Digital Camera File Formats: Raw and Jpeg–Updated
Most digital SLR cameras can record images using either a Raw or a Jpeg file format. Both formats have their own advantages and disadvantages. To say that one file format is always superior to another is incorrect since Raw and Jpeg (with minimal compression) are both professional grade options. It is up to you to decide which option is the most appropriate for the way that you work and for the equipment that you have at your disposal.
Of the two formats, Raw is both the most straightforward and, ironically, the most complex. All digital images begin their lives as Raw files. Raw is a spreadsheet style record of the electrical currents that were created by the camera’s digital sensor.
If you tell your camera to record files using a Raw file format, then the camera’s internal processor does not alter the original electrical data in any permanent way. The file that the camera writes to the memory card is basically the straight record of electrical currents. Since this data has not been interpreted or processed inside of the camera, your file cannot be utilized without external processing. It takes sophisticated software like Adobe Photoshop Lightroom to work with Raw files.
Shooting in Jpeg tells the camera to convert the original electrical data into a polished and universally acceptable file format. As an analogy, think of Jpeg as if it were Polaroid film and think of Raw as if it were traditional black and white film. With Polaroid film, you get a positive finished image straight out of the camera without the need for any additional chemistry or processing. This is not to say that you cannot further enhance a Jpeg file but no additional processing is required before these files can be displayed, shared, or printed.
Raw files, on the other hand, are more like traditional black and white film. Like film, these files are not usable until they have been run through a lengthy and complex development process, but with Raw files and the right software you get to control every last bit of the image creation process. With Raw files, you get total control over the birth of your digital image.
Jpeg vs raw diagram
I choose to use the Jpeg file format when file size and speed are my top priorities. Many professional photojournalists spend their whole career shooting hig-quality Jpeg files. I am not a photojournalist, but I find Jpeg very handy for projects like time-lapse photography where I eventually need to string together dozens or hundreds of still images.
Raw is my file choice when control over the entire development process is advantageous. Total control is very useful when I need to correct exposure or color mistakes. The size and expanded bit-depth of a Raw file is critical for elegant color to black and white image conversion. Thanks to software like Adobe Photoshop Lightroom editing, and working, with Raw files is fast and easy. There are no rights and wrongs here so think the job through and pick the most appropriate file format before you start shooting!
Check out these video presentations on raw to jpeg from Photography with Imre:
You might also want to visit these sites for more technical information on the Raw to Jpeg conversion process.
Demosaicing Demo from HowStuffWorks
If you are looking for the best information on Digital Camera Raw read:
See also converting digital camera raw files to the dng format.
Filed Under: Enhancing (Basic) • FAQ • Getting Started • Tips • Tutorials
About the Author: David Marx has an extensive knowledge of digital photography and is an Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop and in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. David is a talented instructor and his entertaining teaching style works for students of all skill levels. He has been teaching digital photography and image enhancement with Adobe Photoshop since 2002. In addition, David’s sports and landscape images are often featured on the web and in outdoor sports publications.
In 2009, David Marx led digital photography programs for the 
Hi David,
Thanks for the great article, very informative.
I have an issue though. I shot pics with Nikon D300 Raw.NEF.Fine. When I download these pics into Lightroom 2.5 the brilliant colors on the camera…..changed to dull within lightroom. It actually happened as I watched, one after another, the pics on lightroom changed from brilliant to dull after the download was complete. This does not happen when I shoot jpeg fine and download.
Any Clues?
Confused
Skip
Hi,
I’m having the same issue. I notice this with the Camera Raw plug-in for Elements, and in Lightroom. I shoot in vivid mode and every single picture transferred from NEF to DNG has lost all of the vivid colors. How can I stop this from happening?
Skip and Tom,
This is by design. When you view images on the back of your camera, you’re seeing a JPEG preview created by the camera’s software. Camera manufacturers tend to apply a high-contrast, over-saturated since it gets the “WOW” from most viewers.
If you import a JPEG created by your camera into Lightroom, the develop settings that produced that image are respected and the image remains unchanged. When importing a raw file, however, (whether DNG, NEF, or other) Lightroom applies no processing to it. The understanding is that a photographer shooting in raw doesn’t want an “automatic” processing method applied to their work but would rather fine tune the results themselves.
If you find that you’re making the same changes over and over to your images, you can always either create a Develop preset with your changes and apply that on import using the Import Photos dialog box, or set a new baseline for the processing of photos from that specific camera.
