DCR is Kodak's in-camera RAW
DCR is the raw sensor data a Kodak 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 DCR from a finished JPG.
Looking to turn a JPG into a DCR file? Here's the honest answer — and what actually works instead.
You can't convert JPG to DCR. DCR is a camera's own RAW format — it only ever comes out of the camera.
DCR is the raw sensor data a Kodak 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 DCR from a finished JPG.
Your JPG is a developed, final image. The extra sensor information a DCR carries — wider dynamic range, full color depth, untouched highlights — was discarded when the photo was first saved, and can't be put back.
DCR is proprietary to Kodak. Even other RAW formats (NEF, ARW, RAF…) aren't interchangeable with it — there is no universal "save as RAW" that produces a real DCR.
Every real RAW file is one of these camera-maker-specific formats, written by the camera itself:
JPG (JPEG) is a lossy raster format that compresses photographs into small files by discarding detail the eye barely notices — the most widely used photo format on the web and in cameras.
How to open JPG opens in every browser, image viewer and editor with no special software.
Full JPG format guideDCR is Kodak's professional raw format from DCS-series SLRs, holding full sensor data from these early high-end digital bodies.
How to open DCR opens in Kodak's professional software and raw tools like dcraw; convert to DNG to preserve the data.
Full DCR format guideLossless and uncompressed — ideal for editing, archiving and print.
JPG → TIFFLossless with transparency — perfect for graphics, logos and screenshots.
JPG → PNGA modern format with small files at high quality for the web.
JPG → WEBPConvert your DCR and other camera RAW files to JPG, PNG or TIFF.
Open the converter