What Is an ORF File?

This article explains what an ORF file is and how to open or convert one.

What Is an ORF File?

A file with the ORF file extension stores unprocessed image data from Olympus digital cameras. They aren't intended to be viewed in this raw form, but instead edited and processed into a more common format like TIFF or JPEG.

Photographers use the ORF file to develop an image through processing software, adjusting things like the exposure, contrast, and white balance. However, if the camera shoots in the "RAW+JPEG" mode, it will make both an ORF file and JPEG version so that it can be easily viewed, printed, etc.

For comparison, an ORF file contains 12, 14, or more bits per pixel per channel of the image, whereas JPEG only has 8.

How to Open an ORF File

Your best bet for opening ORF files is to use OM Workspace, a free program from Olympus that's available to owners of their cameras. It works on both Windows and Mac.

Olympus Master works, too, but it was shipped with cameras up until 2009, so it only works with ORF files that were made with those specific cameras (and it's no longer offered on their website). Olympus ib is a similar program that replaced Olympus Master; it works with not only older, but also newer Olympus digital cameras.

Another Olympus software that opens ORF pictures is Olympus Studio, but only for E-1 to E-5 cameras. You can request a copy by emailing Olympus.

ORF files can also be opened without Olympus software, like with Able RAWer, Photoshop, Corel AfterShot, and probably other popular photo and graphics tools. The default photo viewer in Windows should be able to open ORF files too, but it might require the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack.

How to Convert an ORF File

Use the website Zamzar to save the photo to JPG, PNG, TGA, TIFF, BMP, Adobe Illustrator file (AI), and other formats.

Adobe DNG Converter can be used on Windows or macOS to convert ORF to DNG.

Still Can't Open the File?

The first thing you should do if your file isn't opening with the programs mentioned above is to double-check the file extension. Some file formats use a file extension that's very similar to "ORF" but that doesn't mean that they have anything in common or that they can work with the same software programs.

For example, OFR files could easily be confused with ORF pictures, but they're actually audio files that only work with a few audio-related programs like Winamp (with the OptimFROG plugin).

Your file might instead be an ORA file, a WRF file, or even a RadiantOne VDS database schema file with the ORX file extension that opens with software from Radiant Logic.

An ORF report file might sound like it has something to do with the ORF image format, but it doesn't. ORF reports end in the PPR file extension and are created by the Vamsoft ORF spam filter.

In all of these cases and likely many others, the file has nothing to do with images used by Olympus cameras. Check that the file extension truly reads "ORF." Chances are that if you can't open it with one of the image viewers or converters mentioned above, you're not actually dealing with an Olympus raw photo.