Dcraw
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| Original author(s) | Dave Coffin |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 23 February 1997 |
| Stable release | 9.27 (10 May 2016) |
| Written in | ANSI C |
| Operating system | Cross-platform |
| Platform | Platform independent |
| Available in | English and 11 others |
| Type | raw decoding software |
| License | GPLv2+ |
| Website | www |
dcraw is an open-source computer program which is able to read numerous raw image formats, typically produced by high-end digital cameras. dcraw converts these images into the standard PPM and TIFF image formats. This conversion is sometimes referred to as developing a raw image (by analogy with the process of film development) since it renders raw image sensor data (a "digital negative") into a viewable form.
Development began on February 23, 1997. According to the RCS log version 1.0 was released in revision 1.18, on May 5, 2000. Versions up to 3.15 used the name Canon PowerShot Converter, starting with v3.40 the name was Raw Photo Decoder, switching to Raw Photo Decoder "dcraw" in v5.70. Version 8.86 supported 300 cameras.
While most camera manufacturers supply raw image decoding software for their cameras, this software is almost always proprietary, and often becomes unsupported when a camera model is discontinued. The file formats themselves are often undocumented, and several manufacturers have gone so far as to encrypt all or part of the data in their raw image format, in an attempt to prevent third-party software from accessing it.
Given this ever-expanding plethora of raw image formats, and uncertain and inconsistent support for them by the manufacturers, many photographers worry that their valuable raw images may become unreadable as the applications and operating systems required become obsolete.
In contrast to proprietary decoding software, dcraw strives for simplicity, portability, and consistency, as expressed by its author:
So here is my mission: Write and maintain an ANSI C program that decodes any raw image from any digital camera on any computer running any operating system.
Because many raw image formats are specific to one make or model of camera, dcraw is frequently updated to support new models. For many proprietary raw image formats, dcraw's source code (based largely on reverse-engineering) is the best—or only—publicly available documentation. dcraw currently supports the raw formats of several hundred cameras (including intentionally obfuscated formats).
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