Aren\u2019t JPG files good enough? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(kinda)
RAW image files are the highest-quality files taken straight off the work cameras \u2013 without any edits applied to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(note: in photography the acronym SOC is often used to mean \u201cStraight Off Camera\u201d. Usually in reference to comparing photos with and without edits, or to show how nice a photo someone got without edits.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAW files contain more information in them than jpg files. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
JPG is a compressed format that has limited editing options\/quality compared to RAW. Therefore, it is important to also save RAW files. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We use JPG all the time. All the unsplash and adobe stock images we get are jpg. Our edited photos from faculty portraits and other photo sessions are all saved as JPG. Why save RAW also? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAW files easily take up to 5x more space on a computer compared to highest quality JPG version of that same file. Which means they really aren\u2019t convenient to store on individual computers. They also don\u2019t have all the lighting and color and other edits applied to our \u201cfinished\u201d products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So yes, full quality JPG are \u201cgood enough\u201d for all our uses once things are edited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, much like keeping negatives from print photos, it is important to have those original files just in case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advancements in editing tools also make it possible to get better edits off decades old RAW files. But those improvements aren\u2019t as improved for decades old JPG files… due to having less digital information to work with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think of RAW as an archiving format (much like negatives from film cameras, or keeping all video files from straight off a camera). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similar to RAW video footage, the size of RAW photos makes it unrealistic to keep on individual computers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore it is important to back up all RAW files to a shared drive, but in a location that really is an out of the way location. Similar to storing things in an attic. In the chance you DO need them, you know where to crawl around to find them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also available via a semi-sufficient Loom video<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n