Are my images stored on the server?

Converted files are held temporarily on the server for download, then automatically deleted. No images are retained beyond your session.

Home › Tools › Image Converters › CR2 to ICO Converter

CR2 to ICO Converter

Q: How do I convert CR2 to ICO?

Upload your CR2 images into the drop zone, adjust the quality slider if needed, then click "Convert all to ICO". Download results individually or as a ZIP.

CR2 ICO

Convert Canon RAW files to JPG, PNG, or WebP — free, no account needed, no file-count limit.

Last updated June 1, 2026

Drag & drop your .cr2 file here

or click to browse · max 20 MB

About CR2 → ICO conversion

What is CR2?

CR2 (Canon Raw version 2) is Canon's proprietary RAW format used by EOS DSLR cameras from 2004–2018. It stores the full unprocessed sensor data at 14-bit color depth, giving photographers maximum latitude to correct exposure, white balance, and color in post-production before exporting to a shareable format.

What is ICO?

ICO is the image format used for website favicons and Windows application icons. A single ICO file can contain multiple image sizes so the OS or browser picks the best fit automatically.

About CR2

CR2 (Canon Raw version 2) is the proprietary RAW file format used by Canon EOS DSLR cameras from approximately 2004 through 2018 — models including the 5D, 5D Mark II, 5D Mark III, 7D, 7D Mark II, 70D, 80D, and the Rebel series (1100D through 800D). Like all RAW formats, CR2 stores the unprocessed sensor data captured at the moment of shooting: 14-bit color depth per channel, full dynamic range before any white balance or tone curve is applied. Photographers shoot in CR2 precisely for this latitude — a file that appears underexposed or color-shifted can be recovered in post-processing without visible quality loss that would occur if the correction were applied to an in-camera JPG.

The tradeoff is compatibility. CR2 files require Canon's Digital Photo Professional, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Camera Raw, or another RAW-capable editor to open. They are not displayable in browsers, email clients, social platforms, or most general-purpose applications. Converting to JPG produces a universally compatible file that opens in every application without additional software or codec downloads.

When CR2 to JPG makes sense

Any delivery or sharing scenario that prioritises compatibility over editability calls for JPG. Sending shots to a client by email, uploading to a social platform, publishing to a photography blog, or submitting to a print lab that accepts JPEG — all require a processed output. This converter provides a direct path from CR2 sensor data to a ready-to-share JPG or PNG without opening a desktop application.

About this conversion

Conversion uses ufraw-batch to decode the CR2 sensor data, then Imagick to produce the output JPG, PNG, or WebP. The decode applies default auto white balance and a linear tone curve — a neutral, flat render without Canon's Picture Style profiles (Standard, Portrait, Landscape, etc.) or in-camera sharpening. The output is technically correct but intentionally neutral. It is a starting point, not a finished edit. For output that replicates the camera's own JPEG output style exactly, export from Canon Digital Photo Professional or Adobe Lightroom with your chosen Picture Style applied.

File size note

CR2 files from Canon DSLRs range from 10–30 MB depending on camera model and megapixel count. This converter has a 20 MB upload limit. Files from high-resolution bodies — particularly the 5DS (50 MP) and 5DS R (50 MP) — frequently exceed 30 MB uncompressed. In that case, reduce resolution in-camera, enable in-camera RAW compression if available, or export a high-quality JPEG from your RAW editor and use this converter for format-only conversion.

Frequently asked questions

Is this converter free?

Yes — completely free with no account required. No watermarks are added to your converted files, and no subscription is needed.

How do I convert CR2 to ICO?

Drop your CR2 images into the upload zone (or click Choose files). Adjust the quality slider if needed, then click Convert all to ICO. Once done, download each file individually or click Download all (ZIP) for the full batch.

Are my images stored after conversion?

Converted files are held on the server only long enough for download, then automatically deleted. No images are retained beyond your session.

Canon CR2 files store the raw sensor data captured by Canon DSLR cameras — uncompressed, unprocessed, and holding far more color and detail than any JPEG shot in the same conditions. ICO is the container format Windows uses for application icons, taskbar entries, and shortcut overlays. Converting a CR2 file to ICO lets you take a high-quality photograph as the source for an icon rather than starting from a vector drawing or compressed JPEG. The AT USE CR2 to ICO converter processes your Canon RAW file server-side via ImageMagick and outputs a multi-resolution ICO file containing the standard Windows icon sizes — so the result works correctly across the full range of Windows display contexts, from a 16×16 taskbar thumbnail to a 256×256 large icon view.

