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Feature · RAW support

Search your RAW photo archive on your Mac

Years of CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF and DNG shots, spread across drives and folders, and no way to find them without opening an editor. Since version 1.7 PhotoCore indexes them by reading the embedded JPEG preview: describe them and find them, like any other photo.

Last updated: August 14, 2026 · PhotoCore 1.7

CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF and DNGOriginal never developedFast even with thousands of shotsEven with the drive unplugged

PhotoCore indexes the embedded JPEG preview inside supported RAW files. It uses that preview for search, Best Shot, Stories, Constellation and Semantic Bridge. The original RAW file is never developed or changed.

How it works

Preview-first: fast and respectful

The embedded preview, not a develop pass

Every RAW already contains a JPEG generated by the camera. PhotoCore reads that, never a full decode of the negative, which is why it stays fast even on archives with thousands of 45-megapixel shots.

  • Reads the embedded preview, never develops the file
  • Thumbnails and semantic search like any other photo
  • Works in the grid, in Stories and in filters

What it does and what it does not

PhotoCore is the search and organization layer: it finds the right shot in seconds. It is not a RAW editor: no develop sliders, no exports. Your editor stays where it is, on the same folders.

  • No modification, ever: the original stays untouched
  • Lives happily next to Lightroom and other editors
  • RAW files in your Apple Photos archive are included
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which RAW formats are supported?
CR2 and CR3 (Canon), NEF (Nikon), ARW (Sony), RAF (Fujifilm) and DNG (Adobe and compatible cameras). They appear in the grid, in semantic search and in Stories, across every indexed folder.
Does PhotoCore develop or modify my RAW files?
No, never. PhotoCore only reads the JPEG preview embedded in the file. The original is not opened for developing, not rewritten and not touched.
Does it work with the drive unplugged?
Yes. Once the archive is indexed, search with thumbnails works even while the drive sits in a drawer. Reconnect only for the full-resolution original.
Do I still need Lightroom or another editor?
Not for searching and organizing; yes for developing. PhotoCore works on the same folders as your editor without interfering: find the file, then open it wherever you like.
Start free

Your RAW archive, finally searchable

Download PhotoCore for free and index your first 200 photos, RAW included. The complete archive is a one-time purchase, no subscription.

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