At the request of many VIP Readers, I am updating and republishing this article on the RAW format. If you have a camera that only shoots in JPG, this article won’t do you much good, but if you have an DSLR, an EVIL, or an advanced compact and currently only shoot in JPG, I’d recommend sticking with it. This article interests you.
I will try to explain in a very simplified way:
- What is the RAW format?
- The advantages of shooting photos in RAW mode
- The drawbacks of the RAW format
- Who is RAW suitable for?
- The different names of the RAW format
- Steps to process RAW format
What is the RAW format?
RAW means “raw” in English. Therefore, it is a format with which we keep the raw, unprocessed photo, Like we haven’t taken it yet. When you shoot a photo in the usual JPG format, the camera saves the image on the memory card definitively (with the settings that it considers) and does not admit changes later, or maybe it does, but very few. Instead, if you shoot the photo in RAW format you are somehow “preserving” the scene within the memory card and thus maintain the possibility of finishing taking the photo later, on your computer.
When you take pictures in JPG format, the camera saves the image permanently on the memory card in a format (JPG) that can be interpreted by any photography software. In addition, at that moment the camera registers the photo with certain data (white balance, saturation, exposure, contrast, etc.) and dispenses with other unnecessary data. Somehow the camera compresses the photo or packages it and leaves it ready to view at any time, send it to a friend, post it on social networks, and so on.
Instead, when you shoot with the RAW format, the camera records not only the image data but all possible values, leaving the photo somewhat “open” to any changes later. Imagine, for example, that you shoot the photo with certain exposure and white balance values, but later you change your mind and want to change those values to others, but you cannot shoot the photo again because you are already at home in front of your computer. . If you had only one JPG image, you could not change the truth, but if you had one in RAW then you would open it, make the necessary modifications, and at that moment you would obtain your definitive JPG image, already on the computer.
RAW images are therefore a kind of “negative”, a source file from which you can obtain the final image, which will always be a JPG.
Because let’s not fool ourselves, no matter how many detractors there are of photographic editing or retouching, it is the last step of a photograph, where we can contribute our vision as artists. Because when we take a photograph, we have imagined it in a way in our mind and the camera is not always capable of capturing exactly what we want. However, with the editor we can highlight some areas, highlight some colors, divert attention from less important parts, in short. Finish modeling the photo to our whim.
What are the advantages of shooting RAW photos?
All photography professionals shoot in RAW mode. In all the forums and events where you can find professional photographers, journalists, model photographers, etc., ask them what format they use, they will tell you RAW.
Why? What advantages does the RAW format bring me?
- Picture quality: The RAW format does not compress the photo like the JPG does. With a RAW photo you can be sure of capturing ALL the quality and information possible.
- Allows subsequent changes, adjustments, improvements: With the RAW format you can change almost everything in the photo. Except for details like framing, object/subject layout, etc., almost everything else you can change later. You can give the photo more exposure (light), change its white balance, make it warmer or cooler, change its saturation, and so on. For example, we all know that when shooting a photo in low light conditions, high ISO values are often used, and that causes the photo to have noise in the darkest parts. Well, thanks to the RAW format we can quietly, from the comfort of our computer table, minimize that noise, thanks to the possibilities offered by the RAW mode.
Examples of photos in RAW format before and after development
Here are some examples of photos taken in RAW format and what they looked like BEFORE and AFTER processing. You will see how amazing everything that the RAW format allows.
Disadvantages of shooting with RAW files
But if you decide to take photos in RAW, not everything will be advantages. Let’s see:
- Memory card space: The RAW format, being “raw” and uncompressed, takes up much more space on the memory card than the JPG format. Where 400 JPG photos fit, maybe only 110 RAW photos fit.
- Cumbersome post-production process: At first it’s cool to take photos in RAW format and work on them later on the computer, but after a while it starts to seem like a long, boring and fateful task. And it is that if you take photos in RAW you will only be able to use them, send them, publish them and share them once you have processed them on the computer.
