Pics.io rolls out an online RAW converter

Ever wanted the ability to convert RAW photos on the run? Thanks to the power of the browser, this is now a possibility.

Pics.io has been talking about its plans for the online photo editing space for some time, first mentioning the ability to edit RAW files in a browser in May this year.

These files offer a lot more latitude for photographers compared to the standard JPEG file format, as they represent data captured straight from the sensor.

However, RAW files are proprietary formats and every camera has a different way of creating them. This makes it much more difficult to edit them straight off the bat, unlike JPEG files. Photographers need to convert RAW to a format that is more easily understood by editing programs such as TIFF or Adobe's DNG format.

As part of live.pics.io, users can upload a number of different file formats (JPG, DNG, CR2, NEF or PNG) for viewing in an online slideshow. The service works through Chrome and Firefox.

For one-click RAW conversion, head to raw.pics.io. Once you have uploaded the image, the service will give you the ability to view EXIF data and save the file as a JPEG. Unlike other desktop-based software suites, there is no ability to edit the files, but more capabilities will be added in the future.