RAW File
What are RAW files and how to open them
Are you having problems opening a RAW file or just wondering what they contain? We explain what these files are used for and show you software that we know can open or otherwise handle your files.
What is a RAW file?
RAW files have multiple uses, and Camera RAW Image is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.
Camera RAW Image
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 largest amount of detail, which is why photographers prefer to use this format. They have maximum detail to work with when post-processing the images, and RAW can easily be edited and converted to other more common image formats.
How to open RAW files
We have identified five RAW openers that are compatible with this specific type of RAW file.
Programs that open Camera RAW Image files
![]() | Bitberry File Opener | Verified |
![]() | Adobe Photoshop | Verified |
![]() | IrfanView | Verified |
![]() | ACDSee | Verified |
![]() | Pixillion Image Converter | Verified |
Last updated: January 19, 2023
More file formats using the RAW extension
Through our research of RAW files, we know that the following formats exist. However, we have not yet analyzed them in detail.
- CT Raw Disk Image
- DCTV Raw Bitmap
- Helios Raw Disk Image
- ImageKnife Raw Bitmap
- KryoFlux Raw Stream
- PlayStation Pocket Memory Card
- TkImg RAW Bitmap
- XL-Paint MAX Bitmap
Various apps that use files with this extension
These apps are known to open certain types of RAW files. Remember, different programs may use RAW files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.
![]() | Winamp | Verified |
![]() | Picasa Photo Viewer | Discontinued |
![]() | MixPad | User submitted |
![]() | Adobe Photoshop Elements | User submitted |
![]() | PhotoPad Image Editor | User submitted |
![]() | Adobe Audition | User submitted |
![]() | Corel PaintShop Pro | User submitted |
![]() | WavePad | User submitted |
![]() | Ashampoo Photo Commander | User submitted |
![]() | Zoner Photo Studio | User submitted |
Help us help others
File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about RAW file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.
Not sure exactly what type of file you are trying to open? Try our new File Analyzer. It is a free tool that can identify more than 11,000 different kinds of files - most likely yours too! It will help you find software that can handle your specific type of file. Download File Analyzer here.