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RapidRAW 1.3.8 is a real but historical release of the open-source, non-destructive RAW photo editor. It was mainly a maintenance update: it fixed preview, curve, masking, and compatibility problems, and added support for the Sony a6400a. For a new installation, use the newest release on the official releases page rather than 1.3.8. The release list identified v1.6.0 as the latest version in research available by July 26, 2026.
What RapidRAW is
RapidRAW is an open-source RAW image editor designed to be lightweight, modern, non-destructive, and GPU-accelerated. The project positions it as a fast alternative to Adobe Lightroom, with desktop builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its public GitHub repository also makes clear that it remains under active development and is not as polished as established applications such as Lightroom, darktable, or RawTherapee.
RapidRAW is best suited to photographers who want a relatively simple local editing workflow and do not need the mature cataloging, plug-in, collaboration, and support ecosystems of commercial software. GPU performance depends on the operating system, graphics hardware, and drivers; there is no single documented minimum GPU or VRAM specification that applies universally.
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What changed in RapidRAW 1.3.8?
The v1.3.8 release notes describe the update as a minor-improvements release. Its practical changes were:
#1 Best Overall
- 20.1MP stacked back illuminated 1" Exmor RS CMOS sensor w/ DRAM, large aperture 24-70mm1 F1.8-2.8 ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T lens
- Enhanced subject capture: wide 425 Phase/ 425 contrast detection points over 84 percent of the sensor
- Fast and accurate: Up to 11Fps continuous shooting at 24.2 MP raw with crisp, clear natural colors
- Multiple movie functions: Make time lapse movies or slow/quick motion videos without post processing
- Tiltable LCD screen: customizable for vlogging, still photography or recording a professional film
- Duplicate-mask shortcut: a context-menu shortcut makes it quicker to reuse an existing mask when building local adjustments.
- Rotation and aspect-ratio preview fix: the preview now refreshes correctly when a geometric change is made without another edit forcing a redraw.
- Two-point RGB curve fix: curves containing exactly two points work correctly, which matters for simple tonal and contrast adjustments.
- Sony a6400a support: the release adds this specific camera model. That does not establish universal support for every Sony camera or RAW format.
- AI subject-mask repair: subject masking functionality was restored after problems associated with the quick eraser tool.
- Additional bug fixes: the release also includes general reliability improvements.
In other words, 1.3.8 is a reliability and compatibility release, not a major redesign or feature milestone. Its value is greatest for users who encountered one of these particular problems or need to reproduce a workflow built around this version.
Should you install 1.3.8 today?
Usually, no. New users should begin with the latest official release because later versions contain additional fixes and features. The release list identified v1.6.0 as the later release available by July 26, 2026, including additions such as AI Lens Blur, a culling view, pair grouping, clone and heal tools, and Android support.
Choose 1.3.8 specifically when you are:
- Reproducing a historical workflow or tutorial;
- Investigating behavior from an old installation;
- Maintaining an existing setup whose files and edits have not been tested with newer versions; or
- Trying to match a known bug report or application state.
Do not assume that a current feature, platform, or package format was available in 1.3.8. Version-specific behavior should be checked against the relevant release notes.
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Where to download RapidRAW 1.3.8
Start with the official GitHub releases page and look for the v1.3.8 tag. If the tag remains available, download the installer from its Assets section. The exact historical asset list is not guaranteed to remain published, so do not assume that every old installer is still available.
A release listing associated with v1.3.8 identified these primary packages:
| Platform | Package |
|---|---|
| Windows | x64 .exe |
| macOS | Apple Silicon ARM64 .dmg |
| macOS | Intel x64 .dmg |
| Ubuntu | 22.04 or 24.04 x86_64 .deb |
Other Linux assets, such as AppImage, RPM, or ARM builds, may be listed separately. Package availability can change, and current packaging must not automatically be attributed to 1.3.8. Avoid unofficial download sites and unverified mirrors.
