Photography Essay

JPEG vs RAW

File Formats and Lossy vs. Lossless

 Find the list of characteristics for each file type and answer the following questions:

 What are three advantages of a RAW file:

Has more detail and information allowing for more extensive editing, captures better color bits, and ultimately will produce a nicer looking picture.

 What is one disadvantage of a RAW file: 

Can not be viewed by all devices and needs to be processed by a computer first.

 What are three advantages of a JPEG file:

Standard format readable by most devices, immediately ready for printing, and smaller file size.

 What is one disadvantage of a JPEG file:

Lower dynamic range.

 1. Under the first heading "Capturing the Images," how much of the data does a RAW file retain after it is captured by the camera?

It retains all of it and doesn’t process the photo.

 2. Under the second heading "Processing the Files," what are some of the things that a RAW file enables a photographer to edit after the image is taken?

You have control over white balance, contrast, highlights, shadows, colors, and saturation.

 3. Under the third heading "Practicalities," what are some of the factors that photographers must consider when deciding to shoot in RAW?

RAW files do take up much more room than JPEG as well as not all cameras can shoot in RAW.

 4. Under the fourth heading "Which one is for you?" why would an aspiring professional photographer need to know how to work with RAW files?

They need to know how to use the software to process the RAW files otherwise if they shoot in RAW they can’t use the pictures very well.

 1. Which file formats discussed have you used in the past?

I have used JPEG, PSD, TIFF, and DNG in the past.

 2. What is the difference between a Raster and a Vector file?

Raster is represented by pixels and when scaled larger becomes pixelated. Vector images are represented by shapes and lines and when can be scaled as large or small as needed and lose no detail and don’t become pixelated.

The most common file formats we will use in class are .jpeg, .tiff, .psd, and either .dng (Canon) or .nef (Nikon)

 Look up each and answer the following questions for each:

 1. Is this format lossy or lossless?

.jpeg - lossy

.tiff - lossless

.psd - lossless

.dng - lossless

.nef - lossless

 2. What are common uses for each? By this I mean where would I publish each of them for the highest quality.

.jpeg - has a high compression making file sizes very small

.tiff - has low compression keeping most of the file data

.psd - retains file data for later editing

.dng - uncompressed file format for pictures taken on Canon cameras keeps image info and detail

.nef - uncompressed file format for pictures taken on Nikon cameras keeps image info and detail

 3. Can you create this type of file in your camera?

.jpeg - yes

.tiff - no

.psd - no

.dng - yes

.nef - yes