, CR2 for Canon, in time the DNG format grew in popularity.

One of the main advantages of DNG is that it is an open format which stores all the raw information captured by the camera’s sensor. This translates in great image quality and in the availability for image editing using advanced graphics design software. DNG can be handled using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, as well other imaging programs.

When compared with RAW image files, DNGs have an additional advantage that is highly valued by professional image editors. Apart from its ability to store the raw image data, a DNG file can also contain the metadata, and can even include the original RAW file in the camera’s proprietary format, in case you ever want to revert at it. Moreover, they tend to be smaller in size then RAW images, when they carry the same amount of information.

If you are among the fans of the DNG format, you will certainly need at some point to be able to convert DNGs into a format that is smaller, easier to archive and transfer. And if you want to opt for a format that is both popular and compatible with any image viewer, that can be easily uploaded on photo sharing websites and opened by any browser without requiring extra applications or plug-ins (even when you are using your smartphone or tablet), than JPEG will fit all your needs. So here are 3 easy steps to convert your DNGs into JPGs:

1. Download and install reaConverter from www.reaconverter.com, and quickly load all the DNG files you need to convert. This powerful software supports conversions to and from over 400 image formats, including archaic and rare.
   
2. Decide if you want to apply any image editing to the files you intend to convert. reaConverter offers you a large variety of options, including the addition of a text or image watermark on each of your image files, rotating or resizing, adding photo effects, as well as many others.
   
3. Choose among the long list of extensions available for conversion. You can opt for JPEG, but also BMP, PNG, GIF, TIFF and many other formats that correspond to your needs. Then simply start the conversion and quickly enjoy your new image files!
   

Every image editing action will be applied to every DNG file you loaded and the result will be saved into JPEG by desired way.

   Download and try reaConverter Pro   

Advanced users can do the same using command line converter in manual, automated or scheduled mode. You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

Most passionate photographers like to carefully control all kinds of details related to their photos — from adjusting colours and lights, to correcting red eyes or cropping. And for this reason, they prefer setting their camera to take pictures in RAW format. Also known as “digital negatives”, RAW image files have the great advantage of allowing a wide array of computer editing options.

If you like to take your quality photos with a Fujifilm camera and have just got the new X-E1 model, for example — you will soon discover your RAW image files have the RAF extension. This is the typical format for all Fujifilm cameras, and while generally preferred by photographers, it might prove difficult to handle at first. Why? Because RAF files are not recognized by many regular photo viewers, so you may have problems opening and editing them. Moreover, they have a very large size (up to 6 times more than a JPEG), so sending or moving a large group of photos might prove to be equally difficult.

There is a quick and easy solution for solving all the problems above, while at the same time being able to edit your RAF images any way you like: use a powerful converter! I personally recommend reaConverter that can be downloaded and tried for free at reaconverter.com. Whether you are a professional photographer or just an amateur learning the tricks of the trade, this software will be everything you need for handling your RAF images, as well as several other RAW formats, such as ORF or ARW (see the full list of RAW formats supported by reaConverter).

Install reaConverter

To give you a glimpse of what this program can do, I have selected my top 5 image editing options that allow me to control how my RAF image will look like before converting it to an accessible format such as JPEG, PNG or TIFF. Here they are below:

1. Rotate, Crop or Resize photos.
    
   
   
    
2. Adjust the RGB, or correct the amount of Red, Green and Blue in the image.
    
   
   
    
3. Adjust the HLS balance (Hue / Luminance / Saturation). This allows you to fine-tune the colours in the image, correct their clarity and tones.
    
   
   
    
4. Edit the Colour Resolution. You can opt for a smaller or a larger number of colours, depending on the size you want your photo to have.
    
   
   
    
5. Apply Watermarking. This will help you make sure the image will not be used by someone else without your permission. The watermark is a text or an image that will appear on all converted photos, with a customizable size, position and transparency.
    
   

Download and try reaConverter 

Advanced users can do the same using command line converter in manual, automated or scheduled mode. You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

Online RAF converter:

ReaConverter is a great software for efficiently managing a large amount of pictures, on a frequent basis. However, if you are planning to convert only a few RAF photos and only once in a while, then you can also try fast online photo converter IMVERTER.com.

If you are a fan of Sony cameras, you probably came across this question while trying to see or send your digital photos. For a new owner of a Sony Cyber-shot DSC RX100, such as myself, handling ARW files turned out to be a tricky business. After taking the first series of photos with my brand new camera, I was quite excited to download and view them on my computer. However, I quickly started asking myself what type of files are these “ARWs” downloaded from my camera and why aren’t my regular image viewers able to open them?

ARW is the extension used by most Sony cameras to create RAW images. Or in other words, uncompressed images that can later on be adjusted and edited using computer software. Photographers generally like RAW images, because they allow you to customize the image any way you want. However, their downside is that they can be up to 6 times larger than JPEGs and are not supported by most regular software used for viewing images. After doing a bit of research about how to handle these files, I found that there are mainly two ways to manage your ARW files — the “hard” way and the “easy” way. Naturally, I recommend the second option. But here is a quick review of both.

• The “hard” way of viewing and editing ARW files is to use a sophisticated graphics editing software, such Adobe Photoshop or Corel Draw. The disadvantages of this option are not only related to the difficulty of using such programs – which are mostly targeted toward professionals and, hence, require some serious training, but also to their price and availability. To put it simply, such programs are expensive, difficult to use, and they take a lot of space on your computer.
   
• The “easy” way to handle your ARW files involves converting them to a more accessible format, such as JPEG, PNG or TIFF. And if you use a quality piece of software for doing this, such as reaConverter, you will also be able to apply all the editing you want on your photos, while avoiding the hassle of using a graphics editing program. The only things you need to do are the following:
  1. Download reaConverter from www.reaconverter.com and try it for free. The software is small, quick to install and you don’t need to be an expert in graphics design in order to start your conversions in a few minutes.
     
     
     Install reaConverter
  2. Load all the ARW files you need to convert, since reaConverter supports batch conversion.
      
     
      
  3. Choose among the large variety of options available for customizing your image. Here you can adjust the brightness and contrast of your photo, add borders and shadows, rotate or resize. You can also apply several image effects or add watermarking in order to protect the copyright of your image.
      
     
      

     
      

  4. Choose the format of your output file. JPEG, TIFF and PNG are considered to be the most popular and easy to handle by regular image viewers, but other options are also available. Then just start the conversion and quickly enjoy all your photos in an accessible format!

      
     

Download and try reaConverter

Advanced users can do the same using command line converter in manual, automated or scheduled mode. You are welcome to contact our technical support when you have any questions about reaConverter.

Online ARW converter:

ReaConverter is a great solution for efficiently managing a large amount of photos, on a frequent basis. However, if you are planning to convert only a few ARW files and only once in a while, then you can also try IMVERTER – free online photo converter.