{"id":4210,"date":"2019-01-07T19:46:53","date_gmt":"2019-01-08T03:46:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/?p=4210"},"modified":"2019-01-07T19:58:16","modified_gmt":"2019-01-08T03:58:16","slug":"jpeg-or-raw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/2019\/01\/07\/jpeg-or-raw\/","title":{"rendered":"JPEG or RAW"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a><\/a>Our digital cameras give us a choice of two file formats in which our images are stored \u2013 JPEG and RAW.\u00a0 <\/span>In fact, some digital cameras only store images in JPEG format.\u00a0 <\/span>What\u2019s the difference and is one preferred over the other?\u00a0 <\/span>Let\u2019s take a look at each.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But before we begin, I was curious what JPEG stands for, so I looked it up.\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s pretty weird \u2013 Joint Photographic Experts Group.\u00a0 <\/span>Strange indeed.\u00a0 <\/span>But. be that as it may, JPEG is widely used.\u00a0 <\/span>Practically every image you see on the web is JPEG although you occasionally see other formats.\u00a0 <\/span>If you use a lab to print your photographs, there\u2019s a good chance they will ask you to send them JPEG files.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Compression and File Size<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

Why is JPEG so popular?\u00a0 Because the files are small compared to other formats.\u00a0 <\/span>They get that way by being compressed.\u00a0 <\/span>The amount of compression in JPEG files is greater than other compressed file formats and hence their smaller sizes.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There are basically two types of compression \u2013 ones that don\u2019t lose any date (called \u2018lossless\u2019) and ones that do (called \u2018lossy\u2019).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

JPEG compression is lossy. Pixels are removed before the file is saved.\u00a0 <\/span>When the file is reopened pixels are added although the added pixels won\u2019t recreate the original image exactly.\u00a0 <\/span>Something is lost.\u00a0 <\/span>Later, when the file is saved, pixels are again removed but this time on a slightly degraded image.\u00a0 <\/span>The more the image is opened and saved, the more degraded it becomes.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

JPEG files let you control the amount of compression which directly relates to the quality of the compressed image.\u00a0 To give you an example of how quality settings affect compression and file size, here are some numbers for my Canon 5D Mark IV with a roughly 30 M pixel sensor.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

JPEG File
\nSizes<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Quality<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Resolution<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Number of
\nPixels<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

File size
\n(MB)<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

L (large) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Fine<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30 M<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

8.8<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Normal<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30 M<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.5<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

M (medium)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Fine<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13 M<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4.7<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Normal<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13 M<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.4<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

S1 (small 1)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Fine<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.5 M<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3.0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Normal<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.5 M<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.5<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

S2 (small 2)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Fine<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2.5 M<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1.3<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

S3 (small 3)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Fine<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.3 M<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

0.3<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With most digital cameras you can also shoot in RAW file format.\u00a0 <\/span>Unlike JPEG files that lose data when they are compressed, RAW files do not lose any data.\u00a0 <\/span>If they are compressed, a \u2018lossless\u2019 process is used.\u00a0 <\/span>Therefore, RAW files are much larger than JPEG.\u00a0 <\/span>Canon offers three RAW file sizes \u2013 RAW, M RAW (for medium size) and S RAW (for small size).\u00a0 <\/span>Here are the file sizes for my Canon 5D Mark IV.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

RAW File
\nSize<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Quality<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Number of
\nPixels<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

File Size
\n(MB)<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

RAW<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

30 M<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

36.8<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

M RAW<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

17 M<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

27.8<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

S RAW<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7.5 M<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

18.9<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The full-size RAW file is the highest quality your camera can deliver.\u00a0 <\/span>Because it\u2019s not compressed, no data needs to be added when the image is displayed. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The table below starts our comparison of the two file formats with the first two categories \u2013 image size and image quality.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

JPEG<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

RAW<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Small image size<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

High quality<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Range of Colors<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

Continuing the comparison, we turn to the range of colors the different file formats can capture.\u00a0 <\/span>The range of colors is determined by three qualities \u2013 hue (the color itself), brightness of the color (luminosity) and the purity of the color (saturation).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The range of colors most file formats can support is determined by a color space.\u2019 \u00a0<\/span>You can think of color spaces as boxes of Crayons of different sizes. A small color space is comparable to a small box of Crayons.\u00a0 <\/span>Larger color spaces have bigger boxes with more Crayons.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

JPEG files use the sRGB color space. This is the standard color space for the internet and most monitors.\u00a0 <\/span>At 256 colors, it is the smallest color space.\u00a0 <\/span>This means that sRGB supports only 256 shades of colors.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

RAW files are unique in that they are not associated with any color space.\u00a0 <\/span>The color range they capture is determined by the camera\u2019s sensor and is literally in the millions of shades.\u00a0 <\/span>Therefore, RAW files have the best range of colors.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

