How to convert Nikon RAW (NEF) to PNG
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Upload your file
Drag and drop a file or click to select one. Keep this page open while the file uploads and converts.
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Convert Nikon RAW (NEF) to PNG
NexMedia converts Nikon RAW (NEF) to PNG on its own servers. Processing time depends on the file size and how busy the queue is.
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Download the converted file
When the conversion finishes, the download appears on this page. Your converted file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
About Nikon RAW (NEF)
NEF (Nikon Electronic Format) is the RAW format of Nikon cameras: the sensor data and the camera settings in a TIFF-based file.
Nikon DSLRs and Z-series mirrorless cameras; Nikon NX Studio and most RAW editors open it.
Nikon cameras can save NEF uncompressed, lossless compressed or lossy compressed, so two NEF files can hold different amounts of image data.
Convert NEF to PNG online free, no account required — PNG is a lossless image format with transparency.
Change NEF to PNG without losing quality — convert NEF to PNG free in your browser.
Why do my Nikon NEF photos look flat and dull straight from the camera? RAW files skip the camera’s processing on purpose, so the picture is meant to be developed — converting to JPG applies the contrast and colour the RAW holds back.
About PNG
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is a lossless image format created in 1996 as a free replacement for GIF. It supports full colour and an alpha channel for transparency.
Screenshots, logos, icons, diagrams and any image with text or sharp edges.
For photos a PNG is several times larger than a JPEG, and plain PNG has no animation (that is APNG).
Why convert an image to PNG? When sharp lines, text and transparency matter more than file size: screenshots and logos stay pixel-perfect.
What changes when you convert NEF to PNG
- The NEF is turned into a single finished PNG picture; extra data a NEF file can hold, such as RAW sensor data, layers or additional images, does not carry over.
- The NEF sensor data is developed into a finished PNG picture with default settings; the extra room a RAW file gives for later exposure and white-balance edits does not carry over.
- RAW demosaicing is best-effort; results vary by camera.
Settings you can change
Before you convert NEF to PNG, you can adjust: Width, Height, Scale fit, Crop position, Never enlarge, Quality, Lossless, Progressive, Remove metadata, Auto-orient from EXIF, Rotate, and Background.
Limits
Each plan sets a maximum file size and a number of conversions per day, and video and audio files also have a maximum length. Guests can convert files up to 100 megabytes and 5 per day; a free account raises this to 500 megabytes and 25 per day; paid plans go up to 100 gigabytes.
Your converted PNG file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
NEF to PNG: questions and answers
Does converting NEF to PNG reduce quality?
The NEF is turned into a single finished PNG picture; extra data a NEF file can hold, such as RAW sensor data, layers or additional images, does not carry over. The NEF sensor data is developed into a finished PNG picture with default settings; the extra room a RAW file gives for later exposure and white-balance edits does not carry over.
What is the difference between NEF and PNG?
NEF is Nikon's camera RAW format. PNG is a lossless image format with transparency.
Can I change the settings when converting NEF to PNG?
Before you convert NEF to PNG, you can adjust: Width, Height, Scale fit, Crop position, Never enlarge, Quality, Lossless, Progressive, Remove metadata, Auto-orient from EXIF, Rotate, and Background.
Do I need an account to convert NEF to PNG?
No. You can convert NEF to PNG without an account; signing in raises the file-size and daily limits.
How long is my converted PNG file kept?
The PNG file you convert from NEF is kept for 2 hours, then deleted automatically.
Can I re-edit exposure after converting NEF to PNG?
The NEF sensor data is developed into a finished PNG picture with default settings; the extra room a RAW file gives for later exposure and white-balance edits does not carry over.
Does the PNG keep the extra data my NEF holds?
The NEF is turned into a single finished PNG picture; extra data a NEF file can hold, such as RAW sensor data, layers or additional images, does not carry over.