Rank #2
- Beginner-Friendly Mirrorless Power: The Canon EOS R100 offers an accessible entry into mirrorless photography with a 24.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor and DIGIC 8 image processor, delivering vibrant, detailed images and smooth video. Designed for everyday shooters and first-time DSLR users, this compact camera balances quality and ease-of-use, providing auto scene modes and simplified menu navigation for a seamless learning curve.
- Versatile RF-S 18-45mm Lens Included: This kit comes with the Canon RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens, perfect for general-purpose shooting. From family portraits and daily snapshots to travel landscapes and vlogs, this zoom lens delivers sharp results and smooth autofocus. Built-in image stabilization helps reduce shake, making handheld photography more stable and enjoyable.
- Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus for Sharp Results: Canon’s reliable Dual Pixel CMOS AF ensures fast and accurate focusing, especially when tracking people, faces, or stationary subjects. The system covers a wide portion of the frame and adjusts effortlessly between stills and video—ideal for capturing life’s moments as they happen, without missing a beat.
- Key Features: 24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor, DIGIC 8 Image Processor, 4K 24p Video with Crop, Full HD 60p, Dual Pixel CMOS AF with 143 AF Zones, 6.5 fps Electronic Shutter, 2.36m-Dot OLED EVF, 3" 1.04m-Dot LCD Screen, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with SD Card Slot, RF-S 18-45mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens,
Installation guidance
The following steps come from RapidRAW’s current installation documentation. They describe the current project’s installation approach, not necessarily every detail of the old 1.3.8 packages.
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Windows
- Download the appropriate x64
.exefrom the official GitHub release page. - Run the installer.
- If SmartScreen shows an “unrecognized app” warning, first confirm that the file came from the official project page. The documentation notes that the Windows build was not code-signed by a major certificate authority at the time of writing; once the source is verified, choose More info → Run anyway if you accept the risk.
Update NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel graphics drivers if the application will not launch or crashes during editing. Testing a small folder before importing a large archive can also separate installation problems from library or performance problems.
macOS
- Download the Intel or Apple Silicon
.dmgthat matches your Mac. - Open it and move RapidRAW to
Applications. - If macOS says the application is damaged or the developer cannot be verified, verify the download source before taking further action.
For a copy obtained from the trusted official release source, the documentation gives this command to remove the quarantine attribute:
xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/RapidRAW.appThis command weakens a macOS protection for that application. Do not use it for an installer from an unknown website.
Linux AppImage
chmod +x RapidRAW-*.AppImage
./RapidRAW-*.AppImageIf an AppImage does not launch on Debian or Ubuntu, the documentation says that the FUSE compatibility library may be required:
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Rank #3
- Go Beyond Your Phone: Capture lifelike colors and incredible details from dawn to dusk thanks to a superior 20.9-megapixel DX format (APS-C size) sensor several times larger than that of a typical smartphone, but still lightweight and compact enough to fit in a small bag.
- Find Your Aesthetic: At the press of the Picture Control button, choose from 31 built-in presets designed to make your photos and videos stand out. Create and save your own Picture Control presets or download bespoke Cloud Picture Controls directly to your Z50II from Nikon Imaging Cloud. Play with results in real-time as you shoot and open up a world of creative possibilities.
- Focus with Confidence: People, dogs, cats, birds and vehicles—the Z50II can automatically detect and accurately track nine distinct subjects. Plus dedicated bird and airplane modes for even greater autofocus accuracy.
- Powerful Video: Capture the scene with incredible quality and detail with 4K UHD/60p, in-camera 120p slow-motion in Full HD, built-in electronic VR and product review mode.
- Built-in Flash: Get beautifully balanced photos indoors and at night. Use Night Portrait mode to create natural-looking slow-shutter flash portraits. Share in a snap: Send photos and video to your smart device in seconds using the free Nikon SnapBridge app. Includes the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR lens and NIKKOR Z DX 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 VR lens
Non-destructive editing and sidecars
RapidRAW reads photographs in place and stores edits in .rrdata sidecar files next to the original images, according to the current installation documentation. It does not move the original photographs.
