CRW to PCT Converter

Transform CRW to PCT — quick online conversion for free

Drop files here. 1 GB maximum file size or Sign Up
to
Facebook Amazon Microsoft Tesla Nestle Walmart L'Oreal

Your Files, Protected

Convertio handles your images securely — CRW uploads are deleted right after processing, and PCT outputs are purged from servers within 24 hours.

Instant Processing

No long waits. The converter processes CRW images quickly, delivering PCT results in seconds — even during peak usage periods.

Any Device, Any OS

Whether you are on a PC, Mac, Chromebook, or phone — the CRW to PCT converter works the same way across all platforms and devices.

How to convert CRW to PCT

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

CRW is Canon's first-generation RAW image format, based on the Camera Image File Format (CIFF) specification developed jointly by Canon, Kodak, and other imaging companies in the late 1990s. Used by Canon's consumer and prosumer cameras from approximately 1998 through the early 2000s — including the PowerShot G-series, EOS D30, EOS D60, and EOS 10D — CRW files store the unprocessed 12-bit sensor readout in a heap-based container structure that differs fundamentally from the TIFF-derived approach used by most other camera manufacturers. The CIFF container organizes data into a hierarchical directory of heap entries, each identified by type and tag, containing the raw image data, JPEG thumbnail, EXIF information, and Canon's proprietary metadata including White Balance tables and Picture Style parameters. CRW was eventually replaced by the CR2 format starting with the EOS-1D Mark II in 2004, as Canon moved to a TIFF-based container that aligned more closely with industry conventions and supported higher bit depths. One advantage of CRW files is historical completeness: they preserve the full original sensor data from an important transitional period in digital photography, and the 12-bit captures from cameras like the EOS D30 still produce excellent results when reprocessed with modern RAW converters. Broad legacy support is another strength — despite its age, CRW remains readable by Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, RawTherapee, and other modern converters, ensuring these early digital negatives remain accessible.
Developer: Canon
Initial release: 1998
PCT (also known as PICT) is a metafile graphics format originally developed by Apple Computer and introduced alongside the original Macintosh in January 1984. PCT files can contain both vector drawing commands and raster bitmap data, encoded as a sequence of QuickDraw drawing operations — the same graphics primitives used by the Macintosh operating system for all on-screen rendering. The format evolved through two major versions: PICT 1, which recorded basic QuickDraw operations (lines, rectangles, ovals, text, 1-bit bitmaps) in a compact format suitable for the original Macintosh's limited memory, and PICT 2, introduced with Color QuickDraw in 1987, which extended the format to support 24-bit color, multiple color spaces, and embedded JPEG-compressed data. PCT files begin with a 512-byte header (originally used for resource fork information), followed by the picture size, bounding rectangle, and a sequence of opcodes that define the drawing operations. During the Macintosh's commercial ascendancy, PICT was the universal graphics interchange format on Mac OS — the system clipboard used PICT for all graphical copy/paste operations, and most Mac applications could import and export the format. One advantage is the hybrid vector/raster nature: PCT files from the QuickDraw era preserve both scalable drawing commands and pixel data in a single format, enabling resolution-independent output for the vector portions. PICT's historical significance as the native Mac graphics format throughout the classic Mac OS era (1984-2001) provides another dimension. PCT files remain readable by Preview on macOS, ImageMagick, XnView, LibreOffice, and GIMP.
Developer: Apple Computer
Initial release: 1984

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the benefit of converting CRW to PCT?

Canon's CRW format dates back to earlier camera generations and faces declining support — conversion to PCT preserves your images in a lasting format.

Which apps support PCT?

Compatible apps include macOS Preview (legacy), IrfanView, XnView, and GIMP.

How fast is the CRW to PCT conversion?

Conversion typically takes just a few seconds — CRW images are processed on powerful servers and the PCT output is ready almost immediately.

Is CRW to PCT conversion free?

The converter is free for everyday use. Convertio offers premium plans when you need extended limits or priority processing for CRW to PCT.

Do I need to install software?

No software needed. The conversion engine runs server-side — you just upload your CRW through the browser and get the PCT back.