RAW + JPG culling for Windows

Cull the whole shoot at the speed of your keyboard.

Chronicle Photo Sort is a fast, folder-based culling tool for photographers. Point it at a folder, rate and flag one-handed, then route, separate or export the keepers — with RAW and JPG kept together the whole way.

30-day trial · no card required · Windows 10 & 11

move 15 rate P pick X reject C compare
Chronicle Photo Sort
Chronicle Photo Sort main window: folder tree, photo in the loupe, filmstrip and metadata inspector

The workflow

Three steps. Then you're done.

Chronicle does one thing well: it gets you from a full card to a clean set of keepers, fast.

01 — LINK

Point it at a folder

No importing, no catalog, no waiting. Chronicle reads your folder in place and stacks each RAW and JPG pair together automatically.

02 — CULL

Rate and flag by hand

Arrow through frames, rate 1–5, pick or reject, drop colour labels — all from the keyboard. Ratings save straight to XMP sidecars.

03 — FILE

Keep what matters

Extract your selects, route by capture date, split RAW from JPG, or export with a rename pattern. Originals only move when you say so.

What's inside

Everything you need to cull, nothing you don't.

RAW

RAW + JPG, stacked

Shoot RAW+JPG? Chronicle pairs them by name and treats them as one photo, so a rating, label or move applies to both at once.

Real RAW previews

Embedded preview extraction for Canon CR2/CR3, Nikon NEF, Sony ARW, Fujifilm RAF, Panasonic RW2, Olympus, Pentax, DNG and more — no slow full decode.

Ratings, picks & labels

Five-star ratings, pick/reject flags and five colour labels. Filter the view to picks, 4★ and up, unrated or rejects in a tap.

Omnibox search

Filter by what matters: iso: f: fl: cam: kw:. Type kw:wedding and only the wedding frames remain.

XMP

Lightroom-friendly

Ratings, labels and keywords write to standard XMP sidecars, so Lightroom and Bridge read them too. Or tuck sidecars away to keep folders tidy.

Export & rename

Copy or move your selection with rename presets — by name, sequence, capture date or a custom label, previewed live before you commit.

Built for big folders

Thumbnails stream in and cache to disk, so a 12,000-frame folder stays responsive. Long moves show progress, cancel cleanly, and warn before you close.

Non-destructive

Chronicle never edits your pixels. It moves or copies files only on your instruction — and undo covers your ratings, flags and labels.

Keyboard-first

Your hand never leaves the keys. Every cull action is a single keystroke, with auto-advance to the next frame after you rate.

Decide with confidence

Compare near-duplicates side by side.

Select two to four frames and open Compare. Zoom and pan move in lockstep across every image, so you can judge sharpness and expression on the same detail at the same time.

  • Synchronised zoom and pan across all panes
  • Pick the keeper without leaving the comparison
  • Ideal for burst frames and blink checks
Compare view showing three near-identical frames side by side with synchronised zoom
Route by capture date dialog with destination, date pattern, label and a live example path

File the keepers

Route by date, your way.

Send photos into dated folders using a pattern you choose — year, ISO date, friendly dates, your own label. A live example shows the exact folder before anything moves.

  • Custom date patterns with an editable label
  • Separate RAW from JPG into tidy subfolders
  • Extract your 4★+ selects in one action

Make it yours

Three themes for three moods.

Switch instantly — no restart. A crimson darkroom for late nights, clean daylight for bright rooms, or a muted earthy palette in between.

Chronicle in the dark crimson theme
Dark · crimson darkroom
Chronicle in the light theme
Light · clean daylight
Chronicle in the earthy olive theme
Earthy · olive & sage

Hands on the keys

Cull at the pace you think.

Every decision is one keystroke. Rate, flag and label without reaching for the mouse, and let auto-advance carry you to the next frame.

Move between photos
15 Rate  ·  0 clears
PX Pick  /  Reject
69 Colour labels
C Compare selected
Keyboard shortcuts reference

Pricing

Buy once. Yours to keep.

No subscription. A one-time licence with a year of updates, on up to two of your machines.

Perpetual licence
£39.99
  • One-time payment, no subscription
  • Use on up to 2 of your own PCs
  • One year of free updates
  • 30-day trial, no card required
  • Email support from the developer
Buy a licence

Secure checkout & VAT handled by Paddle

Good to know

Questions, answered.

Which RAW formats are supported?

Canon (CR2, CR3, CRW), Nikon (NEF, NRW), Sony (ARW, SRF, SR2), Fujifilm (RAF), Panasonic (RW2), Olympus (ORF), Pentax (PEF), Adobe DNG, Sigma (X3F) and more. Chronicle reads each file's embedded preview for fast, accurate thumbnails.

Will it change or edit my photos?

No. Chronicle never alters your image pixels. Ratings, flags, labels and keywords are written to standard XMP sidecar files, and your originals are only moved or copied when you choose an action like route, separate or export.

Does it work with Lightroom?

Yes. Because ratings and labels are stored as standard XMP, Lightroom and Adobe Bridge read them straight away. Prefer tidy folders? Switch sidecars to a hidden subfolder instead.

Does it need an internet connection?

No. Chronicle works entirely offline. A connection is only needed to activate your licence; after that it runs without one.

What do I need to run it?

Windows 10 or 11. Chronicle is a lightweight desktop app — no catalog database, no cloud account.

Is there a refund policy?

Yes. There's a free 30-day trial so you can be sure before buying, and purchases are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.