RAWbilder

RAWbilder is a term used in German-language photography to describe raw image data captured by a digital camera. RAWbilder are the unprocessed or minimally processed data produced by an image sensor, stored with little or no in-camera processing such as white balance, sharpening, or gamma correction. Unlike JPEG or TIFF outputs, RAWbilder typically contain sensor values that require demosaicking and extensive post-processing to produce a viewable image. They offer a wide dynamic range and greater latitude for adjustments to exposure, color, and tonal mapping without introducing artifacts from early processing steps.

In practice, RAWbilder are stored in camera-specific formats (CR2/CR3 for Canon, NEF for Nikon, ARW for Sony, ORF for Olympus, RW2 for Panasonic) or in a universal format such as DNG. Processing RAWbilder involves using a raw processor (for example, Lightroom, Capture One, darktable, or RawTherapee) to perform white balance, exposure correction, noise reduction, and lens corrections. The resulting image can then be exported to standard formats such as JPEG or TIFF for sharing or publication.

Advantages of RAWbilder include non-destructive editing, a higher latitude for recovering details in shadows and highlights after careful processing, and preserved color fidelity. Disadvantages include larger file sizes, reliance on processor software, and varying compatibility across camera models and software ecosystems.

For archiving, photographers typically preserve RAWbilder alongside metadata (EXIF/IPTC/XMP) and consider using archival storage practices or a universal RAW standard to improve long-term accessibility.