Traditional Culture Encyclopedia - Photography major - The original format of the computer

The original format of the computer

RAW files are almost unprocessed information obtained directly from CCD or CMOS. Through post-processing, photographers can maximize their artistic talents.

RAW file has no white balance setting, but the real data has not been changed, which means that the author can adjust the color temperature and white balance at will without loss of image quality.

On a computer with a microprocessor, color linearization and filter row-column transformation can be processed faster, which allows the application of some more complex algorithms that are not allowed on a camera.

Although the RAW file is attached with marking information such as saturation and contrast, its real image data has not changed. Users can freely make personalized adjustments to a picture without having to base on one or two preset modes.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of RAW is that it can be converted into 16-bit images. That is to say, there are 65536 levels that can be adjusted, which is a great advantage for JPG files. This is very important when editing images, especially when you need to make important adjustments to shadow areas or highlight areas.

Use JPG or raw?

In fact, we can think that all digital cameras use RAW mode, but when we choose JPG as the storage format, we submit the images to the camera's built-in RAW conversion program. If we allow RAW as the storage format, it means that photos can be better adjusted on complex platforms, even if they are not well modified, they can be readjusted in the future. In other words, the choice between the two is: Do you decide to do the RAW conversion in the camera now or on the computer later?

Some important aspects, such as white balance, contrast, saturation, etc. , must be decided before generating a JPG file. The advantage of life is that you don't have to think carefully at that time, but you have enough time to think.

For some photographers (sports, news), the convenience and speed of use are the best, while others are not. Of course, if you want the best picture quality, RAW is the best choice. Some cameras save both JPG format and RAW format, which is good for photographers, but it also takes up extra storage space.

Some people don't like the RAW format, because the file in this format is too big and needs more space. RAW files really need more capacity and cheaper memory, as well as excellent decoding and editing software. With the continuous progress of technology, I believe that the future of RAW will be beautiful.