Understanding Camera Raw: The Power of Unedited Photos

TLDRCamera raw is like a raw potato, uncooked and unprocessed. It contains all the information captured by your camera sensor, giving you the flexibility to manipulate highlights, shadows, contrast, and white balance. Unlike JPEG, camera raw allows you to make precise adjustments without losing details. Learn how to access camera raw, apply it to JPEGs, and use it as a filter in Photoshop. Discover the power of smart objects and the importance of color profiles. Master the sliders and shortcuts to create stunning before-and-after transformations. Zoom and navigate seamlessly in camera raw using the zoom tool and keyboard shortcuts. Don't miss the hidden camera raw trick for preserving details. Finally, reset and compare your edits to achieve the perfect photo.

Key insights

🥔Camera raw is like a raw potato, unedited and unprocessed, capturing all the information from the camera sensor.

⚙️Camera raw offers greater flexibility to adjust highlights, shadows, contrast, and white balance without losing details.

👁️‍🗨️Access camera raw by opening a raw photo in Photoshop or using it as a filter for JPEGs.

🖼️Convert images into smart objects to work non-destructively with camera raw adjustments.

🌈Be aware of color profiles and set them to SRGB or Adobe RGB for better editing results.

Q&A

What is the difference between a raw photo and a JPEG?

—A raw photo is unedited and unprocessed, containing all the information captured by the camera sensor, while a JPEG is already cooked and lacks the flexibility for adjustments.

How do I open a JPEG file in Camera Raw?

—In Photoshop, go to File Handling > Camera Raw Preferences and check 'Automatically open all supported jpegs and hcs.' This allows you to open JPEG files in Camera Raw.

How do I preserve details while editing in Camera Raw?

—Hold the ALT or Option key while adjusting sliders to visualize areas where details are lost. Avoid extreme adjustments and use the zoom tool to inspect fine details.

Can I undo my adjustments in Camera Raw?

—Yes, press Control+Z or Command+Z to undo. Press Control+Alt+Z or Command+Option+Z to redo. You can also double-click on sliders to reset them.

How do I zoom and navigate in Camera Raw?

—Press Z to select the zoom tool. Click and drag to the right to zoom in and to the left to zoom out. Hold the Spacebar to activate the hand tool for navigation.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Camera raw is like a raw potato - uncooked and unprocessed, containing all the information captured by your camera sensor.

02:56Access camera raw by opening a raw photo in Photoshop or using it as a filter for JPEGs.

04:44Convert images into smart objects to work non-destructively with camera raw adjustments.

06:52Be aware of color profiles and set them to SRGB or Adobe RGB for better editing results.

10:55Hold the ALT or Option key while adjusting sliders to visualize areas where details are lost. Avoid extreme adjustments and use the zoom tool to inspect fine details.

11:59Press Z to select the zoom tool and navigate seamlessly in camera raw using the zoom tool and keyboard shortcuts.

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