RAW Format
A file format that stores unprocessed sensor data from a digital camera, allowing extensive post-processing flexibility without quality loss.
RAW format stores the uncompressed, unprocessed data captured by a digital camera's image sensor. While JPEG files are "finished products" with in-camera color correction and noise reduction applied, RAW files preserve the original "raw material" for later editing.
RAW files typically have 12-bit or 14-bit bit depth, offering vastly more tonal information than JPEG's 8-bit limit. This allows significant adjustments to white balance and exposure in post-processing with minimal quality degradation, making it the preferred format for professional photographers.
However, RAW files are large (20-50 MB per image) and cannot be displayed directly on the web. The standard workflow involves editing in RAW processing software, then exporting via the image conversion tool to web-friendly formats like JPEG or WebP.