CONVERT
RAW → AVIF
Tap to choose your fileDRAG. DROP. DONE.
Upload any file and our engines will handle format detection automatically.
Max 25 MB · Free plan · No signup required
Convert to:
Detecting available formats...
Optimize for
Leave empty to use original name. Extension added automatically.
Uploading...
Processing your file...
Fast, secure RAW to AVIF conversion. No registration required.
Setup: RAW captures sensor data directly from a digital camera with no in-camera processing. Goal: an interchangeable AVIF. A RAW → AVIF operation is one of the simplest image jobs there is: same pixel grid, different wrapper. What genuinely changes is how lossy the codec is, whether alpha survives, and how large the final file ends up. KaijuConverter picks safe defaults for each of those and lets you override them under Advanced. Context: RAW captures sensor data directly from a digital camera with no in-camera processing. AVIF is the AV1-based next-gen image codec, extremely efficient with full HDR and alpha support.
Generic RAW Image
Source formatRAW is a generic term for files containing minimally processed data from a camera image sensor. Various camera manufacturers use proprietary RAW variants, but the term broadly refers to any unprocessed sensor capture that retains maximum editing flexibility.
AVIF Image
Target formatAVIF is a next-generation image format based on the AV1 video codec. It offers significantly better compression than JPEG and WebP while maintaining excellent visual quality, including HDR and wide color gamut support.
Why convert RAW to AVIF
The real reason to move from RAW to AVIF is almost never picture quality — both raster formats store essentially the same pixels. It is about the tools downstream: which editors open the file natively, which CMSes upload it without transcoding, which social platforms accept it. Picking AVIF solves those edge cases at the cost of a short conversion step.
HOW TO CONVERT
RAW → AVIF
Provide the RAW
Click or drag to upload. We accept a single RAW file per job, with an optional queue of additional images for batch mode.
Encode to AVIF
The conversion decodes the RAW, resolves the colour space to sRGB and writes the AVIF container around the pixel data.
Save the AVIF
The download is streamed back over HTTPS. If you uploaded multiple files, a ZIP with all AVIF outputs is produced instead.
Common Use Cases
Share across platforms
Send AVIF files to anyone without worrying about whether they have the right software for RAW.
Embed in documents
Drop AVIF output into Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, Notion or a website without conversion warnings.
Optimize size
AVIF often produces smaller files than RAW for web, email and storage.
Archive & future-proof
Store in a widely-supported format that will still open on future operating systems without legacy plugins.
RAW vs AVIF — Strengths and limitations
What each format does best, and where it falls short.
RAW Strengths
- Every bit of sensor data preserved for post-processing latitude.
- Higher bit depth (12-16 bits) than JPEG (8-bit) — smoother gradients.
- Non-destructive editing in raw processors.
- Rich metadata (EXIF, makernotes, camera settings).
Limitations
- Proprietary per brand — Canon CR2 will not open in a pure-Canon-free processor.
- Huge files compared to JPEG.
- Requires dedicated software (Lightroom, Capture One, Darktable, etc.).
AVIF Strengths
- Best-in-class compression efficiency — 30-50% smaller than JPEG for the same quality.
- Royalty-free and patent-unencumbered (unlike HEIC).
- Supports alpha transparency, HDR, wide gamut (BT.2020), and up to 12-bit color.
- Progressive decoding: a blurry preview appears while the file is still downloading.
- Supported in all major browsers since late 2022 — no polyfills needed.
Limitations
- Encoding is CPU-expensive — an AVIF export can take 10-30× longer than JPEG.
- Older software (pre-2022) cannot open AVIF without plugins.
- Email clients still largely ignore it — stick to JPEG for attachments.
RAW vs AVIF — Technical specifications
Side-by-side comparison of the technical details.
