# RawTherapee Published January 1, 2026 · Updated August 10, 2026 RAW image processing program Category: Media & Entertainment · Free · Open source · Replaces Capture One ($300) · [Official website](https://rawtherapee.com) ## Install with Homebrew `brew install --cask rawtherapee` ## Quick take RawTherapee 5.13 (July 26, 2026) keeps the project firmly alive and free: deeper selective editing, better HiDPI/ARM behaviour, Rec2020 defaults, and fresh camera support on macOS Tahoe-ready builds. It is still a power-user laboratory, not a beginner preset toy. Choose darktable for another free node-based philosophy, Lightroom for catalog convenience and ecosystem, or Capture One for tethered commercial polish — choose RawTherapee when maximum raw control at $0 matters more than hand-holding. Best for: Technical Photographers, Linux/Open Source Advocates, Students on a budget ## What is RawTherapee? RawTherapee is a powerful, cross-platform raw image processing program released as free software under GPLv3. It targets enthusiasts through professionals who want deep, non-destructive control over demosaicing, colour, tone, and detail rather than a simplified mobile-style edit path. August 2026 status: RawTherapee 5.13 was released on July 26, 2026 — the current stable line after 5.12 (May 28, 2025). The official macOS build is distributed as RawTherapee_MacOS_26.0_Universal_5.13.zip and requires macOS Tahoe 26.0 or newer on Apple Silicon, or macOS Monterey 12.0 or newer for Intel x86_64. The app must be installed in /Applications or it refuses to start. 5.13 brings substantial selective-editing and colour-tool enhancements, HiDPI improvements, ARM performance work, Rec2020 as the new default working profile (ProPhoto still available), broader camera support, and continued LibRaw-based raw reading with dcraw fallback. RawTherapee remains fully free: no tiers, no subscriptions, no paid pro module. Donations support community infrastructure. It competes with darktable (also free), Adobe Lightroom (subscription), and Capture One (paid) by maximising algorithmic control. The learning curve is real — RawPedia and the pixls.us community are part of the product experience. On modern Macs, 5.13's HiDPI and ARM improvements make daily use more pleasant than older builds that felt soft or slow on retina laptops. ## Features - **Advanced Demosaicing Algorithms.** Multiple high-quality demosaicing methods, including dual-demosaic combinations, plus pixel-shift compositing and multi-frame raw support for cameras that provide them. - **32-bit Floating Point Engine.** Non-destructive 32-bit floating point processing preserves headroom through complex edits and high dynamic range workflows. - **Selective Editing Toolset (5.13).** 5.13 expands selective editing: Michaelis-Menten tone mapping, enhanced GHS controls, TRC-based tone mapper with colour inversion options, capture deconvolution sharpening inside selective edits, and improved blur/denoise recovery masks. - **Colour Appearance, Gamut & Abstract Profile.** Enhanced Colour Appearance & Lighting, Gamut Compression with automatic distance limits and channel readouts, and Abstract Profile improvements including adjustable highlight attenuation and custom destination primaries. - **Rec2020 Default Working Profile.** 5.13 changes the default working profile to Rec2020 (real colours, large gamut) instead of ProPhoto. ProPhoto remains available; understand that some tools behave differently across working profiles. - **Capture Sharpening & Geometry.** Capture Sharpening gains presharpening denoise; Lens/Geometry can scale images horizontally or vertically; crop guides support multiple simultaneous guides, colours, aspect ratios, and bleed areas. - **Modern Camera Support & LibRaw.** Broad camera/matrix updates in 5.13 (Canon R-series, Fujifilm, Nikon Z, Panasonic, Sony, Hasselblad, Olympus, and more). LibRaw is the preferred raw reader with enhanced dcraw fallback; LibRaw can be disabled in preferences while the project transitions. - **HiDPI & ARM Performance.** Improved HiDPI so editor previews and thumbnails stay sharp on retina Macs, plus ARM performance improvements relevant to Apple Silicon workflows. ## How to Install RawTherapee on Mac Download RawTherapee 5.13 from rawtherapee.com. The macOS universal build targets macOS Tahoe 26.0+ on Apple Silicon and macOS Monterey 12.0+ on Intel. Install into /Applications only. 1. **Method A: Homebrew Installation (Recommended).** Download RawTherapee_MacOS_26.0_Universal_5.13.zip from the official 5.13 downloads page, open the DMG, and drag RawTherapee.app to /Applications. Do not rename or run from Downloads long-term. 2. **Method B: Manual DMG Download.** Visit the official RawTherapee website (rawtherapee.com) or their GitHub release page. Download the macOS Universal build zip file (`RawTherapee_macOS_15.4_Universal_5.12.zip`). This build requires macOS Sequoia 15.4 or newer on Apple Silicon, or macOS Monterey 12.3 or newer for Intel Macs. After unzipping, open the .dmg file and drag RawTherapee to your Applications folder. 3. **Bypassing Gatekeeper.