CRW to XWD Converter

Free online CRW to XWD — change image format in seconds

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Dependable Results

Millions of users trust Convertio for CRW to XWD conversion — a reliable, well-tested tool that delivers consistent results every time.

File Security

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

Cloud-Based Engine

Powerful cloud infrastructure handles your CRW to XWD conversion — no matter how large the file, your device performance remains unaffected.

How to convert CRW 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

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
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 should I convert CRW to XWD?

Canon replaced CRW with CR2 years ago, and CRW support is fading — converting your CRW archive to XWD prevents losing access to irreplaceable photos.

How do I open a XWD file?

Compatible apps include X Window system tools, GIMP, IrfanView, and XnView.

Can I convert multiple CRW files to XWD at once?

Yes — upload several CRW images at the same time and they will all be converted to XWD in a single batch for convenient download.

Do I need to install software?

No — everything happens in your web browser. There is nothing to download or install for CRW to XWD conversion on Convertio.

Does converting CRW to XWD affect quality?

Your CRW image data is processed carefully during conversion. The resulting XWD retains the maximum quality the target format can support.