RAW files vs. JPG files

When choosing what type of images to shoot, you’ll be confronted with a choice of RAW or JPG files. To get the maximum amount of quality from the camera you should always choose to shoot RAW, however, this may slow your post-processing workflow and will definitely take up more space on the hard drive. But, there are also some advantages to shooting in JPG format. Below is a breakdown of pros and cons for each file format.

Using RAW Files

Advantages	Disadvantages
Provides the maximum amount of detail the camera can provide Allows you the ability to recover lost details in the highlights and shadows Easily adjust the white balance of images after shot	Files must be processed in a program after shooting such as Adobe Lightroom or Adobe Photoshop File sizes are significantly larger when compared to JPG files Most camera companies use their own proprietary file format to encode RAW files which may be an issue in the future.

Using JPG Files

Advantages	Disadvantages
Small file sizes Standard format works with all programs Post-processing is not necessary to have a good image	Lack of options when editing (there is not the extra exposure information to recover highlights and shadows like you can with a RAW file).

The Best of Both Worlds?

Some cameras provide the option to shoot in RAW+JPG. This allows you to quickly take the JPG photo and send it to the client, while providing a RAW file for later processing. Of course, shooting two files for every exposure does increase the need for additional storage, so it really depends on the situation you are shooting.

Curriculum

RAW files vs. JPG files

Using RAW Files

Using JPG Files

The Best of Both Worlds?

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