EXR to ARW Converter
Convert EXR to ARW in your browser. You download a Linear DNG (.dng), not a .arw: only a Sony camera can create a genuine ARW, and every editor that opens ARW also opens DNG. Nothing is uploaded.
- Processed locally
- No upload, no wait
- No sign-up
- No watermark
Drop images here
or choose files · paste with Ctrl/⌘ V
EXR expected · other image formats also work
How to use EXR to ARW
- 1
Add your EXR files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.
- 2
Pick the colour that replaces transparent areas, since DNG has none.
- 3
Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.
- 4
Download the .dng files one at a time or together as a ZIP.
Why use Aback Images for exr to arw
Where a ARW would go
ARW files are opened by Sony Imaging Edge, Lightroom, Photoshop Camera Raw, Capture One and darktable, and every one of them opens the DNG too.
DNG next to EXR
Neither format compresses much, so the DNG lands close to the EXR in size.
Written without a lossy pass
The DNG is written uncompressed, so the pixels decoded from the EXR arrive unchanged, apart from precision beyond 8 bits per channel.
Processed on your device
Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.
EXR vs ARW
What changes from EXR to ARW
Encoding: the EXR uses none, RLE, ZIP, PIZ, PXR24, B44 or DWA, chosen per file; ARW uses Sony's lossy compressed raw, uncompressed (since the A7R II) or lossless compressed (since the A1), and the download is a Linear DNG: demosaiced 8-bit RGB with the colour matrices raw editors need.
Bit depth: 16-bit half or 32-bit floating point per channel in the EXR; ARW allows 12 or 14 bits per channel, and the DNG written here has 8 bits per channel, linearised. Floating-point values are mapped to 8 bits per channel, and anything brighter than white clips.
Colour: scene-linear RGB, often ACEScg or linear Rec.709 in the EXR; ARW supports camera RGB from a Bayer mosaic, written here as 8-bit sRGB.
Transparency: the EXR stores it as an A channel stored like any other channel; the DNG has none, so transparent areas are filled with the colour you choose.
Other images: the EXR can hold extra channels (depth, normals, render passes) and multiple parts; only the main image is converted.
Metadata: the EXR can carry named header attributes such as chromaticities, timecode and camera data; ARW can carry EXIF, Sony maker notes, a thumbnail and a full-size JPEG, but nothing is copied across.
About EXR
OpenEXR is the high dynamic range format of film visual effects. It stores half or full floating-point channels in linear light, plus any extra render passes, and is the working format of compositing pipelines.
An EXR starts with the magic number 76 2F 31 01 and a version field, then a header of named, typed attributes (channels, compression, dataWindow, displayWindow) and a table of offsets to scanline or tile blocks.
EXR files usually come from 3D renderers and compositing in Nuke, Blender, Houdini, After Effects and DaVinci Resolve.
About ARW
ARW is the raw format of Sony Alpha, RX and Cyber-shot cameras. It stores the sensor data (compressed, uncompressed or lossless compressed, depending on the model) with a full-size JPEG preview.
ARW is TIFF-based: the first directory carries EXIF and Sony's JPEG preview and the sensor data sits in a sub-directory. In Sony's classic compressed raw each block of 16 same-colour pixels keeps an 11-bit maximum and minimum plus 7-bit steps for the rest, which can leave artefacts beside high-contrast edges.
ARW files come from Sony Alpha mirrorless and SLT cameras, RX compacts and some Cyber-shot models.
When converting EXR to ARW makes sense
Forms and workflows that ask for ARW usually feed a raw editor, and each of those opens DNG as well, so the DNG can take the ARW's place. Keep the EXR if you only need to view or share the picture.
What ARW offers when it comes straight from the camera: A full-size JPEG preview from the camera; Lossless compressed raw on recent bodies; Wide support across Sony's long Alpha line. Its drawbacks: Sony's classic compressed mode is lossy; Uncompressed files of 60 MB and more on high-resolution bodies; Creative Looks are ignored by most third-party raw editors.
Limitations
- EXR values are scene-linear and can exceed 1.0; they are mapped to display values without tone mapping, so highlights clip to white.
- Only the colour channels are converted; depth, normals and other render passes are dropped.
- Single-part scanline files are supported; tiled, deep and multi-part EXRs, and those compressed with B44 or DWA, cannot be read here.
- The DNG holds the decoded 8-bit pixels, so it adds no dynamic range or detail beyond the EXR.
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Frequently asked questions
Why do I get a .dng file instead of a .arw?
A real ARW is written by Sony cameras and holds the sensor's own readings (12 or 14 bits per channel, stored as Sony's lossy compressed raw, uncompressed (since the A7R II) or lossless compressed (since the A1)) along with EXIF, Sony maker notes, a thumbnail and a full-size JPEG. An EXR holds no sensor data, so no software outside the camera can create a genuine ARW. The Linear DNG you get instead is Adobe's open raw format, and every editor that opens ARW files opens it with the same raw controls. It holds decoded pixels, so it adds no quality or dynamic range.
Does converting EXR to ARW lose quality?
DNG is written uncompressed, so the pixels are stored exactly as decoded. Floating-point values are mapped to 8 bits per channel, and anything brighter than white clips. Not carried over: any extra channels.
What happens to transparency when converting EXR to ARW?
EXR stores transparency as an A channel stored like any other channel. DNG has no alpha channel, so transparent pixels are composited onto a solid colour, white unless you pick another. To keep transparency, convert to PNG, WebP or AVIF instead.
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.