** After dragging RawTherapee to your Applications folder, you might see a warning that the developer cannot be verified. To open it, Control-click (or Right-click) the RawTherapee icon and select 'Open' from the context menu. Click 'Open' again in the dialogue box. You only need to do this once. ## Pros - Completely free and open-source (GPLv3) - Exceptional image quality and demosaicing options - 32-bit floating-point engine prevents data loss - Lightweight installation compared to Adobe suites - Advanced scientific tools like Dark Frame subtraction - Run smoothly on older Intel and new Apple Silicon ## Cons - Steep learning curve for beginners - Interface feels dated and cluttered - No built-in Digital Asset Management (DAM) - Lacks AI-powered masking or subject selection - Slower export times than optimized commercial apps ## Deep Dive: RawTherapee Architecture & Ecosystem To truly understand RawTherapee, one must look beyond the sliders and understand the engineering philosophy that drives it. It represents a commitment to mathematical precision in image processing. ## FAQ ### Is RawTherapee optimized for Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)? The official 5.13 macOS build requires macOS Tahoe 26.0 or newer on Apple Silicon, or macOS Monterey 12.0 or newer on Intel. Install only into /Applications. ### Can RawTherapee replace Lightroom? It depends on your needs. As a *develop module* replacement (editing the photo), yes, it often exceeds Lightroom's capabilities in terms of pure image quality control. However, as a *library* replacement (organizing, tagging, facial recognition), no. RawTherapee is a file browser and editor; it does not store a catalog of your images. Many users pair RawTherapee with DigiKam for the organizational aspect. ### Does RawTherapee support my new camera? RawTherapee uses `dcraw` or `libraw` under the hood to decode raw files, meaning it supports virtually every camera supported by those libraries. Support for brand-new cameras usually arrives faster than in commercial software, but occasionally you may need to wait for a development build update if a camera uses a proprietary new compression format. ### Where does RawTherapee save my edits? RawTherapee is non-destructive. It never touches your original raw file. Instead, it saves a small text file with the extension `.pp3` next to your image (or in a cache folder, depending on settings). This file contains the 'recipe' of your edits. When you open the image again, RawTherapee reads this file and re-applies the edits instantly. ### Why do my images look dark when I first open them? Raw files contain linear data which looks dark to the human eye. Most software automatically applies a gamma curve and heavy contrast to make it look 'normal.' If you set RawTherapee to 'Neutral,' it shows the true raw data without these biases. You can enable 'Auto-Matched Tone Curve' in the exposure tab to get a starting point similar to the JPEG preview. ### Can I use Photoshop plugins with RawTherapee? No. RawTherapee is a standalone application and does not support Photoshop-style `.8bf` plugins. However, it can be set up to send images directly to GIMP or Photoshop as an external editor once the raw development is finished. ### Is there a mobile version for iPad? RawTherapee 5.13 was released July 26, 2026 and is the current stable version as of August 2026, following 5.12 from May 2025. ### How do I fix the 'Developer cannot be verified' error? This is a common macOS security check for software not downloaded from the App Store. Right-click (or Control-click) the application icon and select 'Open.' A dialog will appear asking if you're sure; click 'Open' again. This grants a permanent exception for the app. ### What is new in RawTherapee 5.13? Selective editing and colour-tool upgrades (GHS, Michaelis-Menten mapper, gamut compression enhancements, abstract profile controls), HiDPI fixes, ARM performance work, Rec2020 default working profile, crop guide upgrades, and many camera support improvements. See rawtherapee.com/downloads/5.13/. ### Why did the default working profile change to Rec2020? ProPhoto allows imaginary colours that some tools handle poorly. Rec2020 stays large-gamut while limiting to real colours. ProPhoto remains selectable; expect some tools to respond differently if you switch profiles on old edits. ### Does RawTherapee run on Apple Silicon? Yes. Official universal macOS builds support Apple Silicon, with 5.13 noting ARM performance improvements. Meet the macOS 26 Tahoe minimum for the Apple Silicon package line noted in 5.13 docs. ## Sources - [RawTherapee Home](https://rawtherapee.com/) - [RawTherapee v5.13 Downloads & Notes](https://rawtherapee.com/downloads/5.13/) - [RawTherapee 5.13 Released](https://rawtherapee.com/2026/07/rawtherapee-5.13-released/) - [RawTherapee GitHub Releases](https://github.com/RawTherapee/RawTherapee/releases) - [RawPedia](https://rawpedia.rawtherapee.com/) - [RawTherapee on discuss.pixls.us](https://discuss.pixls.us/c/software/rawtherapee) - [RawTherapee v5.12](https://rawtherapee.com/downloads/5.12/) ## Related - [Kap](https://bundl.run/apps/kap) - [Spotify](https://bundl.run/apps/spotify) - [VLC](https://bundl.run/apps/vlc) - [DaVinci Resolve](https://bundl.run/apps/davinci-resolve) - [OBS Studio](https://bundl.run/apps/obs) - [HandBrake](https://bundl.run/apps/handbrake) - [RawTherapee vs darktable](https://bundl.run/compare/darktable-vs-rawtherapee) - [Free alternative to Capture One](https://bundl.run/https:/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://bundl.run/#organization", "name": "Bundl.run", "url": "https://bundl.run", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://bundl.run/og-image.png", "width": 1200, "height": 630 }, "description": "The Ninite for Mac. 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