Glossary
What Is a RAW File?
A RAW file holds the unprocessed data captured straight from a camera sensor, before any sharpening, color, or compression is baked in. It is closer to a photographic negative than a finished picture: it stores the maximum detail the sensor recorded, so an editor can decide later how the image should look.
TL;DRRAW is your camera's digital negative, packed with editable detail. Keep the original and convert copies to JPG when you need to share or print.
A typical RAW file records 12 to 14 bits of color per channel, against 8 bits in a JPG, which is thousands of times more tonal information to work with.
Why Photographers Shoot RAW
Because nothing is thrown away, RAW gives the most room to fix and refine a shot. You can recover blown highlights, lift shadows, and reset white balance after the fact with little quality loss. JPG, by contrast, has already made those decisions and discarded the data needed to undo them.
RAW Is a Family, Not One Format
RAW is not a single file type. Almost every camera maker has its own version: Canon writes CR2 and CR3, Nikon writes NEF, Sony writes ARW, and there is an open standard called DNG. They all store sensor data, but the exact layout differs, which is why some programs open one brand and not another.
Adobe's DNG is an open RAW format meant to outlast proprietary ones. Converting a brand RAW to DNG keeps the editing flexibility while making the file easier to open in the future.
The Catch With RAW
RAW files are large, and most websites, phones, and office apps cannot open them at all. You cannot simply email a RAW or post it online. To share or print a shot, you first convert it to a standard format like JPG, which bakes your edits into a small, universal file.
Keep your original RAW files after converting. The JPG is a flattened copy; the RAW is your editable master. Delete the RAW and you lose the ability to re-edit from scratch.
How to Convert RAW Files
When you have a folder of RAW shots to share, a batch converter turns them all into JPG in one pass, applying your size and quality settings so the photos open anywhere without touching the originals.
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