ARW to BMP Converter

When to convert ARW to BMP

ARW is the RAW format used by Sony cameras. Most everyday programs cannot open it: you need a RAW converter or specialized software. BMP is one of the oldest raster formats and works in virtually any Windows environment without additional codecs. Converting ARW to BMP is relevant in specific scenarios: when a program only accepts BMP, when you need pixel-exact accuracy without any compression algorithm interference, or when the file needs to go into a legacy corporate system with a limited set of supported formats.

For everyday tasks - viewing, sharing, or uploading to a website - BMP is not the right choice. The files are very large and most platforms do not accept them.

What changes after conversion

BMP stores each pixel without compression. Brightness and color are locked into the finished image - the RAW headroom for further correction is gone. Because no compression algorithm is applied, pixel values do not change during writing and reading - this is exactly what makes BMP valuable for scientific and technical tasks where data reproducibility matters.

BMP does not store EXIF metadata: information about the camera, date, shutter speed, and aperture is not carried into the file.

A BMP file produced from an ARW photo will be significantly larger than the original ARW and much larger than a JPG from the same shot - uncompressed data takes a lot of space.

When this is especially useful

• Loading a photo into a program that only accepts BMP and does not support other formats.
• Preparing an image for analysis in a script or application that works with uncompressed pixel data.
• Integrating Sony photos into a legacy corporate system with limited format support.
• Creating a test image set for developing and debugging processing algorithms.
• Preparing a texture for a game tool or engine that requires BMP.

Common tasks and search situations

• Open an ARW in a program that only supports BMP.
• Convert Sony RAW to BMP for scientific image analysis.
• Prepare photos for upload to a corporate system with BMP support.
• Get an uncompressed BMP for development and algorithm testing.
• Convert ARW to BMP for compatibility with legacy software.
• Create textures from Sony photos in BMP format.

What to check before converting

1. Confirm that the target program or system actually requires BMP - for most tasks JPG or PNG work better.
2. Check available storage: BMP files from high-resolution Sony shots take up a lot of space.
3. Keep the original ARW files - you cannot recover RAW headroom or EXIF metadata from BMP.
4. If you need metadata (shoot date, camera, GPS), export it separately before converting, because BMP does not store it.

Format and conversion limits

BMP is not supported by social networks, messaging apps, or most online platforms. For sharing and publishing, use JPG or PNG.

BMP does not store EXIF metadata. After conversion, information about the camera, shoot settings, date, and GPS is lost. If metadata matters, keep the original ARW files.

Conversion does not improve the shot. The result depends on the source file quality. If the file is damaged or protected, conversion may not complete.

Related tasks

For most tasks where you need to open an ARW on a regular computer or share a photo, ARW to JPG is the universal compact choice. For a precise lossless image, ARW to PNG. For printing and professional archiving, ARW to TIFF is the better option.