CRW is Canon's in-camera RAW
CRW is the raw sensor data a Canon camera writes at the moment of capture. It's produced by the camera's own hardware and firmware — software can read it, but nothing can manufacture a genuine CRW from a finished AI.
Looking to turn a AI into a CRW file? Here's the honest answer — and what actually works instead.
You can't convert AI to CRW. CRW is a camera's own RAW format — it only ever comes out of the camera.
CRW is the raw sensor data a Canon camera writes at the moment of capture. It's produced by the camera's own hardware and firmware — software can read it, but nothing can manufacture a genuine CRW from a finished AI.
Your AI is a developed, final image. The extra sensor information a CRW carries — wider dynamic range, full color depth, untouched highlights — was discarded when the photo was first saved, and can't be put back.
CRW is proprietary to Canon. Even other RAW formats (NEF, ARW, RAF…) aren't interchangeable with it — there is no universal "save as RAW" that produces a real CRW.
Every real RAW file is one of these camera-maker-specific formats, written by the camera itself:
AI is Adobe Illustrator’s native vector format for logos, icons and illustrations that scale to any size.
How to open AI files open in Adobe Illustrator and many vector editors.
Full AI format guideCRW 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.
How to open CRW opens in Canon Digital Photo Professional, older Lightroom and Camera Raw; convert to DNG for long-term archiving.
Full CRW format guideLossless and uncompressed — ideal for editing, archiving and print.
AI → TIFFLossless with transparency — perfect for graphics, logos and screenshots.
AI → PNGA small, universal photo format that opens everywhere.
AI → JPGConvert your CRW and other camera RAW files to JPG, PNG or TIFF.
Open the converter