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ARW at a glance
ARW
Convert to ARW when preserving Sony camera originals or returning processed material to a Sony raw workflow.
It is useful for archival retention, high-latitude editing, and non-destructive photographic post-processing.
DRF at a glance
DRF
Convert to DRF when compatibility with an older camera-specific raw library is required.
In most workflows today, DRF is a preservation or migration target rather than a preferred everyday format.
Format comparison
| Feature | ARW | DRF |
|---|---|---|
| File type | Image | Image |
| Extensions |
|
|
| MIME type |
|
|
| Compression / quality | raw | raw |
| File size characteristics | large | large |
| Compatibility | limited | limited |
| Editability | high | high |
| Created year | 2006 | 2005 |
| Inventor | Sony | Kodak |
| Status | proprietary | proprietary |
| Transparency | Not supported | Not supported |
| Animation | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary use cases |
|
|
| Common software |
|
|
| Archival suitability | strong | strong |
| Metadata handling | rich | rich |
| Delivery profile | limited | limited |
| Workflow fit | source | source |
| Layer support | Not supported | Not supported |
| Vector scaling | Not supported | Not supported |
| Camera raw data | Supported | Supported |
| HDR support | Not supported | Not supported |
| Streaming ready | Not supported | Not supported |
When to use each format
When to use ARW
- capture ingest
- editing
- web or print delivery
- Preserve capture-stage sensor information.
When to use DRF
- capture ingest
- editing
- web or print delivery
- Preserve capture-stage image data for later interpretation.
FAQs
Why convert ARW to DRF?
Convert to DRF when compatibility with an older camera-specific raw library is required.
In most workflows today, DRF is a preservation or migration target rather than a preferred everyday format.
What changes when converting ARW to DRF?
This conversion changes how the format behaves in downstream tools and delivery environments.
What should I review after converting ARW to DRF?
Check the exported file for Many are vendor-specific and poorly documented publicly.; Compatibility often depends on decoder support in tools such as LibRaw, Adobe Camera Raw, or vendor software.; They are source formats, not publication-ready outputs..