CR2 File

What are CR2 files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a CR2 file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your CR2 files.

What is a CR2 file?

CR2 files have multiple uses, and Canon Digital Camera RAW Photo is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Canon Digital Camera RAW Photo

RAW files are photos captured by digital cameras. The photos are uncompressed and unaltered - no processing has been done on the image as it is saved exactly as the camera lens sees it.

RAW images have the maximum amount of detail, so photographers prefer to work with this format when post-processing the photos. In addition, RAW can easily be edited and converted to other more common image formats.

RAW photos with the CR2 file extension have been taken with a Canon camera.

How to open CR2 files

We have identified seven CR2 openers that are compatible with this specific type of CR2 file.

Programs that open Canon Digital Camera RAW Photo files

Last updated: August 5, 2026

All known file formats using extension .CR2

While Canon Digital Camera RAW Photo is a popular type of CR2-file, we know of 2 different uses of the .CR2 file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Poser 3D Character Rigging Data

Poser character rigging data files with the extension .CR2 store the complete rigging, default pose, material, geometry reference, and morph (shape-change) controls for a single figure in the Poser 3D graphics application by Bondware. These files provide all the parameters needed to define how a character bends and deforms, how its body parts relate to one another, how default textures and proportions are applied, and which control dials can be adjusted by the user.

CR2 files are created by Poser when a figure (human, animal, or similar character) is designed or saved into the Poser library. Users also save modified characters as new CR2 files. Once produced, Poser reads them when loading characters into scenes. Material, geometry, joint hierarchy, default morphs and pose values defined by the CR2 are combined with optional external morph-target files if enabled.

Files begin with a left brace ("{") at the start and contain distinctive keyword strings such as DISPLAYMODE USEPARENT, PROPAGATINGSCALEX, INTERPSTYLELOCKED, JOINTX JOINTX, and many others which identify the joints, channels, offsets, parent-child relationships and other rigging parameters. EOL-terminated ASCII text is used for most of the stored parameters.

CR2 opener for Windows

We have identified one CR2 opener that is compatible with this specific type of CR2 file.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of CR2 files. Remember, different programs may use CR2 files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

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