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What is the difference between raw and jpeg. RAW vs JPEG: A Complete Guide. RAW vs JPEG: Dynamic Range Comparison

06/05 8474

Surprisingly, many aspiring photographers shoot RAW without really thinking about why. If you ask them why he is so popular with them, they will immediately answer: “You know, this is so cool! All great photographers shoot RAW! " Okay. If you think so, then let's check the correctness of your beliefs in our conversation today.

Imagine: you have just purchased a modern camera, figured out how to change the format and ... are faced with an unexpected choice. The most curious of you will urgently go to Google and begin to study different opinions. Those who value time will begin to ask questions to their "expert" comrades.

Since “Photo Search” is “rummaging” in photography, you can follow his advice: if you are in doubt about choosing a format, choose JPEG.

Why? Let's figure it out together. Today, JPEG (or JPG) is the most popular format for viewing images. He is universal. It can be read by any device inturning on your mobile phone. All digital cameras are "sharpened" for shooting in JPEG. The reason is quite simple: this format gives excellent quality with the least time spent on image processing.

RAW (from English raw - raw) - a format that is obtained by reading an image from a matrix without any processing or correction. Schematically, everything looks like this:

Purpose of RAW.

RAW is the raw material for designers. It is intended for special processing and adjustment. Usually it is subjected to the following operations:

exposure correction within certain limits;
changing the white balance;
adjusting brightness and contrast, etc.

However, all the changes you are going to make will not reduce the quality of the image. In other words, you can change all the values that were previously set in the menu before shooting.

Drawbacks in working with RAW.

1. Since this format is by definition a "raw material", it is several times heavier than JPEG and takes up a lot of space on the memory card.

2. Reformatting RAW to JPEG still cannot be avoided, because it needs to be printed or shown to friends.

3. For a photographer, time means money. And for processing and toconverting RAW takes a lot of time.

4. RAW itself has variations. The fact is that photo equipment manufacturers use different settings for RAW files:

Nikon - .NEF;
Canon - .CRW;
SONY - .ARW.

This, in turn, implies different software for processing and adjusting RAW files. It follows from this that different graphic editors work with information in different ways. As a result, your RAW will look completely different in someone else's program.

Purpose of JPEG.

Everyone loves him and he loves everyone. JPEG reads almost anythingdigital device. It is created from the same RAW file. When converting, all your settings set in the camera menu, such as color, white balance, are taken into account. It will no longer be possible to significantly change JPEG.

Since reformatting involves compression, nits different degrees are considered:

JPEG Basic; JPEG Normal; JPEG Fine.

As the JPEG quality increases, so does the file weight. Of course, the question arises: which one to choose. You will have to decide personally. But the choice here is between quality and space on the memory card. If you find it difficult to make a decision, then select JPEG Normal. The fact is that the difference between the Fine and Normal quality is almost imperceptible, but the weight of JPEG Fine is twice as much. To be definitively determined, it is worthwhile to practice well. Moreover, no one has any problems with such a possibility today. For example, wedding photographers, children's photographers or corporate photographers will not always be able to "catch" a good or comical shot. But you are a completely different matter.

5. The processing speed of RAW files is much slower because they are large. Much time is wasted because of this. Reportage will not forgive this, since invaluable footage will be lost.

Two birds with one stone: JPEG + RAW.

We have no doubt that your natural curiosity has led you to delve into camera settings. And you've already noticed the RAW + JPEG option. If you activate it, then your camera will create two files at once: RAW + JPEG.

The advantage of this option is that you will have both formats and the problem of choice will be delayed in time. But the disadvantage is that each image will now take up more space and spend more time processing. And for a photographer, as we said, time is money. Another problem arises: fast filling of the memory card with unnecessary duplicates. You will be sorry to delete them. This is reminiscent of a situation when people are afraid to part with clothes that have long and reliably gone out of fashion: they are almost new and the money has been paid for them, but wearing them is awkward. And throwing it away is a pity. And the closet is full for a long time.

Bottom line.

So, if you have not decided on the choice of the format - definitely shoot in JPEG.

If you are a designer or an advanced Photoshop user, shoot in RAW.

If you need to make many identical shots of the same object in order to choose one of them later, take pictures in JPEG. Conversely, when you need to take one shot instead of ten, it is better to set RAW.

