What is RAW setting on your Digital SLR Camera?



Digital cameras usually save images in either jpg or raw format (or both), depending on the camera model and settings. The downside to jpg is that they start to deteriorate or loose quality from the first time you edit the photos. Furthermore, even before the editing stage, your digital camera compacts the image into a smaller file when it saves JPG format. Therefore loosing all the raw information that was originally gathered by the camera.
However, if you set your camera to save in RAW CR2 then all the data is kept in tact.

Take this image below for example. It is a desktop picture taken from a raw editing program showing both the JPG and raw CR2 file side by side. It's clear to see how much data is lost in the JPG on the right. If your image is destined to be printed. Then it's recommended to open the RAW CR2 file and save it as a TIFF file before printing. TIFF files also keep a high percentage of the data's quality when compared to JPG. JPG is really only recommended for website viewing due to its fast loading, small file size.

Another way to think of RAW format is to being similiar to negatives back in the eighties. It didn't matter if you damaged the photograph back then because you knew you could pull out the old negative and have it printed again. The same goes with RAW format.
Whenever possible use RAW format or if you own a Canon digital camera change the settings to JPG + RAW. What this does is it saves each image in two different file formats, one jpg and one raw. Then you can digitally edit the jpg as many times as you want, knowing that you can resave an original copy from the raw file if needed in future.



How to convert and edit RAW files?

If you need to convert a raw file into a jpg so you can use it on a website or have it printed, then you need a conversion software package that can read this format. Chances are, if your DSLR camera has a raw file option, then your purchase should also have included a raw software package on a CD. For example Canon offers with each SLR camera a copy of Digital Photo Professional. If you purchased your camera second hand, then you can download 3rd party conversions like Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in.

cport