To change the default Develop settings, go to the Develop Module. Move the sliders into the places you’d like them to be. (Keep in mind that this will be your new default, so don’t customize it for a certain image.) Choose “Set Default Settings” from the “Develop” menu. Click “Update to Current Settings” to save the defaults for the camera on which that photo was taken.
Best of luck,
Scott
[...] the raw file enhancements like contrast and saturation have not yet been established. For more on the difference between a raw and a jpeg file click here.Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Camera Raw Profile [...]
Another thing to check out in regards to your RAW files not looking like your camera preview is the Camera Calibration menu. There you’ll find all the default color profiles you find in your camera’s menu. I set this up to apply to all photos on import. I always get better color rendering with my camera profiles. -M
Michel-
Good point. I actually posted a tutorial and a video on this topic just last week. Here’s the link.
http://thelightroomlab.com/2009/10/camera-raw-profiles-in-adobe-photoshop-lightroom/
Hello,
I often shoot RAW+JPG using my Olympus e500 – the thought being that if I’m satisfied with the camera’s jpg output for a given frame, I can skip the full post-processing routine for the matching RAW file. It’s also nice to compare my post-processed RAW file against the default jpg algorithm used in camera.
One problem with this strategy – I’ve yet to discover how to see both files in the LR grid view displayed side-by-side. I’d love to be able to use Compare view to look at my RAW file vs the camera’s jpg. LR seems to recognize that I’ve got RAW+jpg, but it only shows the RAW file in Grid view. I’m guessing there’s a simple way to show both files side-by-side, but I have not been able to figure it out. Ideas?
Thanks!
Tim Leonhardt
Tim,
Thanks for your question. First of all, let me say that I understand your explanation of why you shoot in Raw+jpg, but I respectfully disagree. I recommend that photographers find a good starting place for their (raw) images in Lightroom using camera profiles or a default preset applied to images on import. I think having the jpg and raw copies of the same file is redundant and unnecessary (is it redundant to say “redundant and unnecessary?”) these days. But…I respect your choices as an individual.
Anyway…enough proselytizing…on to your question. Have you been able to import both the jpg and raw files into Lightroom? By default, Lightoom ignores jpg files next to raw files on your camera’s memory card. You can change that behavior by checking the “Treat JPEG files next to raw files as separate photos” checkbox under the Import tab in Lightroom’s preferences.
When they’re both in there, they should appear side by side in grid view, provided you’re sorting by capture time and not filtering out raw or jpg files.
Best of luck,
Scott
Scott,
That’s brilliant – I knew there had to be a setting somewhere!
In terms of shooting Raw+jpg – I think the biggest thing is wanting to streamline my workflow just a bit more when I’ve shot several hundred photos. I get what you’re saying about default presets, and may need to investigate that a bit more. But when I shoot several hundred shots at a swim meet, for instance, I like the idea of taking a look at the .jpg, deciding which are “good enough,” and only tweaking the raw files if I’m confident I can do a better job. It’s also a good way for me to grade my own eye – do I think my post-processing gives me a better result than I’d get with a .jpg out of the camera?
Either way – I appreciate the perspective and the pointer to the setting. Thanks a bundle.
Tim
Tim,
Glad I could help. As far as streamlining the workflow, I’d recommend practicing syncing your edits on raw files rather than relying on the jpg images for your results. For example, if you shot a series of 200 images at a swim meet, most of the factors are not going to change. The lighting, color balance, etc pretty much remains the same throughout the shoot.
When I do shoots like this, I edit the first image to my satisfaction (just overall edits; no cropping, spot removal, etc) then sync those edits to the remaining 199 images. That gives me a great starting point for any minute changes I may need to make with images and I still get to keep the advantages of working with raw files.
Good luck,
Scott Rouse
Scott,
Is it possible to change the view so you see jpegs and raws retroactively once you have already imported the files? I have already imported them and done some complex re-ordering so I don’t want to re-import before being able to see them separately…
Many thanks
Mikhael
Dear Mikheal,
This one is easy! Along the toolbar, bottom of the screen just above the film strip, just change the sort order to “Filename.” This will separate your jpegs from your raw files since the extension is part of the filename.
best wishes,
David
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[...] I am not a paid endorser, but Lightroom 3 makes my photographs look great. I have been working with digital camera raw files since 2002 and this is truly the best image processing tool that I have ever [...]
[...] I am not a paid endorser, but Lightroom 3 makes my photographs look great. I have been working with digital camera raw files since 2002 and this is truly the best image processing tool that I have ever [...]