RAW file – the very much recognized way of saving your files

In digital photography RAW file is a term you probably have heard about. The last year or two this has become more and more popular. This lossless file format is only available in DSLR and some high end compact cameras.

Red flower macro

A file saved in RAW contains the original image information as it comes from the sensor without any processing in the camera. The format is also called digital negative. You can do the processing afterwards on your computer using software that can read and process the format. The advantage with this is you are not dependent on the manufacturer’s software settings on how the photo should be processed inside the camera.

My previous camera the Nikon D70 had possibilities of saving the photo as RAW (Nikon NEF format). I must admit I did not use this option much, simply because I did not know the advantages with uncompressed files shooting. After I discovered the great possibilities of this way of saving the files I have started to use it more and more. Since the post-processing takes time, and not all photos will be processed, I also store a compresses JPG file on the memory card.

Advantages with the RAW format

In the case of a not perfectly exposed photo, saved as RAW you have great flexibility in making adjustments. With proper conversion software you can manipulate parameters as white balance, hue, saturation, etc, with greater extent of flexibility

Indian snake sharmer

If you are shooting in difficult light conditions like inside in fluorescent light, you don’t need to bother about the correct white balance setting. The white balance correction can be done by the software after the shooting.

RAW files stores 12 or 14 bits of information and not the 8 bits compressed format like in processed JPEG files. Because the data is not yet processed to a given color space gamut, you have more flexibility in adjusting highlights, shadows and colors.

For convenience most cameras allows you to save image files as both JPEG and RAW at the same time.

Disadvantages with the RAW format

The size of the files is significantly larger (three to four times) than compressed JPG`s. Because of this you get fewer photos on your memory cards. It also takes longer time saving to the camera storage card.

You will have to spent time on post processing of the photos before you can do much with them. It is worth the time spent if you can make a photo which is not perfect – perfect.

Different camera manufacturers use different formats. Therefore you have to use the software from the manufacturer delivered with the camera. Dedicated converting software is also available or you can install a plug-in with your existing photo editing software.

Nikons RAW format is called NEF-files while Canon is naming the files as CRW or CR2.


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