Canon first introduced HIF files, their version of HEIF file, on the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III in 2020. Canon has expanded its lineup of cameras that support HDR, and HDR images have become more widely accessible with the Canon R series.
The problem arises in that Abode products, namely Photoshop and Lightroom, do not yet support the image format that Canon is using, although it does support HEIC files taken from Apple and Android products.
How do you open a Canon HIF file?
Canon HDR images, saved as HIF files, can be opened and edited using Canon’s Digital Photo Professional 4. A Canon camera serial number is required to download the software. Alternatively, GIMP can be used to open and edit HIF images but cannot be saved in the same format.
GIMP is free, open-source software available on all major operations systems: macOS, Windows, and Linux.
The remainder of this article will guide you through installing Canon’s Digital Photo Professional 4, how to open a HIF file, and how to export your HDR photo into different formats using DPP.
We will be releasing an article soon with more information on GIMP, including installing GIMP, how to open a HIF file in GIMP, and how to export your HDR photo into different formats using GIMP
How to download and install Canon Digital Photo Professional
Canon Digital Photo Professional is a photo editing software provided for free. It is currently the only photo editing software that is capable of saving images in Canon’s HIF format.
Note that GIMP cannot save images in HIF format. They must be saved in another image format.
Digital Photo Professional, commonly abbreviated as DPP, is included on the disc that came with your camera. However, I know that is not very handy for most people.
Follow the steps below to download and install Digital Photo Professional from Canon’s website.
- Go to https://www.usa.canon.com/support.
- Enter the name of your camera in the search box, or select “Cameras” in the section below the search box and navigate to your camera.
If you do not see your model listed, you may need to click the “Load More” button. I have the Canon EOS R5, and had to expand the list.
- Select “Software & Drivers”.
- Select your Operating System and Version.
The website will try to detect which operating system you are using automatically.
- Scroll down to “Digital Photo Professional” and click the “Download” button.
It was my experience that Digital Photo Professional was not listed for the latest version of macOS. I selected the previous version of macOS, and Digital Photo Professional was then listed.
- Enter the serial number of your camera, and the download will begin.
Digital Photo Professional is a free software only for owners of an eligible Canon camera.
The serial number of a Canon camera can be found on the camera body, through the software menu, and in the metadata of photos taken by the camera.
- Extract the contents of the compressed file.
- Double-click on the installer in the extracted folder.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Please let me know if these instructions need to be updated. In case they are outdated, Canon has instructions available on their website that can be found here:
https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/index?page=content&id=ART173585
How do I open a Canon HIF file in Digital Photo Professional?
Now that you have followed the steps to install Digital Photo Professional, you might have already tried to open a HIF file. It didn’t work because there is one more step.
In order to open a Canon HIF file in Digital Photo Professional, you must install the HEVC codec.
Follow the steps below to download and install the HEVC codec needed to view Canon HIF files:
- Open Digital Photo Professional
- Click on the help menu and select “Activate HEVC codec (H).
- A pop-up will open. Select “Yes” to allow the program to take you to the download page for the HEVC codec.
The website to download the HEVC codec is here:
https://pdisp01.c-wss.com/gdl/WWUFORedirectSerialTarget.do?id=NGE4MjEzMWM1&cmp=Y02&lang=EN
The remainder of the steps are the same as the steps you took to install Digital Photo Professional, but I will include them here for completeness’ sake.
- Enter the serial number of your camera, and the download will begin.
- Close Digital Photo Professional
Digital Photo Professional must be closed in order to install the codec.
- Extract the contents of the compressed file.
- Double-click on the installer in the extracted folder.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
With the HEVC codec installed, you will be able to open and save edited HIF files.
Here is a screenshot showing the options DPP gives you when saving an edited HIF file:
