LuttieHow to Edit Canon CR2 and CR3 RAW Files Online
Open and grade Canon RAW files from EOS R, EOS 5D, 6D, and Rebel series cameras directly in your browser. No software install needed.
Canon RAW files come in two formats: the older CR2 used by DSLR bodies like the 5D, 6D, 7D, and Rebel series, and the newer CR3 format from EOS R mirrorless cameras. Luttie opens both directly in your browser — no Lightroom subscription, no Digital Photo Professional, no downloads.
CR2 vs CR3 — What's the Difference?
CR2 is Canon's legacy RAW format, used from the early 2000s through the EOS 90D and 6D Mark II. It uses lossless compression and stores full sensor data.
CR3 is the format introduced with the EOS R system. It uses a more efficient compression algorithm and can optionally embed a smaller JPEG preview. CR3 files are typically smaller than equivalent CR2 files with no meaningful quality difference.
Luttie handles both transparently — just drop the file and it decodes.
Supported Canon Cameras
CR3 (EOS R series):
- EOS R, R3, R5, R5 C, R6, R6 Mark II, R7, R8, R10, R50, R100
CR2 (DSLR era):
- EOS 5D series (III, IV), 6D series (I, II), 7D series (I, II)
- EOS 90D, 80D, 77D, 70D
- EOS Rebel series (T8i, T7i, T7, SL3, and most previous Rebels)
- EOS 1D series
Step 1 — Upload Your CR2 or CR3 File
Go to luttie.app/editor with a Pro account. Drag your Canon RAW file onto the upload zone.
The decoder reads the full sensor data — you'll see the camera model, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, and focal length appear in the metadata strip below the canvas once the file loads. This confirms the decode was successful and the EXIF data is intact.
Step 2 — Choose Your White Balance
Canon cameras are known for their generally reliable in-camera white balance — especially in daylight and controlled lighting. By default, Luttie uses Camera WB, which applies the white balance Canon's metering system chose at capture time.
If the camera WB looks too warm or too cool — common with mixed artificial and natural light, or when shooting in AWB in challenging conditions — switch to Auto WB in the metadata strip. Luttie re-decodes the file using an algorithmically neutral white balance.
This is especially useful for EOS R files where in-camera AWB can run warm indoors.
Step 3 — Grade in the Editor
Canon RAW files are well-regarded for their natural color rendering and clean highlight roll-off. The grading panel gives you full control:
Basic Correction
Canon's highlight handling in CR2/CR3 is forgiving — you can recover a stop or more of blown-out sky before the data runs out. Use Whites to pull back bright areas, and Blacks to set the shadow floor.
The Temperature slider works in both directions from the camera WB. EOS R bodies running Auto WB indoors often benefit from a few hundred Kelvin of cooling.
Curves
Canon sensors have a characteristic rendering that's clean and neutral in the midtones. A standard S-curve adds contrast without fighting the sensor's native look. The per-channel curves (R, G, B) let you target specific tonal shifts — pulling blue in the shadows or warming the highlights independently.
Color Wheels
The three-way color wheel (shadows, midtones, highlights) is where most creative looks are built. Canon's native color science sits fairly warm — if you want a cooler, more neutral result, a slight teal push in the shadows counters this without killing the overall warmth.
HSL Secondary
If you shot subjects in a specific color environment — green foliage, artificial lighting, colored gels — HSL secondary lets you shift or desaturate specific hue ranges without affecting the rest of the image. The eyedropper samples directly from the canvas.
Step 4 — Apply a LUT
Drop any .cube file into the Custom LUT zone in the Creative section to apply an existing grade. Canon RAW with a technical correction (basic exposure, WB) as a base takes LUTs particularly well because the color science is clean and predictable.
Step 5 — Export
Export as PNG or JPEG from the panel. On Pro, export a .cube LUT file to take your grade to Premiere, Resolve, or Final Cut. This is especially useful if you're grading a batch of shots from a shoot — grade one representative image, export the LUT, apply it across the rest in your NLE.
Batch Grading Workflow
For a consistent look across a shoot:
- Pick your most representative shot — mid-day exposure, controlled light, neutral subject
- Grade it in Luttie, save as a user preset
- Export as
.cube - Apply the LUT to the full shoot in your NLE as a starting point
- Use per-clip trims for exposure variations
This is how professional colorists work at scale — one well-made LUT does most of the heavy lifting, individual clips just need minor adjustments.
Open a Canon RAW file in the editor →
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