But first of all, decide on your future in photography. If you are going to be a photo reporter or just a knowledgeable friend in your company (department, team, party), then learn to do everything quickly and immediately. Learn how to set up your camera correctly yourself.

If you are going to charge a lot of money for photo retouching, spend more time at the computer than with the camera - set in RAW options and learn Photoshop. Different specialists are needed.

The main thing is to make the right choice right away!

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What is a RAW Image?

A RAW image (also known as a “digital negative”) is an image file that contains the raw or minimally processed data from a digital camera sensor. Like raw food ingredients that need to be prepared before consumption, a RAW image also needs to be post-processed in a graphics editor before it is ready for printing, web publishing, or display on any device. Unlike JPEG files, which can be easily opened, viewed, and printed with most image viewing and editing programs, RAW is a narrower format that is specific to a specific camera model. Therefore, for the software to work with a RAW file, it must be compatible with the specific camera with which the RAW image was captured. Post-processing RAW images can provide greater dynamic range with better highlights and shadows, superior colors, and in some cases can even provide more detail than JPEG images.

RAW files usually consist of three main parts: the actual RAW data from the image sensor, the camera-processed full-size JPEG file for preview + thumbnail, and all relevant header and metadata information. To enable cameras to display the recorded image on the LCD monitor, the camera-processed JPEG file is used for preview. The image title, as well as parts of the metadata, are used to tell graphic editors with what settings the shot was taken and on what equipment. This information is needed for RAW development and for filtering, sorting and cataloging images. This image from the San Juan Mountains of Colorado was photographed in RAW and then converted to JPEG using Lightroom.

Colorado Fall Colors Road, post-productionvLightroom with14-bitRAW image.

Benefits of RAW format

Much more shades of color... Compared to an 8-bit JPEG image, which can only contain up to 16.8 million colors (256 tonal values for the red, green, and blue channels), a 12-bit RAW image can contain up to 68.7 billion colors (4096 tonal values per color channel). The move to 14-bit RAW images dramatically increases the RGB tonal values to 16384, which increases the potential to 4.4 trillion colors. And some high-end cameras are even capable of recording 16-bit RAW images, giving 65,536 tonal values per color channel, resulting in a staggering 281 trillion colors. If you are wondering about the difference between this number and JPEG, that's 16.8 million times that!

Wider dynamic range and color gamut. A RAW image contains a wider dynamic range and color gamut than a JPEG image. For recovering highlights and shadows when an image or portions of an image are underexposed or overexposed, a RAW image offers much better drop-recovery potential in highlights or shadows than JPEG.

Finer control and customization options... When a RAW image is generated, all camera parameters, including camera information and manufacturer information (also known as image metadata), are appended to the file along with the RAW data from the image sensor. The metadata is then used for the process of demosaicing and converting RAW to graphics. This process converts a black and white RAW image to color and applies special gamma correction, white balance, brightness, contrast, and other adjustments. This means that the RAW image itself remains unchanged - you can make changes to the image later in post-processing applications such as Lightroom and Photoshop.

You can adjust the color space after shooting... Similar to white balance, a color space (such as sRGB or Adobe RGB) is also not preserved in RAW images, which means you can later change it to any color space.

Lossless RAW images... Unlike JPEG, RAW images usually use lossless compression (unless special lossy RAW compression is selected), meaning they do not suffer from image compression artifacts.

Sharper shots... For RAW files, unlike JPG files, the sharpness is not enhanced by software cameras, which means you can use better and more sophisticated sharpening algorithms for your photos.

Can be used to convert to other RAW formats... When using the RAW format, images can be combined to create HDR or panoramas in the DNG file format using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. This opens up possibilities for editing images just like RAW files, with maximum editing potential and recovery options.

Proof of ownership and authenticity... Unlike JPEG images, which are easy to manipulate, RAW images can be used as proof of your ownership and photo authenticity. If you see an alien and you have a RAW image to prove it, no one can claim that you “photoshopped” the photo :)

Disadvantages of RAW format

RAW file must be developed... RAW files require post-processing and conversion to a format such as JPEG before they can be viewed normally, which adds time to your photography workflow.

More storage space required... RAW images take up much more storage space than JPEG images. This means fewer images can be stored on your memory cards and the camera buffer can fill up quickly, resulting in a significant drop in burst shots. You will also need more storage space on your computer to store all the RAW images you captured.

RAW format compatible... RAW files are not standardized across different manufacturers. For example, Nikon software cannot read Canon files and vice versa. Also, not all image viewers and editors can open all RAW files. If you have a new camera that has just been released, you might have to wait a while for the development companies to catch up and update their software so your RAW files can be opened and processed.

Impossibility of exchange. You will have to convert your RAW files to a compatible format such as JPEG or TIFF before you can transfer them to your friends and clients as they may not have the proper tools to view them.

More files... Since RAW files cannot be modified by third-party software, your settings must be saved in a separate additional file (XMP). On top of that, you will most likely also be storing post-processed JPEG images, which will result in more files.

Longer backup... Due to the large file sizes of RAW images, the backup procedure takes much longer.

This image was captured in RAW and then converted to JPEG using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

Bedouins with their camels. This image was captured in RAW format and converted to JPEG with a little tweaking.

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 24-70 mmf / 4 S @ 70mm, ISO 100, 1/2000, f / 8.0

What is a JPEG image?

JPEG is an image format that uses lossy compression to store and display digital images. Due to its high compression efficiency, it is the most popular and most widely used image format today, and most devices and software have built-in capabilities for reading and displaying JPEG images. Various quality levels (usually percentages) can be applied to JPEG images, which affect the overall quality and final image size. Poor conversion quality results in higher compression ratios, smaller files and the appearance of compression artifacts, while images saved with a setting of more High Quality, reduce the likelihood of compression artifacts by increasing the file size.

Benefits of the JPEG format

Already processed. JPEG images are fully processed in-camera and all parameters such as white balance, color saturation, tonal curve, sharpening, and color space are already applied to the photo. This way you don't have to waste time post-processing the image, it is basically ready to use.

Small size... JPEG images are much smaller than RAW images and therefore take up much less space on the computer and elsewhere.

Compatibility... Most modern devices and software support JPEG images, making the format extremely compatible and practical.

Doesn't slow down your camera... Due to their smaller size, cameras can record JPEG files much faster than RAW files, which increases the number of frames that can fit into the camera's buffer. This means that compared to RAW, you can shoot continuously at higher frames per second and for longer periods of time without slowing down your camera.

Compression selection. Digital cameras and post-processing software provide different levels of compression for saving JPEG images, giving you the flexibility and choice of image quality based on size. Some software, such as JPEGmini, can automatically compress JPEG images without any visible loss in quality, further reducing storage space.

Faster backups. The smaller size also provides faster and more efficient backups.

Disadvantages of the JPEG format

Lossy compression... A lossy image compression algorithm means you will lose some data from your photos. This loss of detail, especially in highly compressed files, can lead to posterization problems as well as visible "artifacts" around objects that can be seen with the naked eye.

JPEG is 8-bit. The JPEG image format is limited to 8 bits, which imposes a hard limit of 16.8 million possible colors. This means that all other colors that your camera is capable of recording are essentially discarded when converting the image to JPEG.

Severely limited post-processing recovery options. JPEG images contain much less data, which greatly limits their dynamic range and the potential for information recovery in underexposed or overexposed areas. This means that if you overexpose or underexpose an image, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to recover the detail in these shots.

Camera settings affect JPEG images... Since cameras fully process JPEG images, any camera adjustments that could damage the resulting image will be irreversible. For example, if you apply too much sharpening to your images, you won't be able to undo this action later.

So which is better to use RAW or JPEG?

Let's now move on to the most important question - should you use RAW or JPEG for your photography?

For me, shooting in RAW far outweighs the benefits of using JPEG. Hard drives and memory cards are inexpensive these days, and file size doesn't bother me even for backups... Since I already spend a significant amount of time shooting, I don't mind spending a little more time and effort processing the footage. True, if I had to process each image one at a time, I would, of course, give up RAW altogether, because I would not have had time to view tens of thousands of frames. However, with the selection, cataloging and post-processing programs that allow me to batch process my images, things have become much easier.

On top of that, my investment of time, as well as the cost of disk space, are relatively minor issues compared to my amazing ability to recover information from RAW photos. Like many other photographers, I have encountered situations where I was able to take a poorly exposed image or ruin the white balance in a photograph that captures an important moment, for example, a wedding photo or a paid corporate shoot. If I only shot in JPEG format, I would have failed. But thanks to RAW and its recovery potential, exposure and white balance errors are relatively easy to fix (as long as the exposure errors are not too large). RAW can make a huge difference in these situations, especially when photographing rare, special moments that cannot be reproduced again.

RAW vs JPEG: An example of an underexposed image

Now, will I show the difference when trying to recover data from a RAW image versus a JPEG? Let's take a look at the first example:

Severely underexposed photo

I shot in manual mode, and the shutter speed was adjusted for a certain lighting, and I had to take the frame in a darker place, but I forgot to make the exposure compensation, and in the end I got such an underexposed frame. But since I shot in RAW and was able to almost completely restore the details that would have been lost otherwise. It was the best shot of the groom's face, and I didn't want to lose one. Look at the photos below, the first one was restored from a RAW file, where I made an exposure compensation by 5 stops, the second photo was restored from a JPG file, which is written to the memory card in parallel with the RAW. I did the same manipulation with the JPG file as with the RAW file.

As you can see, the difference between them is very noticeable and significant. Restoring the image with 5 stops of exposure compensation in Lightroom was a bit extreme in this case, and I certainly got more noise in the final image, but it was still quite usable. Now, if I captured the same JPEG image and underexposed it, I would not be able to recover all this data, and I would not be able to transfer such a frame to my clients.

It's hard to believe that such a recovery is possible with a RAW file until you try it yourself. Set your camera to RAW + JPEG, then underexpose the image a few stops and see how much more recovery potential you have with a RAW image versus a JPEG. You will be amazed at what you see.

RAW vs.JPEG: Reconstructing Long Exposure Images

Now let's take a look at another underexposed photo I took at night using a very slow shutter speed of 262 seconds. The battery in my camera was about to run out, so I stopped the exposure to replace the battery:

Severely underexposed long exposure image

NIKON Z 7 + NIKKOR Z 35mm f / 1.8 S @ 35mm, ISO 64, 262 seconds, f / 4.0

Unfortunately, the next shot did not work because it got much brighter at dawn and the stars disappeared from the sky. I thought I couldn't recover the first frame, but by moving the exposure slider to +4.5 in Lightroom, I was able to pull out all the details in the photo, which was incredible! Then I tweaked a few image parameters such as Highlights, Shadows, White and Contrast, and this is what I was able to get as a result:

This image has been fully restored from shadow with an exposure compensation of + 4.5 and other settings in Lightroom.

Now, I'll show you what I got by doing the same manipulations with the JPG file of the same frame. Here's the result:

Unsuccessful attempt to restore the JPEG image - it is completely unusable.

RAW vs. JPEG: Post-Processing RAW vs. JPEG Images

The following example includes a frame with an overexposed sky. Here is the original RAW image without any post-processing:

Image with an overexposed sky

X-H1 + XF35mmF2 R WR @ 35mm, ISO 200, 1/10, f / 5.6

The first photo below is a RAW image with the sky reconstructed and different tonal adjustments made using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. The second photo underwent the same manipulations, but it was in JPG format.

Photo inRAW

Photo inJpg

As you can see, the original JPEG image contained almost no data to reconstruct the sky, so it looks gray. Most of the cloud in the upper right corner, as well as all the clouds on the left, were also overexposed and I was unable to recover them. In addition to all of this, if you look closely, you'll also find subtle differences in other areas of the image that don't favor JPEG.

RAW vs JPEG: Dynamic Range Comparison

Here's an example, this is the original.

And here is what happened after processing. The first photo was restored from RAW by +5 stops of exposure compensation. The second photo was shot in JPG and also underwent +5 stops of exposure compensation.

This is a radical difference in the ability to restore color and detail!

Anyway, here's my takeaway on the RAW versus JPEG debate: if you're serious about photography, you should always shoot in RAW. If you're just photographing your family for fun and aren't doing post-processing, then be sure to shoot in JPEG.

JPG VS RAW

There is a lot of controversy on the Internet about in what format to shoot... People are going crazy testing the quality of these two giants of the photo industry, professionals make ardent reviews in favor of the superiority of RAW over JPEG, but the fact remains that the end user needs exactly JPEG.
Few people take into account for what purposes these formats are intended, and depending on the goals, you need to choose the format.

