What is a ARW file?
ARW — Sony RAW
Use the format ARW
A concrete example
Prepare a JPEG for consultation from a Sony shoot.
Useful checks
Compatibility also depends on the device. Keep the raw file and check the framing and details.
Choose a conversion
Keep the original and open the result in the software or on the device that will need to use it.
Your questions about this format
How to convert a HEIC photo from iPhone for free?
Choose your HEIC file in Images, then JPEG to share it widely or PNG if your usage requires it. Proceed to preparation, check the output, and start the conversion. Download and open the result. HEIC remains free; size limits and daily quota apply.
JPEG, PNG or WEBP: how to choose?
For a photo to send, start with JPEG. For a logo with transparency or sharp text, prefer PNG. For a web publication, WEBP can be interesting: compare the size and the rendering before publication. Converting a JPEG to PNG does not restore details lost earlier.
Why does my transparent background become opaque?
JPEG does not preserve transparency. Choose PNG or WEBP when the background must remain transparent and the proposed conversion allows it. If the background is already flattened in the original file, changing the format will not remove it.
Will my Photoshop layers or my vector drawing be preserved?
A JPEG or PNG output is a flattened image. It does not retain PSD layers or the editable objects of an SVG or an Illustrator file. Keep your working file and use the exported copy for sharing. Specialized creation formats are indicated by NoLimit.
What is it?
ARW is the RAW format used by Sony Alpha cameras: raw sensor data, untouched by processing or lossy compression.
Like its rivals, it preserves the full tonal detail actually captured by the sensor, far beyond what a JPEG can reproduce.
History & origin
Sony introduced ARW building on the legacy of Konica Minolta, whose camera division it acquired in 2006 — the first Alpha cameras descend directly from that lineage.
The format has tracked the rise of Sony's mirrorless cameras, which became a benchmark among professionals over the course of the 2010s.
Why it is useful
All the flexibility of RAW, paired with the excellent dynamic range that made Sony sensors' reputation: shadow recovery is remarkably strong.
Full support across mainstream RAW-processing software.
Limits & drawbacks
Bulky and proprietary. Some camera bodies offer a 'compressed' ARW option that does lose information — a trap for anyone who assumes nothing is being sacrificed.
Unreadable by most consumer applications and by the web.
Practical tips
If your camera allows it, shoot in uncompressed or lossless RAW: the difference shows up in extreme recovery situations.
Process your images, then export to JPEG for sharing, TIFF for printing, and archive the original ARW files.
Convert your ARW in seconds, on our secure servers in France.
Convert a ARW