.RAW File

The raw file extension is traditionally used for RAW image format, a picture format used by digital cameras for "raw" images take by the device that are not yet processed to for use. These files are sometimes also called digital negatives, because they serve same purpose as negatives  in film photography.

The RAW image stores a wider dynamic range or color gamut than the eventual final image format, and it preserves most of the information of the captured image.

RAW image content:

• Short file header
• Camera sensor metadata
• Image metadata
• An image thumbnail
• Timecode, keycode or framebuffer
• Sensor image data

There are many different RAW formats, most of them based on TIFF format. Major digital camera manufacturers assign different file extension for their RAW formats. One of the most known RAW formats include:

• KDC (Kodak)
• CR2 (Canon)
• ERF (Epson)
• NEF (Nikon)
• ORF (Olympus)
• RW2 (Panasonic)
• SR2 (Sony)

Digital camera photo RAW files can be opened in vendor's specialized software, like Canon Digital Photo Professional, Nikon Capture NX-D, Panasonic PHOTOfunSTUDIO, etc.

You can also use universal photo editors, like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Zoner Photo Studio and many more.

These apps are also able to transform RAW images to popular picture image formats, like JPG, PNG, BMP etc.

How to open:

Photo editors, like Adobe Photoshop generally are able to work with RAW image files.

How to convert:

There is usually bundled software to digital camers, which can process and export RAW file formats to common image formats like JPEG.