So that a couple of filming tricks:

1. If you have a regular soap box, most likely there is no possibility to shoot in RAW, this should not sadden you, the quality of the pictures will not be reflected in any way.
2. If you have a DSLR of any level, most likely there is an opportunity to shoot in RAW, the choice depends on the purpose for which you are shooting

Still, shoot in RAW, but what about JPEG? And also different PNJ, TIFF, NEF, CR2?
It's very simple, if you need or plan to modify the image on a computer, I definitely recommend RAW, it will help to preserve more details, information about the shooting and will allow you to correct the basic image settings (such as working with noise, color settings, work on sharpness ) with little or no loss in image quality.
If your plans do not include post-processing of photos - feel free to set the JPEG mode and know that the photos will be of the same good quality as after the direct conversion from RAW.
If you are a professional and every step of shades and balances is very important, then you will undoubtedly have to use RAW, in prof. cameras have the ability to increase the amount of color information to 14 bits per pixel, while JPEG has only 8 bits per pixel. The same can be said for other specific data formats for saving photographs. I advise you to familiarize yourself with.

Cons of RAW
1. LARGE file weight, usually the files are not compressed by the camera's processor algorithms and quickly fill up the space on the memory card. For example, RAWs weigh an average of 10 MB each, only 5 MB each. The volume is highly dependent on the number of megapixels on the camera and the level of compression.
2. Variety of formats- each company has its own standard of "raw images" and you will have to spend a lot of time to find the right software, install, configure and understand how it works.
3.Required knowledge to work with files- if you do not have the necessary basic knowledge about the parameters of photography and their refinement, then it makes no sense to just shoot in RAW, and then simply convert to auto settings - you can do the same by shooting simply in JPEG.
4. Time to rework RAW several times longer than the time for the actual shooting.
5. Some cameras shoot much slower in RAW format (especially with 14 bit color depth), for example, it can shoot only 2.5 fps at 14 bit RAW

Pros of RAW
1. The picture carries more original information about the picture
2. It is possible to modify the main shooting parameters within reasonable limits without losing quality (you can adjust the exposure up to 3 stops without losing details, etc.).

The main disadvantages of JPEG
1. His accumulative properties a - if something is changed and saved, then it is simply not possible to return it back without loss of quality.
2. A smaller range of color shades than RAW, but for an ordinary user, and even on a bad monitor, you simply will not notice the difference, even when printing, the costs of working with RAW are not always worth the benefits. Moreover, you basically have to compress it into JPEG in order to print a photo.

The main advantages of JPEG
1. Versatility- any device will be able to recognize and read this format. You have come to your friends and you can always show the photo in JPEG, and if you came to your friends with RAW you will have to spend a lot of time to open the photo.
2. Dynamic compression- you can put any level of compression and get files of any size.

Conclusions: the answer to the question "in what format to shoot" comes with experience and needs, personally I recommend not to bother and shoot in JPEG.
And do not believe that all professionals shoot in RAW, professionals shoot as they find it convenient and appropriate.

Thank you for your attention, Arkady Shapoval

Welcome to my blog again. We are in touch with you, Timur Mustaev. As soon as a beginner photographer masters the control of his camera, he begins to wonder what a RAW photo format is. In this article, you will find out what it is, why is it better to shoot in RAW format, and what benefits can you get from it? Let's proceed in order.

Definition of the concept

Let's start with the simplest question. What is raw format?

RAW(from the English word raw - raw) - one of the data formats containing raw information that is obtained directly from the photomatrix. That is, the file stores complete information about the image.

In the world of photography, the "raw" format is perfect because only serious cameras can use this format.

Important! RAW is the common name for the format. But it's worth knowing that RAW is NEF in Nikon, and CR2 in Canon.

Pros and cons of this format

Advantages:

The bit depth of files varies from 12 to 14 bits, while JPEG has only 8 bits. What does this parameter give? It prevents the appearance of pasteurization - the appearance of color jumps when brightness changes instead of smooth transitions.
can be configured either before shooting, or after it, in other words, can be later processed in the editor.
Many shooting parameters become the raw material for "sculpting" the perfect image. They can be easily changed. What are these parameters?

Digital noise (its elimination is much easier than in other formats);
The presence of sharpness (increase in the indicator);
Brightness;
Saturation;
Colour contrast.

