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ORF to JXL Converter

Convert ORF to JXL in your browser. The preview inside the maker notes is found by scanning the whole file, and that preview is what gets converted. No raw development happens here. You get a JPEG XL encoded with libjxl compiled to WebAssembly, lossy at the quality you choose or lossless. 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

Files are processed on this device. Nothing is uploaded.0 B uploaded

How to use ORF to JXL

  1. 1

    Add your ORF files: drop them here, choose them, or paste from the clipboard.

  2. 2

    Set the quality.

  3. 3

    Click Convert. Each file is decoded and encoded in a background thread on this device.

  4. 4

    Download the .jxl files one at a time or together as a ZIP.

Why use Aback Images for orf to jxl

Where the JXL goes next

JXL opens in Safari 17+, macOS 14 and iOS 17, GIMP, Krita, ImageMagick and the libjxl tools.

JXL next to ORF

The JXL is made from the camera's 8-bit preview, so it is a small fraction of a 12 to 30 MB raw file.

A second JPEG generation

The pixels come from the JPEG preview the camera embedded in the ORF, so they have been compressed once already; keep the quality at or above the default.

Processed on your device

Your images are decoded, edited and encoded inside this browser tab by Web Workers. Nothing is uploaded to a server.

ORF vs JXL

What changes from ORF to JXL

Encoding: the ORF uses losslessly compressed sensor data, with a preview and thumbnail; JXL uses lossy VarDCT or lossless modular coding; existing JPEGs can be repacked without loss, and the download is a JPEG XL encoded with libjxl compiled to WebAssembly, lossy at the quality you choose or lossless.

Bit depth: 12 bits per channel in the ORF; JXL allows 8 to 16 bits per channel, or floating point, and the JXL written here has 8 bits per channel. The sensor's 12 bits are not used: the 8-bit camera preview is converted.

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

Metadata: the ORF can carry EXIF and Olympus maker notes, which also contain the preview; JXL can carry EXIF and XMP boxes in the container form, often stripped by encoders, but nothing is copied across.

About ORF

ORF is the raw format of Olympus and OM System cameras, built around Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds sensors. It stores 12-bit sensor data with a JPEG preview kept inside Olympus's maker notes.

ORF looks like TIFF but replaces the version number 42 with the letters 'RO', so a little-endian file starts 'IIRO' and generic TIFF readers reject it. Its JPEG preview is not in the main image directory but inside the camera-settings block of Olympus's maker notes.

ORF files usually come from Olympus E-series DSLRs, OM-D and PEN mirrorless cameras and OM System bodies.

About JXL

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.

When converting ORF to JXL makes sense

JXL is the better choice for archiving and future-proof high quality storage, while ORF suits editing Olympus and OM System photos in a raw developer.

JXL strengths: Excellent lossy and lossless compression; Progressive decoding and HDR; Huge image sizes. Drawbacks to weigh: Browser support is limited (Safari only by default); Few apps can open it yet.

Limitations

  • High Res Shot files combine several exposures in camera; the preview shows the combined result at its stored size.
  • Chrome and Firefox do not display JPEG XL by default, so it is not yet a format for websites; it suits archives and apps that support it.
  • Lossless JPEG XL is usually smaller than PNG for the same pixels.

Frequently asked questions

Does converting ORF to JXL lose quality?

JXL is lossy, so detail the eye barely notices is discarded to save space. The ORF's preview is a camera JPEG already, so keep the quality high to avoid stacking artefacts. The sensor's 12 bits are not used: the 8-bit camera preview is converted.

Which apps open JXL files?

Safari 17+, macOS 14 and iOS 17, GIMP, Krita, ImageMagick and the libjxl tools. It opens in Safari 17 and later; Chrome and Firefox do not display it by default.

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.