RAW vs JPEG: Which Should You Choose?

Professional cameras allow you to save your photographs as JPEG or RAW files. Each of the two file formats comes with additional settings such as level of compression and pixel dimensions. The choice you make when taking the photographs has a significant influence on the image’s quality and size on the disk and your options for editing in post-processing. But don’t worry — most cameras let you choose to shoot in RAW vs JPEG, or you can decide to save your photographs both as RAW and JPEG files.

Nevertheless, although you can compress your photographs in post-processing and decrease the size of the image, you can’t increase image quality beyond the level of capturing. That is why, first of all, you should know what storing your photographs as RAW vs JPEG files mean and when to use each file format.

JPEG File Format

JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) is an image file format with lossy compression. It was released in the 1990s and is probably the most used image file format. The JPEG standard takes the image details the human eye can’t see and replaces them with the average color information of additional pixels. It reduces the amount of data it needs to store to reduce the size of the file on the disk. The compression level goes from 100% quality (no compression) to 1% quality (the highest compression available).

However, the higher the compression rate is, the lower the image quality is, and the effects of compression become visible. Although it depends on the image, a compression rate of 20 (80% image quality retained) or higher is usually visible to the human eye. After that, you’ll notice squared, uniformed areas that weren’t there before compression.

Pro and Cons of JPEG

The JPEG file format is highly used for publishing photographs online. Most websites and social media platforms support JPEG files exclusively. The reason is the small storage space required by JPEG images and the popularity of the standard. Available software knows how to work with JPEG files. Programs such as web content management platforms to image editors, image viewers, content editors, mobile apps, email services, and searching engines recognize the JPEG standard. You’ll hardly find an image-related service that doesn’t support JPEG files.

The small disk size has other benefits as well. It allows your memory card to hold more pictures and reduces the cost of storing your portfolio. Instead of not taking a photograph because your memory card is full, you can increase the compression level and keep photographing. Instead of drastically culling your image, you can reduce their file size and keep more of them.

While it is always nice to have more space available, the JPEG file format forces you to compromise image quality. Even when you use the lowest compression level, your photographs won’t capture all the details of the scene you photograph. And although you might not see the difference on the camera screen or a monitor, you will see the difference when printing or enlarging your photographs.

JPEG images have fewer details and lower color accuracy. You can see the effects of JPEG compression, especially on highly textured areas of your photographs.

JPEG Verdict: JPEG is ideal for rapid-sequence action photography, when memory card capacity is at a premium, and when you need to make prints directly from your camera.

RAW File Format

The RAW file format is newer than the JPEG standard. It was released in 2004 and is the digital correspondent of the analog image negative. It stores all the information the camera sensor can capture. Furthermore, it captures metadata (e.g., exposure settings, camera, lens models, date of shooting, author details, etc.), an image thumbnail, and sometimes a small JPEG file to preview the image on the camera LCD screen.

Unlike the JPEG file format, there is more than one RAW file format. Almost every camera manufacturer uses a different RAW format to provide the highest color and detail accuracy specifically for their camera. Additionally, RAW images want to be a precise representation of reality. The closest the manufacturers can get to this ideal, the better.

Pro and Cons of RAW

The main advantage of shooting in RAW format stands in image quality. You’ll capture all details and colors of the scene in front of you and deliver the highest level of clarity and sharpness. The huge amount of information translates into high-quality prints, which is why many professional photographers choose to shoot in RAW.

Another advantage is the broad range of editing options. When you have so much image data at your disposal, you can easily open your photographs in a RAW editor and apply the finest adjustments. In addition, the RAW file format gives you much more space for fixing errors and embracing your creativity.

RAW files are easy to convert into JPEG files after editing. However, you can’t convert a JPEG file into a RAW file simply because it is impossible to recover the data you didn’t capture at shooting. Therefore, RAW files may prove the ownership of the photographs and protect your copyrights.

Having high-quality images comes with a price. A RAW file can take a few times more disk space than a JPEG file with the same resolution. Moreover, you can’t set low resolutions for RAW files. It means your memory card can hold fewer photographs, and you need more storage space for your portfolio. It also means you can’t share your RAW files online (and it isn’t recommended due to copyright protection).

One additional disadvantage of the RAW format is that RAW files come out flat-looking if you are in a hurry. This means that RAW files must be processed in an editor before they become great-looking images — and editing takes time.

RAW Verdict: RAW is best when image quality and control over the final result are the most important factors.

When to Choose RAW vs JPEG

If you don’t have to worry about memory card space, you can set the camera to save your pictures in both RAW and JPEG files. You will have a full-resolution image ready for post-processing and printing. At the same time, you will have a compressed image for sharing and publishing online.

It is always a good idea to aim for the best image quality possible. Using the RAW file format opens the door for professional photography and photo editing. It allows you to see your photographs printed, which is good practice for a photographer.

See how many photographs your memory card can hold and try to find a way to transfer them to a computer or cloud service and keep shooting in RAW. If this isn’t possible, choose the JPEG file format and set the lowest compression rate and highest resolution.

As JPEG compression affects the detailed areas more than the smooth, uniform ones, the JPEG file format works better with less textured scenes in which color accuracy isn’t essential.

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Concluding Words

Choosing RAW vs JPEG file formats is a matter of purpose. Your decision is a compromise between image quality and size on disk. If your photographs will end up in a gallery or photo book, RAW is your only choice. On the other hand, if you create images for the web and share your portfolio online, a JPEG with a low compression rate may be what you need. Beginners also prefer JPEG format because it allows them to take lots of pictures at low costs.

However, remember that the audience is sensitive to quality. A great image needs more than a great subject matter and well-balanced composition. It has to have the proper form to be impactful and moving.