You shot in RAW, and now you need JPGs: to send to a client, post online or show the family. Lightroom is the usual answer, but it is a paid subscription. If you only need good JPGs, there are free options, and the right one depends on whether you want the camera's look or want to edit.
First, what a RAW file contains
A RAW file stores the sensor data before the camera applies white balance, sharpening and colour. Almost every RAW format also contains a full-size JPEG preview that the camera created when you took the photo, with your picture style or film simulation applied. That preview is what you see on the camera screen.
This gives you two routes:
- Extract the preview. Fast, no editing, the JPG looks like the shot on your camera.
- Develop the RAW data. Slower, but you control exposure, colour and highlights.
Route 1: Quick JPGs in the browser
For sharing and backups, extracting the preview is usually all you need. Open the RAW to JPG converter, drop a batch of files and download the JPGs as a ZIP. It reads CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, DNG, ORF, RAF, RW2 and more, and dedicated pages such as CR3 to JPG and NEF to JPG explain each format.
Good to know:
- Files stay on your device; nothing is uploaded.
- The JPG keeps the camera's colour settings, including Fujifilm film simulations.
- Some cameras embed a smaller preview, so the JPG may be smaller than the full sensor resolution. Sony ARW files from certain models are a common example.
Route 2: Free RAW editors
When you want to fix exposure or white balance before exporting, use a real RAW developer:
- Your camera maker's software. Canon Digital Photo Professional, Nikon NX Studio, Sony Imaging Edge Desktop, Fujifilm X RAW Studio and OM Workspace are free for owners of those cameras and understand their colour profiles.
- darktable and RawTherapee. Open-source editors for Windows, macOS and Linux that support most cameras.
- Built-in viewers. macOS Preview and Photos open many RAW formats and can export JPG. On Windows, the free Raw Image Extension from the Microsoft Store lets the Photos app open them.
Which route to choose
| Situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| Send 200 event photos to a client quickly | Extract previews in the browser |
| One shot is too dark | RAW editor |
| Old CRW or Kodak files your editor no longer opens | Extract previews, keep the originals |
| Print a large photo | RAW editor at full resolution |
Whatever you choose, keep the original RAW files. A JPG is a finished picture; the RAW is the negative you can return to later.