What is camera raw?

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Question from Ashley: “What is camera raw? Where do you find it?”

Christie: What kind of camera do you have?

Tatum: Camera raw is a file format that your camera can shoot in. You would do this instead of jpeg. It’s unprocessed so they are larger file sizes with more color info. They are unprocessed so you will have to adjust them in post processing with either Lightroom or photoshop.

Becca:  Some times people refer to ACR (Adobe Camera Raw), the Photoshop plug-in that processes RAW files, as “camera raw.

Christie: RAW is a file type that contains info from the sensor that has not been altered or compressed. It is the equivalent of a negative in film photography.

Christie:  If you have a Nikon, go to your shooting menu, choose image quality, then choose NEF(RAW).

Christie:  If you have a Canon, go to your menu, then choose quality, then choose RAW.

Bridget: It’s used when you want to edit your photos. If you don’t plan to process them and want to use them straight out of the camera, use JPEG for them to look their best.

Alicia: Just know that your file size is going to get MUCH bigger so you’ll probably need a few extra memory cards until you adjust. 🙂

Ashley: MY apologize, I know what a raw file is but I’m curious as to what the program adobe camera raw is. I do shoot raw. And am seeing that people are editing in adobe camera raw before the use photoshop. Is it the same thing a Lightroom, and then they export, then import into photoshop? Sorry for the confusion

Ashley: Becca, does that come with cs6? Or do I need to purchase it! Or am I better off just using Lightroom first? Thnx

Damian: The develop module in Lightroom is an expanded, better version of Adobe camera raw. If you have Lightroom, you don’t need camera raw. 😉

Coletta: How do you open Adobe Camera Raw aside from opening up a Raw file?

Ashley: Thank you Damian! that clears everything up! and since I started with lightroom, I’m good to go by over looking ACR is sounds!!

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