CONVERT
RAW → JPG
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Fast, secure RAW to JPG conversion. No registration required.
Setup: RAW captures sensor data directly from a digital camera with no in-camera processing. Goal: an interchangeable JPG. If you have ended up with a RAW and need a JPG, the mismatch is almost always about where the image is going next rather than the picture itself. Our server reads the RAW with ImageMagick, decodes each pixel, and re-writes it as a JPG using defaults tuned for fidelity first and file size second. One more beat. RAW captures sensor data directly from a digital camera with no in-camera processing. Receiving format: JPG is the web's default lossy photograph codec, with compression tuned for natural images.
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.
JPEG Image
Target formatJPEG is the most widely used lossy image format on the web. It achieves small file sizes through adjustable compression, making it ideal for photographs and complex images where some quality loss is acceptable.
Why convert RAW to JPG
Both RAW and JPG describe a grid of pixels — the difference lies in how that grid is compressed, whether transparency is supported, and which software opens it natively. Moving from RAW to JPG is worth it when the JPG ecosystem is broader for your use case, or when JPG compresses photographs more efficiently than RAW.
HOW TO CONVERT
RAW → JPG
Drop the RAW file
Drag and drop or click to upload your RAW. The image is transferred securely over HTTPS and queued for conversion.
Re-encode with ImageMagick
ImageMagick decodes every pixel of the RAW and writes a matching JPG with sensible default quality settings.
Download the JPG
The converted JPG is ready to download as a single file; both files delete automatically within two hours.
Common Use Cases
Share across platforms
Send JPG files to anyone without worrying about whether they have the right software for RAW.
Embed in documents
Drop JPG output into Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, Notion or a website without conversion warnings.
Optimize size
JPG 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 JPG — 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.).
JPG Strengths
- Excellent compression ratio for photographs (10:1 or better without visible quality loss).
- Universal support — every camera, phone, OS, and browser reads JPEG natively.
- Adjustable quality setting balances file size against visual fidelity.
- Embeds EXIF metadata (camera model, GPS, exposure) automatically.
- Progressive rendering for graceful loading over slow networks.
Limitations
- Lossy — every save degrades the image further (generation loss).
- No transparency channel (use PNG or WebP for that).
- Visible compression artifacts on text, sharp edges, and flat colors.
RAW vs JPG — 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)
JPG
- MIME type
- image/jpeg
- Compression
- Lossy — Discrete Cosine Transform + quantization + Huffman coding
- Color depth
- 8 bits per channel (24-bit RGB or 8-bit grayscale)
- Max dimensions
- 65,535 × 65,535 pixels (baseline)
- Transparency
- Not supported
- Typical quality
- 75–90 for web, 95+ for print
| Specification | RAW | JPG |
|---|---|---|
| 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/jpeg |
| Compression | — | Lossy — Discrete Cosine Transform + quantization + Huffman coding |
| Color depth | — | 8 bits per channel (24-bit RGB or 8-bit grayscale) |
| Max dimensions | — | 65,535 × 65,535 pixels (baseline) |
| Transparency | — | Not supported |
| Typical quality | — | 75–90 for web, 95+ for print |
RAW vs JPG — 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
JPG
- Phone photo (12 MP, quality 85) 2–5 MB
- Web thumbnail (400px) 20–60 KB
- Full-page magazine photo 500 KB – 2 MB
- Social-media square (1080×1080) 100–400 KB
Quality & Compatibility
If JPG is a lossless format (PNG, TIFF, BMP) the output keeps every pixel of the decoded RAW exactly. If JPG is a lossy codec (JPEG, WebP, HEIC), the encoder re-compresses the image at the quality level you select — default 85 is transparent for photographs, quality 92+ for illustrations with hard edges.
Tips for Best Results
- Keep the original RAW alongside the JPG output — re-encoding already-lossy images accumulates detail loss on each round.
- If the JPG will be uploaded to a CMS, check whether the platform has a max dimension and downscale once on export rather than letting the CMS resize automatically.
- For thumbnails and avatars, export the JPG at exactly the display size; browsers will otherwise resample and the image may look soft.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the codecs involved. If both RAW and JPG are lossy, the pixels are re-encoded and a small amount of detail is discarded — invisible at default quality settings on photographs. If JPG 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 JPG is lossless. RAW tuned for efficient web delivery will usually produce smaller files than JPG'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.
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