How do I convert CR2 to PNG?

Upload your CR2 file above. It is converted to PNG automatically (change the output format or quality in the Settings tab if you need to), then click Download. There is nothing to install.

Does converting CR2 to PNG lose quality?

No. Both formats are lossless, so every pixel is kept exactly.

CR2 or PNG: which should I use?

Use CR2 for adjusting exposure and white balance with maximum latitude. Use PNG for screenshots, logos, text graphics and cut-outs. Keep in mind the main drawback of PNG: large files for photographs.

CR2 is the RAW format of Canon EOS cameras released before about 2018. It stores the unprocessed sensor data for maximum editing latitude, so most apps can’t show it as a normal picture.

Can I convert CR2 to PNG without Photoshop or Lightroom?

Yes. The CR2 file is opened on our servers, so you don’t need Photoshop or Lightroom or any other software installed. Upload the file, then download the finished PNG.

Is the CR2 to PNG converter free?

Yes. Convert, preview and download a single result without creating an account. Premium adds batch conversion (many files into one ZIP) and larger uploads.

Convert CR2 to PNG — Free Online CR2 Converter

Convert CR2 to PNG online at full resolution. Open camera RAW files without Photoshop or Lightroom; preview one free or batch-convert with Premium.

Drop your CR2 file or click to browse

Why convert CR2 to PNG?

PNG is supported far more widely than CR2, so the file is easier to open, share and upload.
PNG is made for screenshots, logos, text graphics and cut-outs.
No Photoshop or Lightroom needed: the file is opened on our servers and you download a ready-to-use PNG.

What to expect when converting CR2 to PNG

The RAW file is developed at full resolution with your camera’s white balance. Keep the original CR2 to re-edit exposure later.
Your original CR2 file isn’t changed: you download a new PNG copy.

CR2 vs PNG

Feature	CR2	PNG
Full name	Canon camera RAW	Portable Network Graphics
Origin	Written by Canon cameras	Published as a W3C standard in 1996
Compression	Unprocessed sensor data	Lossless
Transparency	No	Yes — smooth, partial transparency
Animation	No	No
Colour	12 to 16 bits per channel from the sensor	Up to 16 bits per channel
Where it opens	RAW editors such as Lightroom; not browsers or most apps	All browsers, phones, computers and image editors
Best for	adjusting exposure and white balance with maximum latitude	screenshots, logos, text graphics and cut-outs
Main drawback	very large files that most apps can’t open	large files for photographs

In short: choose CR2 for adjusting exposure and white balance with maximum latitude; choose PNG for screenshots, logos, text graphics and cut-outs.

When a Canon CR2 should become a PNG, and when it should stay a CR2

People usually want a PNG from a CR2 for one of two reasons: the image is headed into a program that cannot read RAW, such as a basic editor, a design app or a slide deck, or it will be retouched and saved many times and must not pick up JPG artifacts on the way. In both cases the PNG is a full-resolution copy of the developed photo that browsers, phones and image editors all open.

What a PNG cannot carry is the depth of the RAW. This conversion stores 8 bits per color channel, while a CR2 holds the 12 or 14 bits the sensor recorded. That matters most for astrophotography: Canon DSLRs are popular for night-sky work, and stacking and calibration work best on the untouched sensor data, so feed those programs the original CR2 files rather than PNG copies. The same applies to any edit that pulls a lot of detail out of deep shadows.

A full-size PNG from an 18- or 24-megapixel CR2 is a big file, far bigger than a JPG of the same shot. Once editing is done, trim away what you don't need, and if the result is going online, save a lighter JPG from the finished PNG. For straightforward sharing with no editing in between, CR2 to JPG is the better choice from the start.

Frequently asked questions

How do I convert CR2 to PNG?: Upload your CR2 file above. It is converted to PNG automatically (change the output format or quality in the Settings tab if you need to), then click Download. There is nothing to install.
Does converting CR2 to PNG lose quality?: No. Both formats are lossless, so every pixel is kept exactly.
CR2 or PNG: which should I use?: Use CR2 for adjusting exposure and white balance with maximum latitude. Use PNG for screenshots, logos, text graphics and cut-outs. Keep in mind the main drawback of PNG: large files for photographs.
What is a CR2 file?: CR2 is the RAW format of Canon EOS cameras released before about 2018. It stores the unprocessed sensor data for maximum editing latitude, so most apps can’t show it as a normal picture.
Can I convert CR2 to PNG without Photoshop or Lightroom?: Yes. The CR2 file is opened on our servers, so you don’t need Photoshop or Lightroom or any other software installed. Upload the file, then download the finished PNG.
Is the CR2 to PNG converter free?: Yes. Convert, preview and download a single result without creating an account. Premium adds batch conversion (many files into one ZIP) and larger uploads.

What you can do with CR2 to PNG

Review the main capabilities before you begin.

Convert Canon CR2 RAW files to PNG
Get lossless PNG images from raw sensor data
Create PNG files from Canon RAW photos
Prepare RAW photos for editing and sharing
Batch-convert multiple CR2 files together

Use this tool

Settings reference

Available controls for CR2 to PNG.

Settings

Output formatDropdown: Chooses the file type you download. The page opens on its own output format; switch to any other format before converting.Options: JPGPNGWebPAVIFGIFTIFFBMPICOPDF
QualitySliderRange: 20–100 · Default: 90: For JPG, WebP, AVIF and image-to-PDF output: higher keeps more detail but makes a bigger file; 60–80 suits most photos. Documents (Publisher, XPS, EPS…) become PDFs with every page and sharp text, with no quality setting.
Lossless modeOn / Off: For WebP and AVIF output: keeps every pixel exactly (best for logos, graphics and transparency) at the cost of a larger file.
Background fillColor picker: For JPG, BMP and image-to-PDF output, which can’t store transparency: the colour that fills transparent areas (white by default).