What is 3FR?

Hasselblad 3FR is a medium-format camera raw format used by Hasselblad digital cameras, preserving complete sensor data for professional post-processing.

What is HEIC?

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is a modern image format developed by the HEVC industry group. It uses advanced compression to achieve much smaller file sizes than JPEG.

When Should You Use 3FR vs HEIC?

3FR vs HEIC: Key Differences

• •3FR uses lossless compression while HEIC uses lossy compression — this is the fundamental technical difference between the two formats.
• •Moving from 3FR (lossy) to HEIC (lossy) means the output file will be significantly smaller — but at the cost of some visual fidelity.
• •Transparency: Limited transparency support — converting from 3FR will merge transparency into a solid background
• •3FR files are typically 40-80MB per image from medium-format sensors while HEIC files range 50% smaller than equivalent JPEG
• •Use case fit: 3FR targets medium-format photography, professional studio and HEIC targets ios photography, mobile devices — your choice depends on which workflow stage you are serving.

Advantages of 3FR

• ✓3FR compresses data using lossless methods, keeping file sizes manageable for Medium-format photography, professional studio.
• ✓Industry-wide support means 3FR files open anywhere — from legacy systems to the latest devices.
• ✓Lossless quality makes 3FR the gold standard for archival and master copies.
• ✓From Adobe Photoshop to open-source alternatives, 3FR works out of the box.

Advantages of HEIC

• ✓At its core, HEIC relies on lossy encoding — a design choice that makes it perfect for iOS photography, mobile devices.
• ✓You won't run into compatibility issues with HEIC — it's a universal standard across platforms.
• ✓File size management with HEIC: aggressive compression with minimal visible quality loss.
• ✓Every major application in the iOS photography, mobile devices space supports HEIC natively.

Common Use Cases for 3FR to HEIC Conversion

• Digital art portfolios
• Brochure and flyer design
• Newsletter graphics
• Video thumbnail creation
• Certificate and badge design
• Websites and online content

Industry Applications

Best Practices for 3FR to HEIC Conversion

• →When converting 3FR to HEIC, check whether HEIC supports transparency — if not, your transparent areas will be filled with a solid color
• →Use HEIC for maximum quality archival and 3FR for lossless workflows
• →Optimize images for web to reduce page load times — tools like our converter let you adjust quality settings before conversion
• →Maintain original aspect ratio to avoid distortion during conversion
• →Always keep a backup of your original files before converting
• →Choose the appropriate quality settings for your specific use case

Related Article

Troubleshooting 3FR to HEIC Conversion

• !Converting 3FR to HEIC gives blurry output → increase the quality setting before conversion
• !Colors look different in HEIC than 3FR → check color profile mismatch (sRGB vs Adobe RGB)
• !File size changed more than expected → HEIC uses different compression, file size differences of 2-5x are normal
• !Transparent areas in 3FR turned white in HEIC → HEIC may not support transparency

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