How to access your RAW files outside of Capture One

Sometimes you need to access your original RAW files outside of Capture One. This can be due to a number of reasons, but it's important to us that you know how you can always access your images.

The steps below will detail how you can access images that are stored inside a Capture One Catalog.

It can be cumbersome to locate the files you have imported, due to them existing inside a folder structure that is designed to be recognized and looked up by the Capture One database.

If the "Import To" section of your Importer looks like the screenshot below when you import images, then you are most likely using a "managed" catalog, whereby your image files are being copied into the catalog database.

N.B. If you are a Capture One Express user who is wanting to use their Catalog with Capture One Pro, then you simply need to open the Catalog after activating the Pro version.

This can be done by going to FIle > Open and then navigating to wherever your Catalog is stored. You can find out where it is stored by checking Step 1 below.

macOS

1. Navigate to the Toolbar, where above it, you will find the name of your Catalog. Right-click on the name to see the path in which the catalog is stored.

Click on the name of the Catalog. In this instance, the default Catalog name is being used – (your Catalog may be named differently) and a Finder window will open.

2. Navigate to the Originals folder

3. Your images are organized in folders based upon year, month, and day – use these folders to find individual images if necessary

3. Copy the Originals folder (or the individual sub-folders and/or images you have selected) and paste/move this to a new area of your hard drive

4. These images can now be imported into other software, or into another Capture One Catalog or Session if you desire. There will be no adjustments carried across, as these are tied to the Catalog database (.cocatalogdb)

Windows

1. Navigate to and open the Catalog folder in File Explorer (by default, the Catalog is created in the user's Pictures folder).

2. Navigate to the Originals folder.

3. Your images are organized in folders based upon year, month, and day – use these folders to find individual images if necessary.

3. Copy the Originals folder (or the individual sub-folders and/or images you have selected) and paste/move this to a new area of your hard drive.

4. These images can now be imported into other software, or into another Capture One Catalog or Session if you desire. There will be no adjustments carried across, as these are tied to the Catalog database (.cocatalogdb).