Camera RAW For Beginners in Photography

RAW is probably the most dominant format I know for image post-processing. It allows you to manage over the images. RAW translation procedure allows you to have control over a variable rather than letting your camera do the work for you. From my own experience some definitions are lost during the conversion on any other format. A RAW file also resolves somewhat more detail compare to JPEG.

The RAW image is a digital negative; a RAW file has higher or upper latitude compared to other format like JPEG, with RAW file, this allow you to have adjustments harder without worsening the quality. You may just hit ‘reset’ and revert back to its original image, and establish editing from scratch again. Having RAW as image format, you can change the white balance without dropping the image quality.

There are lots of RAW conversion software but I use the Adobe Camera RAW and this are the basic which you should know as a photographer.

Temperature - Adjust the slider to change the white balance that you like. The numbers in the bracket are the color temperature in Kelvin.

Tint - Changes the color shed of the general image. (But better keep this the way it is)

Auto - this ‘auto function’ automatically reverts you back to where you started off.

Exposure - adjustment on how bright or dark your image looks

Brightness - similar to the ‘exposure’ functions, but use the ‘exposure’ instead.

Contrast - Darkens the shadows and lightens the highlights

Recovery - recovers some destroyed highlights in your image.

Fill Lightening - lighten the shadows

Blacks - this is the opposite of ‘fill light’, escalating this will darken the shadows

Vibrance - gives a much better effect than editing the ’saturation’ in Photoshop. Increases the saturation of the non-saturated images

Saturation - adjusts the overall color saturation.

That’s it for Camera RAW do not expect anything too difficult/technical here

Las Vegas Photographer Randy Madrigal started his photography at the age of 19, He lives in Las Vegas and anywhere he goes, he brings his camera and start taking event pictures. Visit his blog at Las Vegas Photography for updates. Check out his Las Vegas Commercial Photography featuring food, architecture, advertising and trade-show portraits.