.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).
Programs that open or reference RAW files
Dolphin Wii and Gamecube Emulator Game Save File
Developer | N/A |
Popularity |
3.5 | 30 Votes |
Category | Game Files |
Format | N/A |
What is a RAW file?
Game save file for Wii and Gamecube Memory Card files; contains game save data.
Dolphin is an open source emulator used for running Nintendo Wii and GameCube games on the Windows, Linux and Mac OSX operating systems.
The Dolphin Wii and GameCube consoles emulator uses the RAW file type as a save file for Wii and Gamecube Memory Card files. Although the Dolphin emulator cannot itself open the RAW file type, it can use it as a save for games.
Programs that open or reference RAW files
Raw Audio Data
Developer | N/A |
Popularity |
3.3 | 27 Votes |
Category | Audio Files |
Format | Binary |
What is a RAW file?
Uncompressed PCM (pulse code modulation) signed audio data file; contains raw audio data stored in a binary format; does not contain any header information or use an audio codec.
Programs that open or reference RAW files
Fedora Linux Disk Image
Developer | The Fedora Project |
Popularity |
2.0 | 1 Vote |
Category | Disk Image Files |
Format | Binary |
What is a RAW file?
A RAW file is a disk image used to install a Fedora Linux operating system. It contains a raw, binary copy of the operating system's data. RAW files are typically named for the operating system they are used to install and the architecture of the machine on which they are meant to be installed.
Fedora Linux is a popular Linux distribution. Users can install various versions of the operating system on PCs, servers, and other devices.
Users install Fedora Linux using disk images that contain a raw copy of the operating system. These images are saved in many formats, including .ISO, .QCOW2, and RAW.
RAW files' filenames include the operating system they are used to install and the architecture on which they are meant to be installed. For example, a RAW file named Fedora-Server-25-1.2.aarch64.raw contains a copy of the Fedora Server operating system that is meant to be installed on an AArch64 machine.
How to open a RAW file
You can use a RAW disk image to install the Fedora Linux operating system it contains on an appropriate device. To do so, boot your device from a USB or other drive containing the RAW disk image.