Hither's how to open NEF files in Windows 10

Milan has been enthusiastic about PCs ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take involvement in all PC-related technologies. Earlier joining WindowsReport, he worked equally a front-end spider web developer. Read more

Updated:

Posted: Apr 2020

  • Using specialized software to open a NEF file will go along all the information stored inside.
  • Take a look at our picks below to find the best software that easily converts NEF to JPG Windows.
  • ViewNX2 is a great gratuitous option that also allows y'all to control hue, tone, and sharpness.
  • We've also selected Adobe Photoshop, Capture NX2, and other paid NEF file viewers for Windows.

open NEF files

Nikon Electronic Format, a RAW file format containing digital photos taken by a Nikon camera. This format has detailed images every bit captured by the camera's sensors, no pinch or loss of quality.

The NEF file format stores metadata of the images such every bit the model of the camera itself, settings, lens information, and other details.

The primary advantage of writing images in NEF file format to the retentiveness carte as compared to the TIFF or JPEG format lies in the fact that no post-processing is permanent.

Stuff like the hue, tone, sharpness, or white balance is applied, just these are retained every bit instruction sets that come up with the NEF file, and can exist changed equally many times as you lot want without affecting data.

Another advantage is that depending on the camera you're using, the NEF file retains 12-scrap or xiv-bit data, which translates to an epitome with a greater tonal range than that of an viii-bit JPEG or TIFF file.

With Nikon's Capture NX2 software or other imaging programs, the after-capture processing of NEF files gives you lot greater command over the final image than when JPEG or TIFF files are processed.

Y'all can and so save them as TIFF, JPEG , or as NEF once more. Provided that the original NEF file is preserved, the digital negative remains untouched and processing doesn't change the original instruction prepare.

It is exclusive to Nikon cameras, and sometimes information technology is referred to as digital negatives and is written to the camera'south memory card in either uncompressed or lossless compressed format.

How practice I open NEF files in Windows 10?

1. Use Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop CC 2020

There's no way you lot can talk about opening or editing image files without the name Adobe Photoshop popping into your heed.

This raster-based epitome editor tin can also exist used as a NEF file opener. More so, the toolset allows you to take the NEF file and and then plow it into a more manageable format, such as JPG or BMP.

Also, NEF files could e'er use a little flake of doctoring themselves, and that is something that Adobe Photoshop can easily handle equally well.

Normally, this world-grade program is subscription-based to utilise, only now you lot can test it for a full 7 days without whatever type of limitations.

Note: If Photoshop cannot open the files, make sure yous install the latest Camera RAW plugin supported by your version of Photoshop and endeavour opening them once again.

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop

Convert any type of file, including NEF easily, without losing data by using Adobe Photoshop

2. Utilise FileViewer Plus

FileViewer Plus is an extremely powerful software and is highly rated on the market. It will open up over 300 file formats including all the most popular photo formats.

You will be able to open, catechumen and edit not only NEF files, but also RAW, 3FR, ARI, CR2,  CRW,  and many other pop formats directly in its interface.

The best matter so far about this tool is that it tin can be used non only on photo files. Y'all can also open and edit video, image, and text formats without having to download other software.

⇒ Download FileViewer Plus no due west

3. GIMP

GIMP, or GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a free photograph editing software for Windows, though information technology requires some actress skills or time to empathise and use it.

Although it's non every bit simple as most free photo editors, if you lot want to open NEF files, then GIMP is 1 of the best tools to use for this task.

⇒ Download GIMP

4. IrfanView

Practiced Tip: Some PC issues are hard to tackle, especially when it comes to corrupted repositories or missing Windows files. If you are having troubles fixing an error, your system may exist partially cleaved. Nosotros recommend installing Restoro, a tool that will browse your machine and identify what the mistake is.
Click here to download and start repairing.

IrfanView is your best bet for opening NEF files. Some cool things you tin do with this photo viewer include file searches, batch conversions for advanced image processing.

The software too has Photoshop filter back up, Pigment options, blurring, and more than, all packed into an easy to empathize and interactive interface.

⇒ Get IrfanView

5. CaptureNX2

This is a full-featured, non-destructive photo editing software that gives you lot all the tools to quickly and easily edit your digital photos.

Information technology has features such as color control, selection control, auto-retouch and shadow/highlight adjustment. You tin enhance the hue, brightness and saturation of an image likewise.

It works with RAW NEF files, only also JPEG and TIFF as well, and its interface has customized workspaces, toolbar role and layout.

In add-on to that, the software besides has edit list functionality, redesigned epitome browser with favorites binder and image resolution adjustments.

⇒ Get CaptureNX2

vi. ViewNX2

This software also helps yous open NEF files, and has a refined user interface with iii different workspaces: Browser/GeoTag/Edit.

These can be smoothly switched using the tool push. You can also select background color based on image effulgence.

It is free to download and install to browse, edit and share images and movies. It also has RAW processing functions and film editing features equivalent to those in digital SLRs.

Images saved in the Nikon Paradigm Space tin be browsed as if saved on your own PC. Once you login, you need not input your ID and password over again, plus you lot tin utilize the elevate/drop for easy uploading of images.

⇒ Download ViewNX2

How do I procedure NEF files in my camera?

Here are the steps you can take to process the NEF files in your Nikon DSLR camera prior to opening the file:

  1. In the Retouch menu, observe NEF in-camera processing feature.
    • This lets you procedure NEF RAW files into JPGsouthward within the camera, and is useful for shooting RAW files or sharing a quick JPG
  2. Adjust Picture Controls or change images from color options like Black & White (B&W) or Sepia, change white residuum, exposure compensation and and so much more than.
  3. Once you're washed with and satisfied with the adjustments, preview it past pushing the magnifying drinking glass button on the back of the camera.
  4. Select EXE when you lot're gear up to save the JPG file to your media or retentiveness card.
  5. The original NEF file will be saved on the memory or media card so you can revert to the original capture when opening the NEF file on your computer.

If you have the right codec on your PC, you can open or view NEF files without the need for more than software. For Windows 10, you don't demand to install the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack.

The codecs are born to the operating system, only should y'all desire to add support for DNG formats, or others not supported, you would accept to download a codec.

The Microsoft Camera Codec Pack enables viewing of a diverseness of device-specific file formats in Windows Alive Photo Gallery and other software-based in Windows Imaging Codecs (WIC).

Installing it volition allow supported RAW camera files to be opened or viewable in File Explorer and is available in 32-bit or 64-fleck versions.

How do I convert a NEF file on Windows 10?

Yous can convert NEF files to different formats using a file converter or an image viewer/editor then relieve to a different format such every bit JPG, RAW, PNG, TIFF, PSD, GIF, and many others.

There are other online options that yous tin can employ to convert your NEF files to open up in Windows 10 similar Zamzar, Pics.io, and Online RAW converter that catechumen the NEF files to BMP, GIF, JPG, PDF, and TDG amongst others.

Are in that location other ways y'all apply to open your NEF files in Windows 10? Share with us by leaving a comment in the section beneath.

Frequently Asked Questions