CR2 to ICO Converter
Convert CR2 to ICO in your browser. The large JPEG preview in the first directory is what gets converted; it carries the Picture Style that was active when you shot. No raw development happens here. You get a multi-size ICO with PNG-compressed icons (16, 32, 48 and 256 px by default). Nothing is uploaded.
- Processed locally
- No upload, no wait
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop images here
or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V
RAW expected · other image formats also work
How to use CR2 to ICO
- 1
Add your CR2 files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
Choose the icon sizes to include.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .ico files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for cr2 to ico
Where the ICO goes next
ICO opens in every browser (as a favicon), Windows and most Linux desktops.
ICO next to CR2
The ICO holds the camera preview's pixels with lossless compression: usually smaller than a 20 to 50 MB raw file, though far larger than a JPEG of the same photo.
No new artefacts
The preview inside the CR2 is a camera JPEG; the ICO stores its decoded pixels losslessly, so this step adds no compression damage of its own.
Processed on your device
Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
CR2 vs ICO
What changes from CR2 to ICO
Encoding: the CR2 uses lossless JPEG-compressed sensor data, cut into vertical slices; ICO uses each size stored as a headerless BMP or as a complete PNG, and the download is a multi-size ICO with PNG-compressed icons (16, 32, 48 and 256 px by default).
Bit depth: 12 or 14 bits per channel in the CR2; ICO allows 1 to 32 bits per pixel, set per size, and the ICO written here has 32 bits per pixel. The sensor's 14 bits are not used: the 8-bit camera preview is converted.
Colour: camera RGB from a Bayer mosaic, with the Picture Style recorded in the maker notes in the CR2; ICO supports RGB or a palette, per image, written here as 8-bit sRGB.
Metadata: the CR2 can carry EXIF, Canon maker notes (Picture Style, lens, focus points) and the embedded previews; ICO can carry only a directory of the sizes inside, with no EXIF, but nothing is copied across.
About CR2
CR2 is the raw format of Canon EOS cameras from 2004 until CR3 replaced it in 2018. It holds the sensor's 12 or 14-bit readings, losslessly compressed, plus a large JPEG preview rendered with the camera's Picture Style.
CR2 is TIFF-based: the TIFF header is followed by the letters 'CR' and version 2.0, then four image directories: a large JPEG preview with the EXIF block, a 160×120 thumbnail, a small uncompressed RGB image, and the sensor data as lossless JPEG cut into vertical slices.
CR2 files usually come from Canon EOS DSLRs made from 2004 to 2018, such as the 5D Mark II and III, 6D, 7D and the Rebel series.
About ICO
ICO is a container that bundles several sizes of the same icon (16, 32, 48, 256 px) into one file. It is still the most compatible format for website favicons and Windows app icons.
An ICO starts with a 6-byte ICONDIR (type 1 for icons) and a 16-byte entry per image giving width, height, colour count and offset. Each image is either a BMP without its file header plus an AND mask, or a complete PNG.
When converting CR2 to ICO makes sense
ICO is the better choice for favicons and Windows icons, while CR2 suits editing Canon photos in a raw developer.
ICO strengths: Multiple sizes in one file; Required by Windows and supported by every browser as a favicon. Drawbacks to weigh: Max 256×256 per image; Not for photos.
Limitations
- The 14-bit sensor data, with its highlight and shadow latitude, is not developed here; use a raw editor when you need to recover detail.
- Each size inside the ICO is scaled from your image, and detailed artwork loses legibility at 16 and 32 px, so simplify logos first.
- Non-square images are centred on a transparent square for each icon size.
More conversions
Related tools
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Frequently asked questions
Does converting CR2 to ICO lose quality?
ICO is written losslessly, so the pixels are stored exactly as decoded. Those pixels come from the camera's JPEG preview, so its compression stays, but nothing new is lost. The sensor's 14 bits are not used: the 8-bit camera preview is converted.
Which icon sizes are included?
16, 32, 48 and 256 px by default, the set Windows and browsers expect. You can choose other sizes. Non-square images are centred on a transparent square.
Which apps open ICO files?
Every browser (as a favicon), Windows and most Linux desktops.
Are my images uploaded anywhere?
No. Processing happens inside your browser with WebAssembly and Web Workers. The site only downloads the app code and codecs; your files never leave your device. You can confirm this with the live upload counter on the tool, or in your browser's network panel.
Can I process many files at once?
Yes. Drop a whole selection or folder. Files are processed in parallel on several worker threads, each result can be downloaded on its own, and everything can be saved as one ZIP.
Is it free? Is there a file limit or watermark?
It is free with no account, no watermark and no daily limit. The only limit is your device's memory: very large images (over roughly 100 megapixels) may be refused to keep the tab from crashing.