Staying up-to-date is important in all professions; however, in those that undergo rapid changes due to the incorporation of new technologies and advancements almost daily, keeping abreast of developments is much more complicated. That's why I've put together this short guide.
One of the most difficult things for beginner photographers is getting familiar with the RAW format . However, it's really not that confusing once you know what it is, and it can even help you have more control over your photography. All the basics you need to know about RAW are in our RAW Guide for Beginners.
RAW is a file format found on many cameras with manual controls. RAW files are uncompressed, meaning the camera has captured the image but hasn't processed it. It's up to you to process the image using image editing software. Think of them as negatives that need to be developed in a digital darkroom (i.e., the editing software). In a previous post, I shared a tutorial: How to Take Amazing Photos with Your Phone Camera, which I'm sure you'll also find interesting.
JPEG is the standard file format for photography and is often the default on most cameras. You've probably noticed that your photo files end with ".jpg," which means they are JPEG files . Unlike RAW format, JPEG files are compressed, so they have already been processed by your camera. You can share and print your photos directly after taking them with your camera.
Generally, most compact cameras will only allow you to take images in JPEG format , but CSCs and DSLRs will usually give you the option to shoot in RAW . This setting can be found in the Quality option in your camera's menu. Many cameras even allow you to shoot a JPEG and RAW file simultaneously, giving you the best of both worlds.
The main advantages of RAW :
- Because your file RAW hasn't been processed, you can have a lot of control over how you modify it. Your computer is much more powerful than your camera when it comes to image processing, so you'll be able to correct things like your exposure, white balance and contrast much more effectively.
- When a photo JPEG processed in the camera itself, some of the data, such as color and resolution, is lost. The files RAW It will give you all the data recorded by the camera sensor, so you have a lot more to play with.
There are a couple of reasons why you might decide to avoid RAW and choose JPEG.
- You have to spend some time on image processing RAW, while the files JPEG they are immediately ready to print and share.
- The files RAW they are generally very large, so they take up more space on the memory card and the computer
To process a RAW file , you'll need editing software. When shooting different types of RAW files from different cameras, you'll need to make sure the software you're using can process the RAW files generated by your particular camera .
Most cameras come with software included in the box that supports the camera's specific file formats. Alternatively, you can use a standard editing program like Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements , which will be able to process most RAW file formats. You can also use free programs like Picasa to convert your RAW files to JPEG files.
More information – Tutorial: How to take amazing photos with your phone's camera