RapidRAW: A High-Performance, GPU-Accelerated RAW Image Editor

Introduction

RapidRAW is a beautiful, non-destructive, and GPU-accelerated RAW image editor built with performance in mind. Positioned as a modern, high-performance alternative to traditional tools, it delivers a simple, elegant editing experience in a lightweight package for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Developed with Rust for its safety and speed, Tauri for cross-platform desktop capabilities, and React for a fluid user interface, RapidRAW offloads its entire 32-bit image processing pipeline to the GPU via WGPU and custom WGSL shaders, ensuring instant feedback even on complex edits. It supports a wide range of RAW camera formats and offers a comprehensive suite of professional-grade adjustments, alongside innovative AI-powered features for masking and generative edits.

Installation

Getting started with RapidRAW is straightforward, whether you prefer a pre-built package or building from source.

Download the Latest Release (Recommended)

Windows & macOS: Grab the pre-built installer or application bundle for your operating system from the official Releases page.
Linux:
- The official Flatpak package supports all Linux distributions and is available on Flathub.
- On Debian-based distributions, install the .deb package from the Releases page.
- On Arch-based distributions, use the rapidraw-bin package from the AUR.

Build from Source

If you prefer to build the project yourself, you will need to have Rust and Node.js installed.

# 1. Clone the repository (including the rawler/dnglab submodule)
git clone https://github.com/CyberTimon/RapidRAW.git --recurse-submodules
cd RapidRAW

# 2. Install frontend dependencies
npm install

# 3. Build and run the application
npm start

Examples

RapidRAW offers a rich set of features designed to streamline your photo editing workflow. Here are some highlights:

Main Editor Interface: Experience a fluid and responsive editing environment with instant feedback on adjustments.
Powerful Batch Operations: Save time by applying consistent adjustments or exporting entire batches of images simultaneously.
Customizable Layout: Tailor the editor layout and panels to fit your personal workflow.
Advanced Masking: Utilize layer-based masking with AI subject, sky, and foreground detection, combined with traditional masks for precise control.
Experimental Generative AI: Explore features for removing or adding elements using text prompts, powered by an optional AI backend.
Library Navigation: Efficiently manage and cull your photo collection with a recursive folder view, virtual copies, color labels, and more.
Beautiful Themes: Personalize your editing experience with multiple UI themes and smooth animations.

You can see these features in action by visiting the Demo & Screenshots section on the GitHub repository.

Why Use RapidRAW?

RapidRAW stands out as an excellent choice for photographers for several compelling reasons:

Unmatched Performance: Its GPU-accelerated, 32-bit image processing pipeline ensures instant feedback and a smooth editing experience, even with high-resolution RAW files and complex adjustments.
Non-Destructive Workflow: All edits are stored in .rrdata sidecar files, preserving your original images untouched and allowing for complete flexibility.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, it provides a consistent and powerful editing solution regardless of your operating system.
Comprehensive Feature Set: From professional tonal and color controls, advanced masking, and lens correction to innovative generative AI capabilities, RapidRAW offers a robust toolkit for creative expression.
Lightweight and Efficient: Packaged under 20MB, it's designed to be resource-friendly while delivering powerful results.
Open Source and Community-Driven: Licensed under AGPL-3.0, it fosters an open ecosystem where improvements benefit everyone, with active development and a welcoming community for contributions and feedback.

RapidRAW: A High-Performance, GPU-Accelerated RAW Image Editor

Summary

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