How can you use RAW format to control exposure?

1 What is exposure?

Exposure is the amount of light that reaches the sensor when you take a photo. It is affected by three main factors: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Aperture is the opening of the lens that controls how much light enters the camera. Shutter speed is the duration of time that the shutter is open, allowing light to hit the sensor. ISO is the sensitivity of the sensor to light. By adjusting these three factors, you can change the exposure of your image. A well-exposed image has a balanced distribution of tones, from shadows to highlights, without losing detail or clipping.

2 Why shoot in RAW?

RAW format is different from JPEG, which is the most common file type for digital photos. JPEG files are compressed and processed by the camera, applying settings such as white balance, contrast, saturation, and sharpness. This reduces the file size, but also the quality and dynamic range of the image. Dynamic range is the ability of the sensor to capture the range of brightness levels in a scene, from the darkest to the brightest areas. RAW files, on the other hand, are uncompressed and unprocessed, retaining all the information and dynamic range captured by the sensor. This means that you can adjust the exposure settings in post-production, using software such as Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop, without losing quality or detail. You can also correct white balance, color, and noise more easily and accurately with RAW files.

3 How to adjust exposure in RAW?

To adjust exposure in RAW, you need to use software such as Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop that can read and edit RAW files. Once you import the files, you can use various tools and sliders to change the exposure settings. The most common ones are Exposure, Highlights, Shadows, Whites, and Blacks. Moving these sliders allows you to fine-tune the exposure of your image and recover detail and dynamic range that may have been lost or hidden in the original capture. Additionally, you can use other tools such as curves, contrast, and clarity to enhance the tonal contrast and definition of your image.

4 What are the benefits of shooting in RAW?

Shooting in RAW offers several advantages for controlling exposure, such as more flexibility to change the exposure settings in post-production without affecting the image quality or detail. Plus, you can experiment with different settings and styles, and undo or redo any changes. Additionally, RAW files preserve the full dynamic range and color depth of the image, and prevent artifacts like banding, noise, or posterization that may occur with JPEG files. Moreover, you can correct white balance, color, and noise more accurately and easily with RAW files due to their increased information and data compared to JPEG files.

5 What are the drawbacks of shooting in RAW?

Shooting in RAW has some drawbacks that you should be aware of, such as larger file sizes, more post-production work, and less compatibility. RAW files are much larger than JPEG files, as they are uncompressed and unprocessed, taking up more space on your memory card and hard drive. You need to use a software that can read and edit RAW files, and spend time adjusting the exposure and other settings to achieve your desired result. Furthermore, RAW files are not standardized with each camera manufacturer having its own format and extension. This means that not all software and devices can read and display RAW files, and you may need to convert them to JPEG or other formats for sharing or printing.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?