CRW is Canon's original raw format from early EOS and PowerShot cameras, storing unprocessed sensor data in a proprietary CIFF container before Canon switched to CR2.
CRW opens in Canon Digital Photo Professional, older Lightroom and Camera Raw; convert to DNG for long-term archiving.
Maximum dynamic range and editing latitude.
Recover highlights and shadows non-destructively.
Keep the untouched original alongside exports.
| ✔ Strengths | ✖ Limitations |
|---|---|
| Maximum editing latitude | No transparency support |
| Limited support — may need converting | |
| Needs raw-capable software |
Remove the background from CRW images, upscale to 4K, or generate new visuals with SharkFoto AI.
CRW is Canon's original raw format from early EOS and PowerShot cameras, storing unprocessed sensor data in a proprietary CIFF container before Canon switched to CR2.
CRW opens in Canon Digital Photo Professional, older Lightroom and Camera Raw; convert to DNG for long-term archiving.
CRW is an unprocessed raw container, so no detail is discarded.
Use SharkFoto's free tools — upload your CRW file and convert it to a more convenient format in seconds. It's free, processed securely and never stored.
No — CRW doesn't store transparency; convert to PNG or WEBP if you need it.