What is a RAF file?
RAF is Fujifilm's RAW format, shot by the X-series (X-T, X-Pro, X-H, X100) and the medium-format GFX line. What makes RAF technically distinctive is the sensor behind most of it: X-Trans uses a non-Bayer 6x6 colour filter layout, and software with a weak X-Trans demosaicer renders Fuji files with smeared foliage and worm-like artefacts.
That makes processor choice unusually important for Fuji shooters. RawTherapee's X-Trans handling is widely regarded as one of the best available — and that is the engine imagic bundles.
RAF at a glance
| Extension | .RAF |
|---|---|
| Maker | Fujifilm |
| Introduced | 2000 (FinePix era); X-Trans from 2012 (X-Pro1) |
| Container | Proprietary, TIFF-like preview + RAW payload |
| Bit depth | 14-bit (16-bit on GFX bodies) |
| Compression | Uncompressed or lossless compressed |
| Shot by | X-T/X-Pro/X-H/X100/X-S series, GFX 50/100 medium format |
How to open RAF files free
imagic opens RAF natively and processes it through RawTherapee's well-regarded X-Trans demosaic path, locally. The culling layer is genre-agnostic: sharpness and closed-eye scoring work the same whether the file came from an X100VI or a GFX100 II.
darktable and RawTherapee handle X-Trans well among free tools. Fujifilm's own X RAW Studio is free and uses the camera's processor over USB — clever, but not a volume workflow.
Converting RAF files
DNG conversion of X-Trans files can constrain which demosaic your later software applies; most Fuji shooters archive native RAF. In-camera film simulations only exist in the RAF's embedded JPEG — RAW processors approximate them with profiles.
Cameras that shoot RAF
26 popular bodies in our camera guide write .RAF files, including:
Frequently asked questions
Why do my Fuji RAW files look bad in some software?
X-Trans sensors need a demosaicer built for their 6x6 pattern. Software tuned only for Bayer sensors renders RAF with smeared detail. Use a processor with proven X-Trans support — RawTherapee's implementation, which imagic bundles, is a common recommendation.
Can I keep Fujifilm film simulations when editing RAF?
The simulation is baked only into the embedded JPEG; the RAW data is neutral. Processors offer camera-matching profiles that get close, or you can batch-apply a consistent style to the whole shoot in one pass.
Do GFX medium-format files work like X-series files?
Same .RAF extension, but GFX sensors are conventional Bayer at 50-102 MP, so files are much larger — often 100 MB+ at 16-bit. Culling before processing is not optional at that size.
Other RAW formats
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