Free online 3FR to TIF converter

Hasselblad cameras produce 3FR RAW files, while many image editors, print workflows, and archiving systems require TIFF/TIF. Converting the file renders its sensor data into a broadly supported image for editing, printing, or sharing without the quality loss associated with JPEG.

What the 3FR format is

3FR is Hasselblad's proprietary RAW format. It stores minimally processed sensor data together with camera metadata and, in some cases, a preview image rather than a finished RGB photograph. Hasselblad Phocus is the manufacturer's primary application for opening and processing 3FR files; supported versions of Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw can also process them.

RAW processing applies demosaicing, exposure and white-balance adjustments, color management, noise reduction, and lens corrections. The result is a rendered bitmap that can be saved in a standard image format.

What the TIF format is

TIF and TIFF are filename extensions for Tagged Image File Format. TIFF is widely used for professional editing, high-resolution printing, scanning, publishing, and image archiving. It can store grayscale or RGB images at 8 or 16 bits per channel and can use uncompressed, lossless LZW, or lossless ZIP compression.

TIFF is much more widely supported than 3FR, but its files are normally larger than JPEG files. A converted TIFF contains the rendered result of RAW processing; it does not retain the original 3FR sensor data or the same camera-specific adjustment controls. Keep the original .3fr file if future RAW reprocessing may be required.

Using Hasselblad Phocus

1. Open Phocus and import the .3fr file or the folder containing it.
2. Adjust exposure, white balance, crop, color, lens corrections, and other RAW settings.
3. Select the image and open the export function through File → Export or the export control in the browser; the exact control depends on the Phocus version.
4. Choose TIFF as the output format. Select 16-bit for further editing or high-quality printing; use 8-bit only when the destination application requires it.
5. Select a color space appropriate to the next workflow: sRGB for general compatibility, Adobe RGB for many print workflows, or ProPhoto RGB when every application in the workflow supports it.
6. Choose LZW or ZIP compression when available. Both are lossless and reduce storage requirements without changing pixel values.
7. Choose the destination folder and export. Phocus will create a .tif or .tiff file.

Using other desktop software

In Adobe Lightroom, import the supported 3FR file, select it, and choose File → Export. Under the file settings, select TIFF, then set the bit depth, color space, and compression required by the destination workflow.

Adobe Camera Raw can open supported 3FR files through Photoshop. Open the file, apply RAW adjustments, choose the desired bit depth and color space in the workflow options, then open the image in Photoshop and use File → Save a Copy or File → Save As to select TIFF. Menu names vary by Photoshop version.

Using the online converter

Files can also be converted for free on 101convert.com without installing software. Upload the .3fr file, select TIF as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting TIFF. An online conversion may use default RAW-processing settings and may not provide the detailed exposure, color, lens, and export controls available in Phocus or other RAW software. Do not upload confidential or unreleased photographs unless the service's handling and retention terms are acceptable.

Quality and compatibility limits

Exporting at 16 bits per channel preserves more tonal precision for later adjustments, but it cannot restore highlight or shadow detail that was clipped during RAW processing. The selected color profile must be embedded and supported by the receiving application; software that ignores it can display incorrect colors.

Large Hasselblad images can produce TIFF files that exceed limits in older applications or file systems. Some legacy programs support only 8-bit TIFF or fail to read certain compression options. For maximum compatibility, use an RGB TIFF with 8 or 16 bits per channel and either no compression or LZW compression.