The Great Advantages of Using the RAW Format

RAW is a file format used as an alternative to JPEG. All DSLR cameras and most high-end compact cameras allow the use of these files optionally. Let's look at its advantages: RAW stores data exactly as captured by the camera's sensor, meaning no processing has been applied. Therefore, one could say that JPEGs are equivalent to a developed photograph, while a RAW file is equivalent only to a photographic negative. This means that certain modifications (processings) can be made without affecting the quality of the image. Once on the computer, it is possible to adjust sharpness, contrast, white balance, and even exposure, just as you would in the camera. The best part is that color, brightness, and shadow detail can be adjusted in a non-destructive manner. Additionally, it's interesting to know that the RAW format captures more information than the JPEG format. The latter records a range of 16.7 million colors for each pixel, while RAW allows storing up to four trillion colors per point. It may seem exaggerated and practically unnoticeable, but this way, contrast, exposure, and color can be modified without degrading the image quality. However, the RAW format also has some disadvantages. For example, not all editing programs support it, although you won't have issues if you use the most popular ones. Additionally, it should be considered that it is not a standard format, so each camera brand uses its own system to encode the data, and changes are introduced with every new DSLR released. All this makes it necessary to keep your editing software updated to work with RAW on newer cameras.