- The RAW format is not unique and universal: The JPG format is unique and universal. All JPG’s are the same, all programs open and read JPG photos in the same way. This does not happen with RAW images as each camera has its own way of doing RAW. For example, Canon RAW is different from Nikon RAW. This poses a compatibility issue. Many warn that a RAW photo could be opened and used today but in 7 years it may not be as manufacturers update their software and sometimes switch from RAW.
Who is RAW suitable for?
If every time you do a session you come back with 200 or 300 photos, forget about RAW, since having to process so many images one by one on the computer can be very time consuming. On the other hand, if you take about 100 photos or less in each photo session, you may want to shoot in RAW. If you like to visualize your photographic works on the computer and spend some time working on your photos one by one, then RAW is definitely what you need.
If you have a very small memory card or you lack space then it will not be a good idea to shoot in RAW either, since it is a format that, as I said before, takes up a lot of memory, in those cases it is better to shoot in JPG. On the other hand, if you’re running out of space on your memory card, don’t skimp on RAW.
Another good indication of whether or not RAW is right for you is to ask yourself the question “Why do I want RAW?” If you find an answer to this question, well, go ahead and shoot RAW. But if, on the other hand, you don’t know what you want it for, if you shoot in RAW but in the end you don’t get any use out of it, then maybe it’s better for you to continue with the JPG and that’s it.
Let’s now see the same photograph taken in JPG, in RAW and with a basic RAW development:
RAW JPG Developed RAW
It is a simple scene so you can see that if you do not plan to edit anything, the best is the JPG, but with two or three adjustments, your RAW can change a lot, as we have seen before.
RAW vs. JPG
If you are more into watching or listening than reading, in this video, Violeta explains very well on her channel what I just told you:
RAW file names, clearing up the mess
While a JPG is a JPG for Sony, Canon, Nikon, Lightroom, your aunt, your cousin, etc., a RAW, as I told you before, has different names. RAW is raw format, let’s say, but each brand calls it in a different way. So if you come across a file that says CR2, don’t panic, that’s because you took the photo in RAW format with a Canon camera.
Names of the RAW format according to each brand
Let’s see then how each RAW is called depending on the brand:
So if you find any file with any of these names rareyou know the explanation.
Steps to process RAW format
1. Download the RAW photos to your computer
The first step is to download the photos to your computer. Management is important, so if you always use the same program, for example, Lightroom, it is best to import the photos from that same program, especially if, as in this case, it is a program that not only reveals, but it is also a good file manager. This way you will not lose photos and it will be easier for you to always locate them.
Speaking of programs software…
2. Download a program or software to reveal the RAW format
It is likely that at some point you have found that your computer is not capable of opening a RAW file, and that is because, unless you do it through the appropriate program, you may find yourself with an incompatible file or with a reading error. Because not all photo editing programs are capable of reading a RAW file.
Let’s start with the basics. What do you need to develop a RAW file and turn it into a JPG that any device can read? The right program. The possibilities are:
Your operating system software, either Windows or iOS
In both operating systems you will find the Photos program with which you can reveal your RAW files and convert them to JPG after making some basic adjustments.
Here you can see a screenshot of a reveal in iOS Photos.
Reveal tools in iOS Photos
Below is the before and after of a basic development with this program.
Original Revealed
The software of each brand
When you buy your camera you are entitled to the original software of the brand of your camera.
Interface of Digital Photo Professional, Canon’s software
When you enter the software page, it asks you for information such as the model of your camera and/or the serial number. Some are compatible only with that model or with several but not with all of the brand.
free programs
There are free programs, in addition to those of the brand or each operating system, that have many followers and that work very well. They may not be as complete as the professional or paid ones, but for an amateur who wants to do a basic development they are really useful.
These are some, if you want us to delve deeper into any of them, you just have to leave it in the comments.
- GIMP
- LightZone
- Raw Therapee
- Dark Table
- digicam
payment programs
For a much more elaborate development, you also have other paid ones, choosing a free or paid one will depend on your needs, budget and tastes. Payment programs that we recommend:
- light room
- Capture One
- Camera RAW is not exactly a development program, but a plugin from Adobe to be able to work with Photoshop from a RAW file. No, Photoshop by itself does not open RAW files.
Revealed in Lightroom
3. Reveal your RAW photos
You use the…