Camera RAW conversion
Convert ARW to BMP
Updated Jul 2026
ARW is the raw photo format Sony Alpha cameras write, holding unprocessed sensor data you can still adjust. BMP is a plain, uncompressed image format from old Windows software. Converting renders the raw data into fixed pixels, so open the ARW in a converter and export it as BMP, right on your own computer, without uploading the photo anywhere.
- Extension
- .arw
- Type
- Camera RAW
- Typically
- Sony cameras
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .bmp
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Legacy Windows images
- Transparency
- None
Convert ARW to BMP on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert ARW to BMP
- Open Morphjet and drag in the ARW files, or a whole folder of them at once.
- Choose BMP as the output format.
- Convert. Morphjet renders the raw sensor data into a standard BMP and writes it next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
ARW vs BMP: what actually changes
| ARW | BMP | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, roughly 20 to 60 MB per photo | Very large, uncompressed pixel data, often bigger than the ARW |
| Editability | Full, exposure and white balance can still be changed | None, the look is baked in |
| Compression | Lossless, but still just sensor data | None at all, every pixel stored as-is |
| Opens everywhere | No, needs raw-aware software | Yes, readable by nearly any image program, mostly on Windows |
| Keeps camera metadata (EXIF) | Yes, full camera and shot details | No, BMP doesn't carry EXIF |
| Transparency | No | No |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert ARW to BMP when an older program, a legacy tool, or a specific workflow only accepts plain uncompressed bitmaps and you just need the image, not the ability to keep editing it.
Keep the ARW if there's any chance you'll want to reprocess the exposure, white balance, or highlights later, since a BMP is a flattened, final version with none of that raw data left.
Why not just use an online converter?
ARW files carry the camera's full shooting metadata, including lens, exposure settings, and sometimes GPS location if your camera geotags photos. Sending that file to an online converter means a server somewhere gets all of it along with the image. Converting on your own computer means the photo, and everything the camera recorded about it, stays on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting ARW to BMP lose quality?
It changes the image rather than compressing it. The raw sensor data gets rendered into fixed pixels at whatever exposure and color settings were applied, and after that you can't go back and adjust them the way you could with the original ARW.
Will the BMP keep the camera's metadata?
No. BMP doesn't have a place to store EXIF data, so details like camera model, lens, and GPS location are dropped during conversion. If you need that information, keep the ARW alongside it.
Why would I want a BMP instead of a JPG or TIFF?
Almost never for photography. BMP is mainly useful for older Windows programs or specific legacy workflows that expect a plain uncompressed image. For normal photo use, JPG or TIFF is a better fit.
Can I convert ARW to BMP without uploading my photos?
Yes. Morphjet runs the conversion on your own computer, so the raw file never gets sent anywhere. You can turn off wifi and it will still work.
Morphjet converts ARW, BMP, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.