RAW vs JPEG — Which Should You Use?
When your camera takes a photo, it can save it in two formats: JPEG (a finished, compressed image) or RAW (all the unprocessed data from the sensor). Think of it like cooking: JPEG is the ready-to-eat meal, RAW is all the ingredients still on the counter. Both have their place.
JPEG: Ready to Share
JPEG files are small, universally compatible, and look good straight out of camera. The camera processes the image internally: adjusting contrast, sharpening, applying white balance, and compressing the file. Great for social media, casual shooting, and when you don't want to edit. The downside: the camera throws away data during compression. If your exposure or white balance is off, there's limited room to fix it later.
RAW: Maximum Flexibility
RAW files contain all the data the sensor captured. Nothing is thrown away, nothing is processed. This means you can dramatically adjust exposure, white balance, highlights, and shadows without quality loss. RAW files are bigger (2–5x the size of JPEG), need special software to view (Lightroom, Capture One, or free options like RawTherapee), and require manual editing. But for important photos where you want the best possible quality, RAW is unbeatable.
Practice Tip
Set your camera to RAW+JPEG (most cameras offer this). You get both files for every shot. Use the JPEGs for quick sharing and the RAW files when you want to edit seriously. After a few weeks, you'll know which format you prefer for your workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need expensive software to edit RAW files?
No. RawTherapee and darktable are free, open-source RAW editors that are very capable. Lightroom is popular but costs a monthly subscription. Even the free Photos app on most systems can do basic RAW adjustments. Start free, upgrade later if you need more features.
Will RAW make my photos automatically better?
Not automatically. RAW files actually look flatter and duller straight out of camera compared to JPEG. The benefit is rescue potential: if your exposure is off by 1–2 stops, RAW lets you fix it. JPEG can't. But a well-exposed JPEG looks great without any editing.
Put It Into Practice
Use the wizard to get camera settings for your next shot — based on what you just learned.