Correction can correct even difficult optical imperfections such as vignetting or aberration.
Using all the possibilities will allow you to normalize photos in terms of brightness, that is, to avoid overexposures or darkened areas in which there is no information about details at all.
The original information remains untouched during editing, you can always start a new file conversion.
Different converters present the RAW file in different ways, so the photographer can easily find the one that suits them both in terms of management and creative criteria.
The photographic latitude of a RAW file is significantly higher than that of a JPEG. This helps with contrast shooting and when shooting on a bright sunny afternoon.

Disadvantages of the format:

The write speed to the camera's memory card is slow, so shooting over 6 frames / sec. Will not work.
Takes up more memory than JPEG because it has more image information.
A quick view of these images will not work, since it can only be opened through a converter - a special program that reads this format.
A "raw" file cannot be sent to social networks, to a blog, sometimes even sending by e-mail fails. This will only become available after converting the file.
You need to try several programs for viewing "raw" files in order to choose the best option for yourself.

When should you shoot raw?

You have more time to process the photo.
You have no memory limits for storing photos.
You have the desire and confidence that you can see and convey the world better than a soulless camera.
You love deep, long-lasting creative processing of your images. In this case, an excess of information will act as an auxiliary material for you.
You want to get the most out of your camera and take advantage of the dynamic range. Those objects that are not included in the dynamic range appear either overexposed or heavily darkened, that is, they are deprived of all details.
You do not like the pictures taken in JPEG format. You are confident in getting the best quality RAW photos.

Opening a raw file

How to open a file?

One of the simplest methods is - double click with the mouse on this file. In this case, Windows must choose the program itself to open such files by default.

If the file won't open, what should I do? The main reason is the absence of an application program for viewing and processing such "raw" extensions. Therefore, you need to install it!

Conversion programs

How to open RAW format?

The simplest program for opening and processing should be provided by the manufacturer of the SLR camera in a set on a disk. For example, Nikon has Nikon Imaging and Capture NX, and Canon has Canon Utilities RAW Image Converter.

If we talk about more professional programs, then the most popular utility is Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. He will help not only to process the photo, but also to send it for publication for sale.

The second most popular is the well-known Photoshop. I would like to note that one cannot get rid of the installation of the program. It is necessary to install the auxiliary plug-in Adobe Camera RAW, which will translate information for Photoshop into an accessible language.

Today, this plugin already includes a graphics editor Photoshop by default, so you don't have to worry about additional downloads.

The main drawback of both Lightroom and Photoshop is the price of the license.

Now I want to make a list of free programs that are less common:

« Microsoft Camera Codec Pack"- the official file, suitable only for Windows! Includes many formats. It is easily downloaded from the official site and allows you to view any photo.
XnView- a free utility that supports 500 formats and has some simple processing functions, for example, changing the brightness and resolution of an image.
IrfanView – free program for viewing and minor editing. Has batch image conversion. There are many plugins to expand the program's capabilities.
ACDSee Is a paid program that costs $ 99.99. It is used not only for viewing, but also for editing and even sorting images. On top of that, you get your own cloud storage.

Shoot in RAW format with post-processing in a graphics editor.
You only get material for your future photography - remember this!
Set the white balance using the available modes, that is, approximately. More precise settings can be adjusted later.

Personally, I photograph in 2 formats at the same time, it is RAW + JPEG of good quality. What is this advantage? It's simple. After hundreds of captured images, review and selection is required. Therefore, in the JPEG format, I view all the photos I have taken and delete unnecessary ones (including raw ones). After that, with the rest, you can work, that is, process and bring to mind.

Important! Be aware that any photograph taken either by an amateur DSLR or a professional one needs to be processed.

Finally, my advice to you. If you really want to learn how to take high-quality photos and process them correctly, develop and improve in this area, do not stand still. It will bring you more emotion and positive photography experience.

Here are some videos of courses with which to start your development:

or My first MIRROR... This video course is a great cheat sheet for mastering all the nuances of photography and mastering a DSLR. This is your assistant in the world of high-quality photographs. The course is very simple and contains practical examples.
Lightroom is an indispensable tool for the modern photographer... A good video course is that everything is described in detail with examples, in a very simple and understandable language. All processing examples are shown in RAW format. Highly recommend, especially for beginners!
Photoshop from scratch in VIP 3.0 video format... For people who want to learn how to work in Photoshop. All the basics for becoming a professional in processing.
Photoshop for the photographer 3.0. VIP... This course is specifically for photographers who do not stand still, but want to get masterpieces out of their photos. Processing, retouching and much more can be found in this video course. All the secrets of photo processing in one course.

