Shooting in RAW

tista ghosh

Jun 24, 20222 min read

What is Raw?

RAW is a file format that captures all image data recorded by the sensor when you take a photo. Professionals should be providing their clients with the highest quality possible. Issues like banding and blown highlights are big deals when you’re offering your client's printed products. Achieving proper color balance, and choosing the right color space for the situation is critical as well.

By shooting RAW you take control and are able to manage these problems to create the best results possible.

Why RAW photos are trending these days?

When you shoot in RAW you record all of the data from the sensor. This gives the highest quality files.
Levels of brightness are the number of steps from black to white in an image. The more you have, the smoother the transitions of tones. Smooth is good.
Obviously, you want to get the best exposure on the camera, but sometimes things move fast. You can also recover more blown highlights and clipped shadows. Good stuff.
With RAW the white balance is still recorded, but because you have way more data, it’s easy to adjust.
Great white balance and color are essential to an awesome image, and shooting RAW lets you make the adjustments easier and faster, with better results.
When you shoot RAW you have access to sharpening and noise algorithms in a program like Lightroom that is way more powerful than those found in your camera.
Because of the finer gradation of tones and colors, you’ll get better prints from RAW files. Even though more and more people are shooting digital, great prints are as important as ever.
It’s easier to work through large batches of images when you’re using a workflow-centric program like Lightroom or Aperture. They’re designed to easily process groups of RAW images.

Here's a brief description of those four raw files:

CR2: This image extension stands for Canon RAW 2, and was created by Canon for photos taken using its own digital cameras. They're actually based on the TIFF file type, making them inherently high in quality.
CRW: This image extension was also created by Canon, preceding the existence of the CR2.
NEF: This image extension stands for Nikon Electric Format, and is a RAW file type created by (you guessed it) Nikon Cameras. These image files actually allow for extensive editing without changing file types, provided the editing takes place using a Nikon device or Nikon Photoshop plugin.
PEF: This image extension stands for Pentax Electronic Format, a RAW image file type created by Pentax Digital Cameras.