What is the DCR file format?
Files with the .dcr extension store raw images captured by the sensor of a Kodak professional camera, typically a DCS Pro series DSLR such as the DCS Pro 14n, SLR/n or SLR/c. The .dcr format was developed by Kodak based on the TIFF standard; internally each file carries 12-bit-per-channel Bayer mosaic sensor data, an embedded JPEG preview and full EXIF/MakerNote metadata. Many applications are capable of opening .dcr files, yet some may not support files generated by all Kodak camera models.
Before printing, .dcr files must be edited and converted to a more widely supported image format through a process often called digital negative conversion, and .dcr files are sometimes described as a form of a negative image. Most raw image editors let the user adjust parameters such as saturation or white balance during this step. For long-term preservation, converting to Adobe DNG is widely recommended.
Kodak no longer manufactures the cameras that produce .dcr files - the company exited the professional DSLR market in 2005. Kodak also used other RAW formats including .dcs, .drf, .k25 and .kdc.
Note: the .dcr extension is also claimed by unrelated formats such as Macromedia/Adobe Shockwave protected Director movies and ArcGIS files - those share the extension but have no connection to this Kodak camera raw image format.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA Kodak DCR raw is passive image data - sensor data and metadata, not executable code - so opening one is safe. Practical (non-malware) cautions: DCR is large, proprietary and frozen, so back up originals and consider archiving to open DNG for longevity; and EXIF/MakerNote metadata (camera, timestamps, sometimes location) travels with the file - strip it before publishing if privacy matters. Note: if a ".dcr" actually came from a website or an old CD game, it is a Shockwave Director movie, not a photo - Shockwave Player reached end-of-life in April 2019 and should not be installed.
Format details
in a nutshell- Shockwave Director (protected) - Adobe/Macromedia Shockwave used .dcr for protected/compressed Director movies played by the now-dead Shockwave Player (EOL April 2019).
- ArcGIS / map cache - Esri tooling has used .dcr for raster/cache data in some GIS workflows.
Programs that open DCR files
Windows5 apps
darktable
Open-source Import the DCR to develop it non-destructively (exposure, white balance) and export JPG/TIFF. 
Adobe Photoshop (Camera Raw) / Lightroom
Paid Open the DCR via Camera Raw to develop and export; industry standard but subscription-based. 
macOS3 apps
Adobe Photoshop (Camera Raw) / Lightroom
Paid Camera Raw develops the Kodak DCR; export to JPEG/TIFF. 
Linux3 apps
GIMP (+ darktable/RawTherapee loader)
Open-source GIMP opens DCR via its raw loader, then edits as a normal image. Technical details
deep spec| Container format | TIFF derivative (TIFF/EP-derived IFD structure) |
| Byte order | Little-endian (II*\0 header at offset 0); rare early variants use big-endian |
| Magic bytes | 49 49 2A 00 at offset 0; followed by KODAK/DCS/EOSDCS identifier strings in the IFD |
| Compression | Lossless JPEG-style raw compression (Kodak internal code 65000); some camera variants store uncompressed sensor data |
| Color depth | 12 bits per channel single-channel Bayer mosaic; ~36-bit equivalent after demosaicing |
| MIME type | image/x-kodak-dcr |
| Encoding | Binary |
| Typical file size | 6-30 MB depending on sensor resolution (6-14 MP Kodak DCS bodies) |
| Embedded preview | Yes - full JPEG preview thumbnail embedded in TIFF IFD |
| Metadata | Full EXIF plus Kodak proprietary MakerNote stored in TIFF IFD chain |
| Supported cameras | Kodak DCS Pro 14n, DCS Pro SLR/n, DCS Pro SLR/c, DCS 760, DCS 720x |
| Maximum sensor resolution | Up to ~4500×3000 px (13.5 MP on DCS Pro 14n); varies by camera model |
| Format status | Frozen - Kodak exited the professional DSLR market in 2005; no further development |
| Recommended archival target | Adobe DNG - widely supported open raw format for long-term preservation |
| Released | Early 2000s (Kodak DCS Pro DSLRs / digital backs, e.g. DCS Pro 14n 2003, DCS Pro SLR/n 2004) |
| Latest version | N/A (format frozen when Kodak left the pro DSLR market in 2005) |
| Specification | libopenraw.freedesktop.org |
DCR conversions
Community Q&A
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