Shooting photos in RAW format captures the full dynamic range of your camera’s sensor, but that data needs to be decoded before the photo can be edited. Unlike most photo apps, Nitro leverages the RAW engine in macOS to give you precise control over how RAW data is converted into the pixels you see.

The app includes all the usual editing tools, along with AI-powered features that make it easy to adjust specific areas, erase distractions and apply gradients. And if you’re already using the Photos app, Nitro integrates seamlessly: Nitro’s tools are available when editing in Photos, and you can work directly with your Photos library within Nitro.

What we love: Nitro’s easy-to-use controls for adjusting how RAW image data is interpreted. For example, RAW Tuning lets you reduce unwanted moiré patterns that camera sensors can exaggerate – before the photo is converted to an editable format (a more effective approach than trying to repair moiré in a developed image). And when working with Apple ProRAW images, the app’s simple Tone Map slider controls the amount of ProRAW processing applied. Nitro also supports RAW camera formats not supported at the system level, such as Fuji compressed, GoPro, and Nikon HE and HE*.

Quick tip: If an image includes depth information, such as a Portrait mode photo captured with an iPhone, Nitro can adjust the tones and colour saturation in the foreground and background separately. For example, you can lighten areas close to the camera or adjust only the shadows. You can even tweak the way Nitro interprets depth data – useful if you want to treat more of the image as background and darken it to bring attention to closer objects.

Meet the creator: Nik Bhatt is also the developer of RAW Power, the predecessor to Nitro. He previously led the RAW Camera and Core Image teams at Apple, working on the Aperture, iPhoto and Photos apps.