JPEG<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

RAW<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Small image size<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

High quality<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Range of colors<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In-camera Processing<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

When a sensor captures an image each of the pixels sends an analog signal that is proportional in strength to the intensity of the light.\u00a0 <\/span>The processor in the camera converts these signals to discrete digital numbers that can then be stored on the memory card.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With RAW files, other than converting the analog signals to digital data, the camera doesn\u2019t do any image processing.\u00a0 <\/span>White balance which affects the color of the image actually doesn\u2019t alter the image data in the RAW file.\u00a0 <\/span>All it does is store the white balance settings in the file\u2019s metadata which, in turn, gets used by programs such as Lightroom to render the colors on the monitor.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

JPEG files are different. There are controls in the camera that can be set to enhance JPEG images, controls like sharpness, contrast, saturation and color tone for color images and filter effects and toning effects for black and white images.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The result is that JPEG files are pretty much ready to go but RAW files require post processing in an application like Lightroom.\u00a0 <\/span>So, in this regard, JPEG files are more convenient.\u00a0 <\/span>But the downside is that the camera makes the enhancement decisions, not the photographer. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

JPEG<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

RAW<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Small image size<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

High quality<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Range of colors<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

In-camera processing<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ease of Use<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

JPEG files are ready to use.\u00a0 <\/span>They\u2019re in a format that can be displayed on the internet including social media, emailed to friends, added to text messages and so on.\u00a0 <\/span>RAW files cannot be directly used for anything.\u00a0 <\/span>They must be converted to a usable file format such as JPEG, TIFF, etc.\u00a0 <\/span>Therefore, for pure ease of use, JPEG files are ready to go.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, since RAW files require post processing the result is what the photographer chooses what the image will look like, not the camera.\u00a0 <\/span>This gives the photographer full artistic control. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

JPEG<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

RAW<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Small image size<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

High quality<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Range of colors<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

In-camera processing<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ready to use images<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total artistic control<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Metadata<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

Both file formats contain metadata. For example, there is a lot of data about the camera and the settings used for the shot like lens focal length, ISO, f\/stop, shutter speed and much more.\u00a0 <\/span>The metadata that these file formats can capture, while rather extensive, is fixed. You get what you get.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Who defines what metadata a RAW file can capture?\u00a0 <\/span>Each camera manufacturer has its own proprietary format.\u00a0 <\/span>Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Fuji and so on have their own proprietary RAW file formats.\u00a0 <\/span>And the manufacturers decide what metadata to include. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

JPEG and proprietary RAW file formats, therefore, can capture fixed metadata.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Enter DNG, an open source RAW file format.\u00a0 <\/span>DNG stands for Digital Negative and open source means that the metadata it contains is not static, not fixed.\u00a0 <\/span>It can be added to.\u00a0 <\/span>For example, I\u2019s possible to save all of your Lightroom adjustments in a DNG file. And to top it off, it\u2019s generally smaller than the proprietary RAW files.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When you import files into Lightroom you have the option of converting them to DNGs at the same time. The import takes longer but I prefer working with DNG files so it\u2019s worth it.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

JPEG<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

RAW<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Small image size<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

High quality<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Range of colors<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

In-camera processing<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Ready to use images<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Total artistic control<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

X<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Metadata<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

DNG<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Summing It Up<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

JPEG or RAW, what will it be? If you goal is to be able to take photographs you can share on social media or text to friends, then JPEG is ideal. It\u2019s easy, the camera does most of the enhancements, and you can readily share your photos, especially when captured on a smart phone.\u00a0 <\/span>I should mention, however, that there are some excellent smart phone apps such as SnapSeed that allow you to further enhance your JPEG images.\u00a0 <\/span>But it\u2019s all done on your phone and the images are ready to go in a matter of minutes.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

If, on the other hand, photography is a personal expression of the world as you relate to and experience it, if image quality is important, if artistic control is essential then RAW files are the best way to go. They contain the maximum amount of information to work with and they give you complete creative control.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

But no matter which file format you choose, the important thing is that you are enjoying and getting satisfaction from your photography.\u00a0 <\/span>That\u2019s really what it\u2019s all about.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(122)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Which file format is better – JPEG or RAW. Well, it depends….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[273,1339,8],"tags":[1155,338,1455,1456,1457,82,81],"class_list":["post-4210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lightroom-how-to-articles-articles","category-photography-workshop","category-workshops","tag-color-space","tag-dng","tag-file-formats","tag-file-size","tag-image-quality","tag-jpeg","tag-raw"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9Nl7-15U","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4210"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4210\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4215,"href":"https:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4210\/revisions\/4215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}