CR2 to XWD Converter

Fast CR2 to XWD conversion — online and free

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Secure Processing

Uploaded Canon CR2 photos are erased right after conversion, and XWD results are auto-deleted within 24 hours. Your images remain confidential.

Fast Results

Most CR2 to XWD conversions complete in seconds. Cloud infrastructure ensures your Canon RAW photos are processed quickly and efficiently.

Browser-Based Tool

No apps or plugins to install. Your Canon CR2 to XWD conversion happens right in the browser — accessible from any modern device.

How to convert CR2 to XWD

1

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

2

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

3

Let the file convert and you can download your xwd 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
XWD (X Window Dump) is a screen capture image format defined as part of the X Window System by the MIT X Consortium, dating to approximately 1987. The xwd command-line utility captures the contents of an X window or the entire screen and saves it as an XWD file — functionally equivalent to a screenshot utility but predating the concept by years. XWD files contain a detailed header specifying the X server's visual type, bit depth, byte order, bitmap unit and padding, the window's dimensions, border width, and color map information, followed by the raw pixel data exactly as represented in the X server's framebuffer. This means XWD files faithfully capture the exact pixel representation used by the display hardware — including server-specific byte ordering, padding, and color organization — making them primarily useful on the system where they were captured or on systems with compatible display configurations. The header also stores the window name string and the full color map entries for indexed-color visuals. XWD supports all X11 visual types: StaticGray, GrayScale, StaticColor, PseudoColor, TrueColor, and DirectColor, at any bit depth supported by the X server. One advantage is exact framebuffer fidelity: XWD captures the window's pixel data in its native format without any color space conversion or compression, making it the definitive record of what the X server was actually displaying. The format's integration with the X11 command-line toolkit provides another practical benefit — xwd can capture specific windows by ID or name, be triggered remotely via SSH, and piped directly to format converters. XWD files are handled by ImageMagick, GIMP, xwud (the viewer companion to xwd), and xv.
Developer: MIT X Consortium
Initial release: 1987

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert CR2 to XWD?

XWD is a specialized X Window System format. Converting from CR2 creates images compatible with X11 desktop environments and Unix/Linux tools.

What programs open XWD?

Programs that handle XWD include X Window System tools, GIMP, IrfanView, and xwd command-line utilities.

Is CR2 to XWD conversion free on Convertio?

Standard CR2 to XWD conversions are free on convertio.tools. Larger volumes or bigger images may benefit from a premium account for faster processing.

How long does the conversion take?

Most CR2 to XWD conversions finish in seconds. Processing time depends on image resolution and server load, but results are typically fast.

What resolution can I convert?

The converter handles CR2 images at their original resolution — from compact camera shots to high-megapixel Canon sensor outputs.