┌─ FILE ANALYSIS ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┐
│ DEVELOPER : Various (camera manufacturers)
│ CATEGORY : Image
│ MIME TYPE : image/x-raw
└ ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┘
What is a RAW file?
RAW files contain minimally processed image data directly from a digital camera or scanner sensor. Unlike JPEG, which applies compression and processing in-camera, RAW preserves the full dynamic range and color information captured by the sensor. Each camera manufacturer uses their own RAW variant (CR2, NEF, ARW, etc.).
How to open RAW files
- Adobe Lightroom (Windows, macOS) — Industry standard
- Adobe Camera Raw (Windows, macOS) — Photoshop plugin
- Capture One (Windows, macOS) — Professional
- darktable (Windows, macOS, Linux) — Free, open-source
- RawTherapee (Windows, macOS, Linux) — Free
Technical specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Compression | None or lossless |
| Bit Depth | 12-16 bit per channel |
| Color Space | Sensor-native (Bayer, X-Trans) |
| Metadata | EXIF, GPS, camera settings |
| Variants | CR2/CR3 (Canon), NEF (Nikon), ARW (Sony) |
Common use cases
- Professional photography: Maximum post-processing flexibility.
- Landscape photography: Preserving highlight and shadow detail.
- Archiving: Highest quality preservation of photographs.
- HDR imaging: Merging exposures from RAW data.