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CR2 to TIFF Converter

Convert CR2 to TIFF in your browser. The large JPEG preview in the first directory is what gets converted; it carries the Picture Style that was active when you shot. No raw development happens here. You get an uncompressed 8-bit RGBA TIFF with the resolution recorded. Nothing is uploaded.

  • Processed locally
  • No upload, no wait
  • No sign-up
  • No watermark

Drop images here

or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V

RAW expected · other image formats also work

Files are processed on this device. Nothing is uploaded.0 B uploaded

How to use CR2 to TIFF

  1. 1

    Add your CR2 files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.

  2. 2

    There is nothing to tune: the TIFF is written uncompressed. Resizing and rotating are under More options if you need them.

  3. 3

    Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.

  4. 4

    Download the .tiff files one at a time or together as a ZIP.

Why use Aback Images for cr2 to tiff

Where the TIFF goes next

TIFF opens in Photoshop, Lightroom, GIMP, Affinity, macOS Preview, Windows Photos and print RIPs.

TIFF next to CR2

The TIFF stores the camera preview's pixels uncompressed, so it can be as large as the 20 to 50 MB raw file, or larger, depending on the preview's resolution.

No new artefacts

The preview inside the CR2 is a camera JPEG; the TIFF stores its decoded pixels uncompressed, so this step adds no compression damage of its own.

Processed on your device

Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.

CR2 vs TIFF

What changes from CR2 to TIFF

Encoding: the CR2 uses lossless JPEG-compressed sensor data, cut into vertical slices; TIFF uses none, LZW, PackBits, Deflate or JPEG, chosen per file, and the download is an uncompressed 8-bit RGBA TIFF with the resolution recorded.

Bit depth: 12 or 14 bits per channel in the CR2; TIFF allows 1 to 16 bits per channel, or 32-bit floating point, and the TIFF written here has 8 bits per channel. The sensor's 14 bits are not used: the 8-bit camera preview is converted.

Colour: camera RGB from a Bayer mosaic, with the Picture Style recorded in the maker notes in the CR2; TIFF supports RGB, CMYK, Lab, greyscale or palette, often with an ICC profile, written here as 8-bit sRGB.

Metadata: the CR2 can carry EXIF, Canon maker notes (Picture Style, lens, focus points) and the embedded previews; TIFF can carry EXIF, XMP, IPTC and ICC, all stored as tags, but nothing is copied across.

About CR2

CR2 is the raw format of Canon EOS cameras from 2004 until CR3 replaced it in 2018. It holds the sensor's 12 or 14-bit readings, losslessly compressed, plus a large JPEG preview rendered with the camera's Picture Style.

CR2 is TIFF-based: the TIFF header is followed by the letters 'CR' and version 2.0, then four image directories: a large JPEG preview with the EXIF block, a 160×120 thumbnail, a small uncompressed RGB image, and the sensor data as lossless JPEG cut into vertical slices.

CR2 files usually come from Canon EOS DSLRs made from 2004 to 2018, such as the 5D Mark II and III, 6D, 7D and the Rebel series.

About TIFF

TIFF is the professional archive and print format. It can hold multiple pages, high bit depths and lossless data, and is common in scanning, publishing and GIS.

A TIFF begins with 'II' or 'MM' for the byte order and the number 42, then an offset to the first image file directory (IFD): a table of tags giving the size, compression, colour model and the location of the strips or tiles of pixels. Each further page is another IFD.

When converting CR2 to TIFF makes sense

TIFF is the better choice for printing, scanning and archival masters, while CR2 suits editing Canon photos in a raw developer.

TIFF strengths: Lossless and print-ready; Multiple pages in one file; Preferred by print shops and archives. Drawbacks to weigh: Very large files; Browsers cannot display it; Many variants and compression schemes.

Limitations

  • The 14-bit sensor data, with its highlight and shadow latitude, is not developed here; use a raw editor when you need to recover detail.
  • The TIFF is written uncompressed for maximum compatibility, so it is large; print shops and archives generally expect that.
  • Browsers other than Safari do not display TIFF, so it is not a format for the web.

Frequently asked questions

Does converting CR2 to TIFF lose quality?

TIFF is written uncompressed, so the pixels are stored exactly as decoded. Those pixels come from the camera's JPEG preview, so its compression stays, but nothing new is lost. The sensor's 14 bits are not used: the 8-bit camera preview is converted.

Which apps open TIFF files?

Photoshop, Lightroom, GIMP, Affinity, macOS Preview, Windows Photos and print RIPs. It opens in Safari only; other browsers do not display TIFF.

Are my images uploaded anywhere?

No. Processing happens inside your browser with WebAssembly and Web Workers. The site only downloads the app code and codecs; your files never leave your device. You can confirm this with the live upload counter on the tool, or in your browser's network panel.

Can I process many files at once?

Yes. Drop a whole selection or folder. Files are processed in parallel on several worker threads, each result can be downloaded on its own, and everything can be saved as one ZIP.

Is it free? Is there a file limit or watermark?

It is free with no account, no watermark and no daily limit. The only limit is your device's memory: very large images (over roughly 100 megapixels) may be refused to keep the tab from crashing.