When you guys use a smartphone for taking a photo, in the Pro feature, there will be the RAW option. Users who do not use a camera may have no idea about what is RAW file. There have been lots of people asking me about what is RAW file via my Facebook Page. So, today I will try to explain this thing in a simpler way. If you are a professional in this field, please do acknowledge that my target audience for this video is people who are beginners in this field. The contents of this video may not contain too deep information. To simpler the meaning of RAW file, we should think of it like cooking/ (OR)Cooking can be a metaphor for RAW file Raw means Raw. Being Raw file means it has not been cooked yet. So, it can be said that the Raw file is the “data” file. For example, when the camera sensor in the smartphone captures a scene, the data represented from the sensor straight out without any processing is considered as a “Raw” file. So, Raw file is a data file, not a picture file. Data file is a digital file that has not been converted to anything else yet. It can also be assumed as a data code that needs transcribe in order to display in each gallery application. So, when we take Raw in camera, some applications can't open or read our data since they don't know how to convert our data file For example, we have to use the Raw extensions from Microsoft store to let windows photos app to read or Raw files In other words, unlike JPEG or other picture files, we must have special software that is able to decode the data file (the RAW file). These are the differences between RAW and JPEG. Again, RAW is a data file. Conversely, JPEG is a finalized picture file. Let’s continue our metaphor (Cooking) If we take a photo as a RAW file, it is like we buy ingredients that have not been processed yet, for example, raw chicken breast. Conversely, JPEG is like buying marinated chicken. Though this marinated chicken can be added with some pepper and other seasonings, there is less flexibility for us to flavor it. So, when we take photos as Raw files (.DNG .CR2 .CR3 .ARW .NIF), it is to store the data from the sensor as a file format. We need such programs that can convert those data and show them as pictures. It’s not like JPEG or PNG which is already transcribed from data and ready to be shown in gallery applications universally. Using a RAW file is much more flexible than using a JPEG file in many ways. Raw isn’t meant to be a finalized file, it can be tweaked in the certain area of data represented in the file. For example, if a camera has the capability of taking very wide range of light (dynamic range), you will be able to tune it anytime. But the color bit depth is also different in both formats (8 vs mostly 12 Bit) the number of 12 bit to 8 bit may seem too small, but when it is 2 power 8 and 2 power 12 times 3 it's so different. Although taking a photo as a RAW file may take a more complicated process than taking it as JPEG, the final result of the product is more preferable to its counterparts. JPEG is like buying processed food. The taste of it may not match with our preference. Sometimes it may be too sweet or too salty. n the JPEG case, some mobile phones may be set for the JPEG file to be saturated or too much contrast. When taking pictures as JPEG file, it will be harder for us to edit those things Because it's the final formula of that each picture Conversely, when taking pictures as RAW file and we are not satisfying the JPEG file from that smartphone, we can use a RAW file to manually edit the picture. Most of the time, the result from editing the Raw file is much better than the JPEG file that available on smartphones. When it comes to the necessity for Raw file on smartphone, personally, it is necessary for smartphones that process JPEG files in unpreferable for you, but may not necessary for ones that can process a pretty reliable JPEG already like iPhone. For editing Raw file, there are lots of available programs, such as Adobe Lightroom (no sponsor here lol) Almost all formats of Raw files can be opened with this program. However, some newly launched camera’s file won’t be supported in the very first day to sum up, RAW is data file which is far more flexible for us in editing picture (We can recover the sky highlight or bring the dark area up (Shadows) Unlike RAW, JPEG is like a finished formula that is less flexible for us in editing. So, these are points of difference between these two. In my point of views, RAW file may not quite necessary for smartphones. However, every time I take a photo from smartphone, I usually take save a photo as both file. So, when there are some JPEG files that I am not satisfied with, I can use the RAW file and edit them by myself like I do with this Google Pixel 5 This smartphone can take both RAW file and JPEG file at the same time. This makes the process of editing photos behind the computer easier and more efficient. If you guys find that this video is interesting and useful, please subscribe to this channel since, in the future, I plan to launch these kinds of interesting content. Also, your subscription is like a support for me. My name is TAN from Rule Of TAN. Thank you everyone and see you again next time.
