RAW files contain unprocessed sensor data from a digital camera, preserving maximum image quality and editing flexibility.
RAW is not a single format but a family of proprietary formats (CR2, NEF, ARW, DNG, etc.) used by digital cameras to store the unprocessed data captured by the image sensor. Unlike JPG, which applies in-camera processing like white balance, sharpening, and compression, RAW files preserve every bit of data the sensor recorded, typically at 12 or 14 bits per channel. This gives photographers far more latitude for exposure correction, color grading, and detail recovery in post-processing. The trade-off is much larger file sizes (20-80 MB per image) and the requirement for specialized software like Lightroom, Capture One, or RawTherapee to develop the images. Converting RAW to JPG or PNG is essential for sharing and publishing.
Bit depth determines how many distinct colors or tones each pixel (or audio sample) can represent, directly affecting quality and file size.
A color space defines the specific range of colors (gamut) a device or file can represent, such as sRGB for screens or CMYK for print.
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is a standard for storing camera settings, GPS location, and technical details inside photo files.
File metadata is embedded information about a file — such as creation date, author, dimensions, and technical settings — stored alongside the actual content.