RAW
- MIME types
- image/x-* (varies by vendor)
- Common extensions
- .cr2, .cr3, .nef, .nrw, .arw, .raf, .orf, .rw2, .dng, .pef, .x3f, .raw
- Bit depth
- 12-16 bits per pixel
- Typical containers
- TIFF/EP variants with vendor makernotes
- Universal exchange format
- DNG (Adobe)
AVIF
- MIME type
- image/avif
- Container
- HEIF (ISOBMFF)
- Codec
- AV1 (intra-only)
- Max dimensions
- 65 536 × 65 536 px
- Color depth
- Up to 12-bit per channel
- Color spaces
- sRGB, Display-P3, BT.2020, arbitrary ICC
| Specification | RAW | AVIF |
|---|---|---|
| MIME types | image/x-* (varies by vendor) | — |
| Common extensions | .cr2, .cr3, .nef, .nrw, .arw, .raf, .orf, .rw2, .dng, .pef, .x3f, .raw | — |
| Bit depth | 12-16 bits per pixel | — |
| Typical containers | TIFF/EP variants with vendor makernotes | — |
| Universal exchange format | DNG (Adobe) | — |
| MIME type | — | image/avif |
| Container | — | HEIF (ISOBMFF) |
| Codec | — | AV1 (intra-only) |
| Max dimensions | — | 65 536 × 65 536 px |
| Color depth | — | Up to 12-bit per channel |
| Color spaces | — | sRGB, Display-P3, BT.2020, arbitrary ICC |
RAW vs AVIF — Typical file sizes
Approximate file sizes for common scenarios.
RAW
- 24 MP raw (APS-C/FF, 14-bit) 25-50 MB
- 45 MP raw (high-end FF) 50-90 MB
- 100 MP medium-format raw 120-200 MB
AVIF
- Thumbnail (400px) 10-30 KB
- Web photo (1920px) 80-300 KB
- 4K photo (3840px) 300 KB - 1.2 MB
- Lossless copy of 24MP photo 8-15 MB
Quality & Compatibility
RAW-to-AVIF conversion does not change the visible content. Quality is capped by the RAW decode; re-encoding a lossy source at high quality cannot recover detail that was already discarded. For archival masters, keep the original RAW alongside the AVIF copy.
Tips for Best Results
- Large RAW files may look identical to small AVIF files for photographic content; pick quality based on end use, not headline megapixels.
- For print, export AVIF at 300 DPI minimum and check that the colour profile embedded matches the print shop specification.
- Batch-convert related RAW images in one pass so they share identical encoder settings and look consistent side-by-side.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the codecs involved. If both RAW and AVIF are lossy, the pixels are re-encoded and a small amount of detail is discarded — invisible at default quality settings on photographs. If AVIF is lossless (PNG, TIFF, BMP) the output keeps every pixel of the decoded RAW exactly, but cannot recover detail that RAW had already compressed away.
Often yes, especially when AVIF is lossless. RAW tuned for efficient web delivery will usually produce smaller files than AVIF's default settings. If file size matters, drop the quality in Advanced or pick a more compressed target format instead.
KaijuConverter uploads over HTTPS, processes the image in an isolated container and deletes both the source and the output within two hours. No account is required, file contents are never logged, and we do not use uploads to train any model. For confidential material, the paid plan includes a data-processing agreement.
Related comparisons
See these formats side by side to understand which fits your use case best.
Related Guides
AVIF Image Format: AV1-Powered Next-Generation Compression
Complete guide to AVIF image format: AV1 intra-frame compression, HEIF container, HDR and wide color gamut support, avifenc/ffmpeg encoding, browser compatibility, and comparison with WebP/JPEG/HEIC.
Read guideDXF Format: The Complete Guide to CAD Drawing Exchange Format
Everything about DXF: section structure, entities, layers, blocks, DXF vs DWG vs SVG, compatibility across AutoCAD and other CAD software, and how to convert DXF files.
Read guideAVIF: AV1 Image Format & Next-Generation Compression
Complete guide to AVIF image format: AV1 codec, 50% better compression than JPEG, HDR support, color gamut, and browser compatibility.
Read guideSecure & Private Conversion
Your files are encrypted during transfer, processed in isolated containers, and automatically deleted within 60 minutes. We never read, share, or store your data.