How to convert CR2 to ICO

Click Upload CR2 and select your Canon RAW file from disk. The upload limit is 20 MB. Most CR2 files from Canon DSLRs fall well under this limit.
Once uploaded, the file name and a loading indicator appear. The server reads the RAW data using ImageMagick's dcraw-compatible decoder, which handles all CR2 variants produced by Canon cameras from the 350D through the latest EOS models.
Choose your output size preference if the tool offers an option, or leave the default to generate a standard multi-resolution ICO. The default output embeds 16×16, 32×32, 48×48, and 256×256 pixel layers inside a single ICO container.
Click Convert. Processing takes one to five seconds depending on the source file size. The server decodes the RAW, demosaics the sensor data, applies a neutral tone curve, and resamples to each target icon size using Lanczos downsampling to retain edge sharpness.
Click Download ICO when the result appears. The output file is ready to use as a Windows application icon, a folder icon, or any other context that accepts ICO format.

The conversion runs entirely on the server — no browser plugins, no software installation. Your CR2 file is automatically deleted from the server after processing.

Technical details

CR2 (Canon RAW version 2) is a TIFF-based container with a proprietary raw image stream. Canon cameras write the full sensor readout — typically 18 to 30 megapixels on current EOS bodies — into the CR2 with lossless compression. The file also contains an embedded JPEG preview, metadata in Exif format, and maker notes specific to Canon. When decoding for conversion, ImageMagick reads the raw pixel data (not the embedded JPEG preview), demosaics the Bayer pattern, and produces a full-resolution intermediate image before downsampling to icon sizes.

ICO files are multi-image containers. A single ICO file can hold multiple images at different resolutions and color depths. Windows Explorer, the taskbar, and application shortcut rendering each pick the most appropriate embedded size rather than scaling a single image — which is why a well-formed ICO looks sharp at every display size. The converter outputs ICO with four standard layers: 16×16 (small icon), 32×32 (standard icon), 48×48 (large icon), and 256×256 (extra-large icon, stored as a compressed PNG inside the ICO container per the Windows Vista and later standard).

Downsampling from a 20+ megapixel CR2 to a 16×16 icon uses Lanczos resampling, which preserves edge contrast better than bilinear or bicubic methods. At icon sizes, the most important factor is silhouette clarity — so the converter applies moderate unsharp masking after downsampling to keep the subject recognizable against varied desktop backgrounds.

When to convert CR2 to ICO

Application icon from product photography: Use a Canon DSLR product photo as the source for a Windows application icon. Converting the CR2 directly avoids a lossy JPEG intermediate and preserves subject detail at all icon sizes.
Custom folder icon for photo archive projects: Set a project's best Canon RAW frame as the folder icon for a photo archive. ICO format accepts the full-resolution source, then downsamples cleanly to the sizes Windows needs.
Brand icon from studio logo photography: Convert a studio-shot Canon RAW photograph of a brand's physical logo to ICO format for use as a Windows application or shortcut icon, maintaining accurate color and edge detail through downsampling.

CR2 to ICO — frequently asked questions

Why convert from CR2 rather than exporting to JPEG first?

JPEG export compresses the image before the downsampling step. Compression artifacts — especially ringing around high-contrast edges — get amplified when the image is then resized to 16×16 or 32×32 pixels. Starting from the CR2 raw data lets the converter resample from the full sensor resolution directly, which produces cleaner icon edges.

Does the ICO file work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11?

Yes. The output ICO contains a 256×256 layer stored as a compressed PNG (the format Windows Vista and later use for large icon storage), plus 48×48, 32×32, and 16×16 layers as uncompressed bitmaps. This combination covers every Windows icon display context from Windows Vista through Windows 11.

What Canon camera models does the CR2 decoder support?

ImageMagick's RAW decoder handles CR2 files from Canon EOS DSLRs across all generations that used the CR2 format — from the original 300D through the 5D Mark IV and later bodies. Canon switched newer models to the CR3 format; CR3 files are not CR2 and would need a separate converter.

Can I use a portrait photo with a person's face as an icon?

Technically yes — the conversion will produce a valid ICO from any CR2 content. In practice, faces reduce to unrecognizable shapes at 16×16 or 32×32 pixels. Icons work best with high-contrast subjects with a clear silhouette: a product, a logo, a symbol, or a graphic with strong shape definition.

Will the server store my CR2 file?

No. The CR2 is processed in a temporary directory and deleted immediately after the ICO file is sent to your browser. The server does not retain uploads or conversion results.

Keep going

Convert CR2 images to SVG with quick export settings.

Open converter