Built for comparison
Not a catalog or editor — RawComp exists to answer one question: how do these images differ? Multi-pane layouts keep context in one window.
macOS 14+
Native Swift
RawComp: See every difference between your images — side by side, pixel by pixel.
A focused macOS comparison tool for photographers and retouchers. Line up RAW files, exports, edits, and crops in 2–6 panes, sync movement, amplify subtle shifts with shared adjustments, and export your verdict.
Sync or isolate panes
Link zoom and pan across every pane, or work freehand. Mark a synchronized highlight region to draw eyes to matching detail.
Fair, shared adjustments
Push exposure, tone, color, and compare modes equally across panes so differences stay honest while shadows, edges, and noise pop.
Features
Everything you need to judge image quality and edits.
From opening a folder of exports to saving a .rawcomp session — inspection, amplification, and export in one native app.
2 / 3 / 4 / 6-up layouts
Choose how many images to compare in a single window without juggling separate viewers.
RAW & standard formats
Open JPEG, PNG, HEIC, TIFF, and dozens of camera RAW extensions via macOS decoders.
Linked viewports
Free or synced pan/zoom/rotate with fit-to-window and 100% zoom for pixel-level review.
Compare modes
Clipping overlay, edge map, false color, noise emphasis, absolute difference, Delta E, blink, and wipe.
Shared inspector
Light, tone curve, color mixer, B&W, presence, noise, optics, and geometry — applied to all panes.
Histogram & readout
Per-pane histogram, clipping indicators, cursor pixel values, and file metadata.
Sessions & export
Save .rawcomp sessions with layout restoration; export the grid as PNG or TIFF from the current viewport.
8 UI languages
English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and more — switch anytime in the app.
Non-destructive
Adjustments preview on top of originals — your files on disk stay untouched.
Compare modes
Professional tools when neutral view is not enough.
Some differences hide in shadows, micro-contrast, compression, or noise. RawComp's modes and shared sliders make them visible without favoring one pane.
- Absolute difference and Delta E for color-accurate checks
- Blink and wipe (2-up) for A/B style review
- Edge map and false color for structure and exposure
- Reference pane and analysis gain per mode
Supported formats
Compressed images and broad RAW coverage.
RawComp recognizes common camera RAW extensions plus standard web and print formats. Decoding follows what macOS and Quick Look can provide on your machine.
- Camera RAW
- DNG
- CR2 / CR3
- NEF / NRW
- JPEG · PNG · HEIC · TIFF
Full extension list in the raw-comp README →
Quick start
From download to first comparison in minutes.
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From source
Clone the repo and run with Swift Package Manager or Xcode.
git clone https://github.com/franklioxygen/raw-comp.git
cd raw-comp
swift run RawComp
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Compare
Open images, pick a layout, toggle synced panes, and use the inspector to amplify differences.
Technology
Native macOS, focused scope.
Application
Swift 6 · SwiftUI · AppKit bridges · SPM
Philosophy
Comparison-first — not a DAM, not a destructive RAW editor
Ready to compare your next shoot?
Open source on GitHub. Download a release or build from source on your Mac.