My first MIRROR- for CANON camera lovers.

DSLR for Beginner 2.0- for NIKON camera lovers.

This concludes my detailed article on the "raw" format. Remember, professional photographers choose the RAW format because it is the material for transforming their creative ideas! Share in in social networks and also subscribe to further updates on my blog.

All the best to you, Timur Mustaev.

All SLR cameras are capable of storing images in at least two formats. JPEG is the most widely used format. These files are easily readable by almost any electronic device. The RAW format is familiar to fewer people, but offers many more editing options. Some more cameras can save images in TIFF format, this is a kind of intermediate link.

JPEG and RAW image sizes are different... Moreover, the difference is sometimes colossal. This alone indicates that much more information is stored in the RAW file. Large volume was previously considered a serious disadvantage. But now the situation has changed, as memory cards for 32 and 64 GB have appeared on sale. Some cameras are equipped with two memory card slots, so the amount of disk space can be increased to incredible amounts. RAW files weigh 20-30 MB. It's easy to calculate how many will fit on a pair of 32GB cards.

Jpeg-file owes its weight to special compression algorithms. When saving, the camera cuts off a huge amount of information, some of which would be useful in the future when editing a picture. In theory, the photo can then be tweaked. But in any case, this will lead to some deterioration in quality, not to mention the fact that sophisticated methods have to be used for correction.

JPEG images are only good for their simplicity. They can be easily opened on a tablet, smartphone, computer, game console ... Now it is simply impossible to count the number of devices that support viewing JPEG images. Also, it is these images that should be sent to the Internet to your website or to a social network.

Concerning RAW-format, it is very specific. Displaying an image recorded in RAW requires decent hardware resources. This is the only reason why such files cannot be displayed on a mobile phone (let's leave smartphones with multi-core processors outside the brackets). In a RAW file, you can work with the data received by the camera sensor. Technically, this is not the final snapshot yet, but only "raw" data. The user can easily change the white balance - this will not lead to a deterioration in quality. Many other parameters can be adjusted without too much loss.

If you saved your photo in RAW format, then you don't have to worry about its future. If a mistake was made during the shooting, then it can be corrected. For example, this applies to shooting in bright sunlight. In the viewfinder, it’s easy to overlook that some areas of the frame are washed out in white due to the slow shutter speed. In a JPEG image, there is nothing you can do about this; with any adjustments, the white color will remain that way. The RAW image contains more data. Almost certainly, a special converter can find out what color the matrix originally received in a given illuminated area. This way you can make the picture darker in certain areas without any loss. It will immediately become prettier. This is why all professional photographers prefer to save their images in RAW format.

Even on a computer, a special program is required to view such photographs. It usually comes on a CD with your DSLR camera. Also, the converter can be downloaded from the website of the camera manufacturer. Such applications were created primarily for novice users. Therefore, the interface is designed in an intuitive way. On the left side of the window there is a photo, on the right there are various sliders for adjusting certain parameters. Sometimes such programs are even supplied with an "Auto" button. Pressing it allows you to automatically change various settings so that the exposure is correct.

If you regularly use Adobe Photoshop, you can use it as well. As part of this graphics editor, there is a separate converter called Adobe Camera RAW. With it, you can adjust even more parameters. If you learn to work with this converter, then you can work wonders with a snapshot.

The Adobe Camera RAW interface won't scare a beginner either. Here you can easily change the white balance or make exposure compensation. There are many brightness settings available, there is a histogram and digital noise scale. You can change absolutely everything in this program, up to the correction of chromatic aberrations caused by low-quality optics. In doing so, you are working with the data provided by the matrix, and not with the compressed JPEG file. Therefore, all changes have almost no effect on the image quality.

We recommend saving all important images in RAW format. It will then take time to process such photographs. But in the course of such actions, even the smallest flaws can be corrected. If the image is made soundly, then it will take only a few seconds to convert it to JPEG format.

The new generation of SLR cameras has learned to save images in two formats at once. It is this mode that is recommended for beginners to enable. This way you can quickly see all the advantages of RAW format.