RAW Matcher
Find the RAW originals behind a folder of selected JPEGs
RAW Matcher handles the step between culling and editing. Choose the folder with your original RAW files, load the folder of JPEGs your client picked, hit Match Files, and you get the frames you actually need to retouch — no hunting through thousands of files.
US$2.99 (USD) · macOS 14.6+
Supports CR2 / CR3 / NEF / ARW / RAF / ORF / PEF / RW2 / DNG
Culling happens on JPEGs. Delivery happens on RAW.
The step in between is where the hours go — and it is pure bookkeeping.
The selection arrives as JPEGs
Clients review exported previews or proxies, and most photographers cull with stars on JPEGs too. What reaches you is usually a folder — or a list of names like IMG_9427.jpg.
The edit needs the RAW
RAW files retain more editing latitude for demanding adjustments. When your workflow needs the originals, trace the selected frames back to the RAW files in your backups.
The mapping is mechanical
When the JPEG and RAW filename stems remain identical, the app can pair them in bulk. Check the selection count and matching results afterward.
Three steps, one window
No import, no catalog, no settings wizard.
Select the original RAW folder
Point it at wherever the originals live: the card, an external drive, or a project folder you already organised.
Load the shortlisted JPEG folder
Point it at the JPEGs your client picked. The number in each filename is what gets matched, and the app shows how many files were loaded.
Pick the format, hit Match Files
Set the RAW extension (for example .ARW), switch on Custom Output Folder if you want the results written somewhere specific, then match.
Batch matching and manual confirmation
Batch match from the JPEG folder
The common case: load the whole selection folder and pair it with the RAW originals by filename stem.
IMG_9427.JPG → IMG_9427.CR2
- Matching uses filenames, not image content
- Custom Output Folder writes results straight where you need them
- You choose the RAW extension first, so mixed-format folders stay clean
Confirm when a number repeats
When a number repeats, verify the folder source and capture time before accepting a match. The example screenshot shows candidate selection with Confirm and Skip controls; check the app’s actual results.
Supported RAW formats
Covering the common Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Olympus, Pentax and Panasonic originals, plus universal DNG.
| Brand | Extensions |
|---|---|
| Canon | .CRW / .CR2 / .CR3 |
| Nikon | .NEF / .NRW |
| Sony | .ARW / .SRF / .SR2 |
| Fujifilm | .RAF |
| Olympus | .ORF |
| Pentax | .PEF |
| Panasonic | .RW2 |
| Adobe (universal) | .DNG |
Your photos never leave your Mac
RAW Matcher runs entirely offline. It does not connect to a server, collect personal information or require an account, and it only touches folders you pick. Client work stays on your machine.
FAQ
What does RAW Matcher do?
A Mac app that pairs a folder of shortlisted JPEGs with their original RAW files. Select the RAW folder, load the JPEG folder, and it matches by filename.
Can it convert JPEG to RAW?
An exported JPEG cannot restore the original sensor data discarded during processing. RAW Matcher finds an existing RAW file by filename; it does not reconstruct RAW data from a JPEG.
My client only sent filenames. Can I still use it?
The workflow shown here does not support pasting a filename list directly. First manually select the corresponding files from your existing JPEG collection using the list, copy them into a folder, then load that folder. Matching uses the filename stem, such as IMG_9427.
What if one number matches several RAW files?
When a number repeats, verify the folder source and capture time before accepting a match. The example screenshot shows candidate selection with Confirm and Skip controls; check the app’s actual results.
Are photos uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything runs locally, with no server connection, no personal data collection and no account.
What if a match fails?
Check whether exporting or transferring renamed the files, whether the RAW files are in the selected folder, and whether the RAW extension is correct. Reducing image dimensions alone does not affect filename matching when the filename stem is preserved.
Keep reading
Guide: finding RAW originals from a client's selection
The full path from receiving a selection to having the RAW files ready, including organising the JPEG folder, handling duplicate numbers, and an ordered troubleshooting list.
Privacy policy
Which files the app touches, what it does not collect, and why all processing stays on your machine.