Adobe Camera Raw is a Windows utility for importing and handling images in the RAW file format. It is a plugin for Photoshop that provides a comprehensive collection of tools for editing photographs.

Goal

The development of advanced image formats for the digital cameras with their enhanced characteristics, meant that the corresponding requirements for software that was intended for processing such data also had to be improved accordingly. The Adobe Inc. company introduced this program to give users the appropriate instruments for working with RAW files.

Functionality

You can manipulate pictures sequentially, starting from the basic elements like exposure, white balance and contrast, down to more specific adjustments, such as color, aberration and lens corrections. Moreover, this application allows you to choose export settings. You are able to set the desired output file format, resolution, color space and the ratio of compression.

Advanced tools

It is worth noting that the software does not encompass just the basic adjustments that control only tonal aspects of images. You have an option to use histograms and curves to alter photos, as well as utilize more intrusive instruments, such as cloning, healing and cropping.

Features

free to download and use;
can configure import multiple photographs;
compatible with modern Windows versions;
gives you the ability to work with images in the RAW file formats;
it is possible to customize export settings.