RAW
Unprocessed sensor data from a digital camera. Enables full post-capture control over exposure and white balance.
RAW is a collective term for file formats that store the unprocessed output of a digital camera's image sensor before the camera's internal processing engine applies color correction, noise reduction, or compression. While JPEG completes all processing in-camera, RAW preserves the sensor's output in its near-original state.
Each camera manufacturer uses proprietary RAW formats (Canon's .CR3, Nikon's .NEF, Sony's .ARW, etc.). Adobe's DNG (Digital Negative) provides a vendor-neutral open RAW format recommended for long-term archival.
- Dynamic range: 12-14 bits of tonal information are preserved, allowing recovery of detail from blown highlights and crushed shadows
- White balance: Color temperature can be freely adjusted after capture, fully recovering from incorrect in-camera settings
- Non-destructive editing: Development software like Lightroom and Capture One stores edit parameters in sidecar files without modifying the original data
RAW files are large (20-80 MB per image), making storage and backup planning essential. They cannot be directly displayed on the web or submitted for print, requiring export (development) to JPEG, TIFF, or PNG for final delivery. Professional workflows typically use RAW + JPEG simultaneous recording, combining immediate-review JPEGs with RAW files for post-processing flexibility.