JXL to ARW Converter

Encoding: the JXL uses lossy VarDCT or lossless modular coding; existing JPEGs can be repacked without loss; 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: 8 to 16 bits per channel, or floating point in the JXL; ARW allows 12 or 14 bits per channel, and the DNG written here has 8 bits per channel, linearised. High-bit-depth JPEG XL files are reduced to 8 bits per channel.

Colour: sRGB, Display P3, linear and other spaces described in the codestream in the JXL; ARW supports camera RGB from a Bayer mosaic, written here as 8-bit sRGB.

Transparency: the JXL stores it as an extra channel in the codestream; the DNG has none, so transparent areas are filled with the colour you choose.

Animation: frames inside a single codestream; the DNG holds one image, so only the first frame is converted.

Metadata: the JXL can carry EXIF and XMP boxes in the container form, often stripped by encoders; ARW can carry EXIF, Sony maker notes, a thumbnail and a full-size JPEG, but nothing is copied across.

JPEG XL is a next-generation format designed to replace JPEG. It compresses better than JPEG and WebP, supports lossless, HDR and progressive decoding, and can losslessly repack existing JPEGs.

A JPEG XL file is either a bare codestream starting with FF 0A or an ISO base media container whose 'jxlc' box holds the codestream. A recompressed JPEG keeps a 'jbrd' box that lets the original JPEG bytes be rebuilt exactly.

JXL files usually come from image editors, archival pipelines and lossless JPEG recompression.

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.

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 JXL 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.