Photography / Digital camera know-how
Subject: Why you should use Raw format

Important: Does your digital camera offer the ability to save your images in a “RAW” format? If it does, start saving your photos in this format NOW!

Explanation why "RAW" format images beat "JPEG" format images for detail-rich images

Even if you are a digital photography neophyte, there are several reasons to start saving your files in RAW format. RAW format, offered by most higher end and SLR digital camera, such as our Canon EOS 20D and Canon 7D, saves a “digital negative” that is an unprocessed version of the photo. Rather than making many references to technical goobly-gook, the bottom line is that you can do more and get immensely better quality images with RAW files once you learn how.

All cameras offer the ability to save images in jpg format, however an "8-bit jpg" compresses your files and reduces your color brightness down to only 256 shades; a 16 bit RAW file has over 65,536 levels of brightness. Without these fine color shades, it will be nearly impossible to get that wedding dress white, the tuxedo black or the brilliant sunset to look exactly as you remember it.

Shooting “RAW” means more color, more details, sharper and much more satisfaction.

Once your images are initially adjusted and converted from the RAW format to either jpg or (preferably) tiff format, you can do your cropping, adjusting and printing like the Mad Dogs do. Most digital cameras come with free software that enables you to work with "Raw" format files and no, you do not have to own Photoshop by Adobe to process or adjust your photos. There are many programs out there that are able to produce the same great results without breaking the bank.

Even if you do not understand RAW format files
Even if you do not understand how or what to do with RAW files, immediately start saving your photos as both jpg and RAW formats (usually you can save to both formats simultaneously when you make the picture). When you learn how to work with the RAW files (or bump into friends like The Mad Dogs that understand and work with RAW files just to relax) you can coax them into touching up those irreplaceable, unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime photos.

The Mad Dog Voyager Crew uses both the Canon EOS 20D and 7D digital SLR cameras and the easy-to-use Canon Digital Photo Professional software (to edit RAW files). Sometimes we make minor - and sometimes we make MAJOR - adjustments to the photos we take to create a cool looking photo.