RAWVorschauen

RAWVorschauen, also known as RAW previews, are embedded low-resolution image files within the metadata of a RAW digital camera file. These previews are generated by the camera during the image capture process. Their primary purpose is to provide a quick and efficient way for software applications, such as photo editing programs and digital asset management systems, to display a thumbnail or preview of the image without needing to fully process the complex RAW data.

When you open a RAW file in most photo editing software, the application first reads the embedded RAW preview. This allows for rapid browsing and selection of images, as decoding the full RAW sensor data for every image would be a time-consuming operation, especially when dealing with large numbers of files. The quality of a RAW preview is typically a JPEG image, and its resolution and color rendering may not accurately represent the final image that can be produced by processing the RAW data.

Therefore, while RAW previews are essential for workflow efficiency, they should not be used for critical assessment of image quality, color accuracy, or detail. For accurate evaluation, the actual RAW sensor data must be processed by the software's RAW converter. The size of these previews can vary depending on the camera manufacturer and model.