How to view a .SFW file online
No app, no account, no upload.
Open your .SFW
Drag a .SFW file onto the viewer, paste one with Ctrl+V, or choose it from your device.
View and inspect
Zoom in close, pan around, rotate or flip it, and read the exact color of any pixel.
Save a copy
Download it as PNG, JPG or WEBP with your rotation applied, at the quality you choose.
What is a .SFW file?
Everything worth knowing about Seattle FilmWorks Graphics File.
An SFW file is a digitized photograph produced by Seattle FilmWorks (later PhotoWorks) in the 1990s, a proprietary image format based on JPEG. To open it today, use XnView (free) or the dedicated SFWJPG converter at jonesrh.info. Because SFW wraps a JPEG stream, conversion to JPG is lossless.
Programs that open .SFW files
- Windows
- XnView, PMView Pro, File Viewer Plus, SFW PhotoWorks (jonesrh.info converter)
- macOS
- GraphicConverter, XnViewMP
| Full name | Seattle FilmWorks Graphics File |
|---|---|
| Developer | Seattle FilmWorks Inc. (later PhotoWorks) |
| First released | 1993 (SFW93A earliest known variant) |
| Category | Images |
| MIME type | image/x-sfw |
| Signature | 53 46 57 39 34 41 (SFW94A) |
Related tools
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Frequently asked questions
Is my .SFW file uploaded to a server?
No. The viewer decodes your .SFW file with your browser's own image engine. Closing the tab removes it completely.
How do I open PSD, TIFF, RAW or HEIC files?
HEIC and HEIF (iPhone photos) open right here — we decode them with libheif. PSD, TIFF, JPEG 2000, camera RAW, HDR and texture files have their own viewers, linked above; the Image Viewer sends you to the right one automatically.
What does the Photo details panel show?
The EXIF data your camera or phone saved in the photo: camera and lens, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, the date it was taken and, if location was on, where. Files you save from this viewer don't include this data, which is handy when you share photos.
Is there a file size limit?
There's no fixed limit; it depends on available memory. Very large images (over 40 megapixels) are previewed at reduced resolution so the viewer stays fast, but the reported dimensions are always the original ones.
How does the color picker work?
Point at any pixel to see its HEX and RGB value with a magnified view of the surrounding pixels. Click to copy the HEX code and save it to your palette.
Should I save as PNG, JPG or WEBP?
PNG keeps every pixel and transparency, which is best for screenshots and graphics. JPG makes photos small. WEBP is usually the smallest of all and works in every modern browser.
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