Camera RAW conversion
Convert CR2 to PDF
CR2 is Canon's raw photo format, unreadable by most people you'd share it with. PDF is a universal document format that opens on any device. To convert, open the CR2 in a converter, choose PDF as the output, and export. Doing this on your own computer means the photo, and its embedded camera and location data, never gets uploaded anywhere.
All 2,748 conversions verified on macOS, Windows, and Linux against the shipping release, this one included. Every conversion runs entirely on your own computer.
- Extension
- .cr2
- Type
- Camera RAW
- Typically
- Canon cameras
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- The universal document format
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
Convert CR2 to PDF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.
How to convert CR2 to PDF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the CR2 files you want to convert, either one photo or a whole folder of them.
- Choose PDF as the output format. If you're converting more than one photo, you can combine them into a single multi-page PDF or export one per photo.
- Convert. The PDF is written to your chosen folder, and nothing leaves your machine.
CR2 vs PDF: what actually changes
| CR2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | No, needs Canon's software or a raw-capable app | Yes, opens in any browser or PDF reader |
| Editable like a raw file | Yes, exposure and white balance can be changed non-destructively | No, the image is flattened onto the page |
| File size | Large, often 20 to 30MB per photo | Usually smaller, depending on the resolution you choose |
| Quality | Full, unprocessed sensor data | A rendered version of that data, visually lossless at the size you choose |
| Keeps camera info (EXIF) | Yes | Yes, if the converter keeps it embedded |
| Multiple photos in one file | No, one photo per file | Yes, can combine several photos into one document |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert CR2 to PDF when you need to hand a set of raw photos to someone who can't open Canon's raw format, like a client reviewing proofs, a print shop, or anyone without photo-editing software installed.
Keep the CR2 originals if you still plan to edit exposure, white balance, or color, since a PDF is a flattened, finished image and can't be adjusted the way raw data can.
Why not just use an online converter?
CR2 files carry the same EXIF data as any Canon photo, including camera settings and, if location services were on, the GPS coordinates of where it was shot. An online converter would receive that raw file and its embedded location before handing back a PDF. Converting on your own computer keeps the photo, and everywhere it's been, off other people's servers.
Questions
Does converting CR2 to PDF lose quality?
Visually, no, the PDF holds a full rendering of the photo at whatever resolution you choose. But it does lose the raw sensor data itself, so you can no longer adjust exposure or white balance the way you could with the original CR2.
Can I put several CR2 photos into one PDF?
Yes. Since PDF is a document format, a converter can lay multiple photos out as pages in a single file, which is useful for sending proofs or contact sheets.
Will the PDF keep my camera and location data?
It can, if the converter embeds it. Morphjet keeps the camera info and, if present, GPS data in the file unless you choose to strip it.
Why would I convert a raw photo to PDF instead of JPG?
PDF is useful when you're delivering photos as part of a document, like a printed proof sheet or a report, rather than as standalone image files. For everyday photo sharing, JPG is usually the better choice.
Can I convert CR2 to PDF without uploading my photos?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet does the conversion on your own computer, so the raw files never travel over the internet.
Morphjet runs this conversion and 2,747 others, all on your machine. Available now.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.