.RAW File Extension
Raw Image Data File
| Developer | N/A |
| Popularity |
3.8 | 220 Votes |
| Category | Camera Raw Files |
| Format | Binary |
What is a RAW file?
A RAW file is an image generated by digital cameras such as Panasonic, Leica, and Casio cameras. It contains uncompressed, raw image data captured by a digital camera's CCD. Professional photographers often work with RAW files since they can more accurately edit images stored in the format.
RAW files store higher-quality images than more common image files, like .JPG and .PNG, because they do not lose data like JPG and PNG files do when they are compressed. However, because RAW files are not compressed, their files sizes are often very large. This is the tradeoff between lower-quality, smaller images and higher-quality, larger images.
RAW files are one of many raw camera image formats. Some other common formats are Digital Negative Images (.DNG files), Canon Raw Images (.CR2 files), Sony Digital Camera Images (.ARW files), Kodak RAW Images (.DCR files), Nikon RAW Images (.NRW files), and Nikon Electronic Format Images (.NEF files).
NOTE: RAW files may also be created by image generation software instead of digital cameras, although this is not as common.
How to open a RAW file
You can open RAW files with various image-editing and -viewing applications. Some options include Adobe Photoshop (Windows and macOS), Adobe Photoshop Elements (Windows and macOS), Corel PaintShop Pro (Windows), ACD Systems ACDSee (Windows), and RawTherapee (multiplatform).