Back up and move both parts of the workflow:
- The original RAW or image file;
- Its corresponding
.rrdatasidecar.
Moving only the photographs can make edits appear to disappear because the application can no longer find the sidecars. Do not assume that .rrdata files are interchangeable with Lightroom XMP files or readable by other RAW editors. Before reorganizing a working library, test the process on copies.
Important limitations
- Maturity: RapidRAW is evolving quickly and may be less predictable than Lightroom, darktable, or RawTherapee.
- Camera support: verify your exact camera model and RAW extension in the official documentation; the a6400a addition is not blanket Sony support.
- Graphics support: modern GPUs generally work on Windows, Metal-capable Macs are supported, and Linux installations depend heavily on Vulkan drivers. Keep drivers current.
- Version differences: older builds lack tools introduced later and may behave differently on newer operating systems.
- File management: the sidecar workflow requires disciplined backups and folder moves.
- Production readiness: photographers with demanding color-management, export, metadata, tethering, plug-in, or team requirements should validate those workflows before switching.
The desktop application is described as requiring no server-side account or license. That should not be confused with optional cloud services: RapidRAW Cloud pages describe a planned service and mark it “Coming Soon.”
RapidRAW troubleshooting
The Windows application will not launch
Confirm the installer source and architecture, update graphics drivers, and try a later official release. If you report the problem, include your operating system, RapidRAW version, GPU, and log file, as requested by the project documentation.
macOS says RapidRAW is damaged
Verify that the app came from the official release page. For that trusted copy, the documented xattr command above can remove quarantine. Never use it as a way to legitimize an unknown download.
The Linux AppImage does not start
Check execute permission, install the appropriate FUSE compatibility package for your distribution, and verify Vulkan drivers. A failure may be caused by the graphics stack rather than by the photo editor itself.
Rank #4
- High image quality featuring a new 24.2 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor
- DIGIC X Image Processor with an ISO range of 100-102400, expandable to 204800
- High-speed continuous shooting of up to 12 fps with mechanical shutter and up to 40 fps electronic (silent) shutter, RAW burst mode and pre-shooting captures up to approx. 30 fps
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF II covering up to 100% x 100% area with 1,053 AF zones
- Automatic subject detection of people, animals, and vehicles using deep learning technology with new subjects to detect including aircraft, trains, and horses.(1)
A preview remains stale after rotation or cropping
This behavior was specifically addressed in 1.3.8. Check the exact version in use before concluding that the fix is missing; if it persists in a later release, consult the project’s issue-reporting guidance.
AI subject masking fails
The 1.3.8 notes say subject masks were restored after quick-eraser-related problems. Confirm that the application is actually running 1.3.8 or a later build rather than an earlier version.
How RapidRAW compares with alternatives
| Application | Best fit | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| darktable | Free, open-source editing with a mature catalog-oriented workflow | More complex interface and learning curve |
| RawTherapee | Detailed RAW development and image-quality control | Less Lightroom-like as a catalog workflow |
| Adobe Lightroom | Established cataloging, cloud synchronization, presets, and Adobe integration | Paid Adobe ecosystem |
| Capture One | Professional color, tethering, and studio workflows | Commercial software with a heavier commitment |
| DxO PhotoLab | Lens corrections, denoising, and camera/lens-specific processing | Commercial and less focused on RapidRAW’s lightweight model |
RapidRAW makes the most sense when low overhead, local editing, cross-platform availability, and an open-source-oriented project matter more than a fully mature professional ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RapidRAW 1.3.8 free?
The desktop application is distributed as a free download without a required server-side account or license, according to the project’s installation documentation. Optional cloud features are a separate offering and were marked “Coming Soon” in the cited official pages.
Does RapidRAW 1.3.8 support Android?
Android is identified as experimental in current documentation. The available evidence does not establish that Android support belonged to version 1.3.8.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesHow large is RapidRAW?
The project and documentation describe the application as under 20 MB. That refers to the application itself, not necessarily the installed footprint including caches, models, or photo sidecars.
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