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CR2 to ABW Converter

Convert your CR2 images to ABW online for free

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Many Formats

Your Canon CR2 can go to ABW and over a hundred other formats. Convertio handles a wide range of image, document, and vector conversions.

Fully Online

Everything runs in your web browser — no software to download, no plugins to install. Just open the page, upload CR2, and get ABW.

Cloud Conversion

The heavy lifting happens in the cloud — your computer stays responsive while Canon CR2 images are converted to ABW on powerful servers.

How to convert CR2 to ABW

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose abw or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your abw file right afterwards

About formats

CR2 (Canon RAW version 2) is Canon's second-generation proprietary RAW image format, introduced in 2004 with the EOS-1D Mark II and used across Canon's DSLR lineup until the transition to CR3 beginning in 2018. CR2 files use a TIFF-based container that stores the raw sensor data compressed with a lossless variant of JPEG encoding (Huffman-coded prediction residuals), keeping file sizes manageable while preserving every bit of the original capture. Each CR2 file contains multiple image sections: a small thumbnail, a mid-size preview JPEG suitable for quick review, and the full-resolution RAW data at 14-bit depth on most bodies. The format records extensive shooting metadata including Canon's proprietary tags for lens model, autofocus point selection, Picture Style settings, dust-delete data from the sensor cleaning reference shot, and per-body calibration information. One advantage is the vast software ecosystem — CR2 is one of the most widely supported RAW formats in existence, handled natively by Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, DxO, RawTherapee, darktable, and dozens of other converters and viewers, owing to Canon's dominant market share during the DSLR era. Reliable archival longevity is another key strength: the TIFF-based structure and well-documented layout make CR2 files relatively straightforward to parse even with custom tools, and the format's ubiquity means archival support will persist for decades.
Developer: Canon
Initial release: 2004
ABW is the native document format of AbiWord, a free and open-source word processor originally developed by AbiSource in 1998 and later maintained as part of the GNOME Office suite. The format stores document content as well-formed XML, describing paragraphs, character formatting, page layout, headers and footers, tables, lists, footnotes, and embedded images in a human-readable structure. ABW files use a straightforward markup where document sections map to XML elements with attribute-based styling, making the format transparent and easy to parse programmatically. AbiWord was designed as a lightweight alternative to heavyweight office suites, running efficiently on older hardware and resource-constrained systems while still providing core word processing functionality. One advantage is the clean XML foundation — ABW files can be inspected, transformed, and generated using standard XML tools and scripting languages without requiring the AbiWord application itself. The lightweight nature of both the format and its parent application is another practical strength: AbiWord and its ABW format are commonly found on Linux distributions targeting older computers and educational deployments in developing countries through projects like OLPC. ABW files can be converted to mainstream formats like DOC, ODT, and PDF through AbiWord's built-in export or through document conversion tools.
Developer: AbiSource
Initial release: 1998

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert CR2 to ABW?

Document formats like ABW let you embed Canon images in editable text — practical for combining photography with written content in one file.

What programs open ABW?

ABW is supported by AbiWord, and can be imported into LibreOffice Writer and Google Docs.

Will my CR2 metadata (EXIF) be preserved?

Metadata handling depends on the target format. Where ABW supports it, camera data like shooting parameters and GPS coordinates can be retained.

Do I need to install software?

No installation required. The CR2 to ABW converter runs entirely in your web browser — just upload, convert, and download the result.

Is my CR2 file safe during conversion?

Uploaded CR2 files are deleted immediately after conversion. ABW output files are removed from servers within 24 hours for your privacy.

What happens to my uploaded CR2 images?

Your Canon CR2 images are deleted right after conversion. The resulting ABW output is removed from servers within 24 hours for complete privacy.