A quick introduction
to shooting digital
images in RAW
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Most advanced cameras can shoot in RAW
Some cameras can shoot in RAW + JPEG
Most cameras offer the ability to convert a
RAW images into JPEG’s directly in the
camera.
To shoot in RAW you must set your camera to
shoot in RAW before you take the photo.
You cannot convert a non RAW file to a RAW
file and achieve the abilities of RAW.
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RAW is often referred to as digital negative.
RAW is the data your camera captured from
the sensor when you take a photo.
You can think of a RAW image similar to
undeveloped film. The information to create an
image is there but it is not usable yet.
RAW images are not processed much if at all.
RAW data is usually not compressed which
means the data make take up a little more
space.
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A JPEG image is a finalized image.
The data from the camera’s sensor has been
processed into a pixel image.
A JPEG image is compressed.
A JPEG file is a complete and is ready for
distribution or use.
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RAW larger files – JPEG Compressed Files
RAW retains more detail in highlight and
shadows.
RAW contains more color detail for more
accurate colors.
RAW requires processing – JPEG is ready to go
RAW allows camera settings like white balance
to be changed during processing.
RAW offers larger flexibility in editing photos.
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Which is better really comes down to what you
want out of the picture you are taking.
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Use JPEG if you just want to record an event.
Use JPEG if you don’t want to spend a lot of time
editing photos.
Use JPEG if you need to save space.
Use RAW if you want to add artistic interpretation.
Use RAW if the image contains difficult exposures.
Use RAW if you want more control of what the
photo looks like.
Noise is easier to remove in RAW images.
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RAW is sensor data not pixels so no pixel
editing techniques may be used. This includes:
Layers
 Collages
 Text/Shapes
 Boarders
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RAW images must be developed and exported
to a pixel image such as TIFF or JPEG before
using the above techniques.
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To view RAW images you need software that
can interpreted your camera’s RAW format.
Most camera maker uses their own proprietary
format to store the RAW data
Adobe’s DNG format is quickly gaining
popularity as a RAW format.
At first RAW may look unpolished and flat.
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Adobe: Photoshop/Elements/Lightroom
Adobe RAW to DNG Converter
Software from you camera manufacture (like
Nikon’s ViewNX or ViewNX2)
GIMP with UFRaw
Many other programs offer RAW abilities or
conversion.
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Lets take for example a photo you took that
had over and under exposed areas.
Your camera may not correctly identify the
white balance and detail is blow in the over
and under exposed areas.
Editing RAW often yields better results than
editing JPEG files.
Look at the following example.
These are just a few of the options when
editing RAW.
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RAW has become the favorite format for many
professional photographers and is gaining
popularity among the general public.
As its popularity increases the demands for editing
RAW increases and the boundaries between RAW
development and pixel editing is becoming
blurred.
RAW processing programs are getting better and
better with how they handle RAW images.
Many companies and clients are requiring their
photographers use RAW for achieving originals.