Photography: RAW vs JPEG

When shooting for a project or graphic you want to strive for the best quality possible. When I shoot with my DSLR camera I always shoot in RAW format to get the highest quality and largest amount of post editing customization. JPEG is useful when you need a quick result with less editing after the shoot.

When shooting in RAW format you have the option of pre-editing your photo in photoshop when you open it. JPEG photo files don't offer this feature and must be edited directly in photoshop, potentially impacting the quality of the image. This pre edit screen is a huge advantage because it allows you to edit your photo with extreme accuracy without decreasing any quality in the photoshop application.

When you open your RAW image you will see the screen above. The right side panel is full of many different editing options for your photos from exposure to clarity.