I am using RAW files ...

[Daniel R.]

that start out at around 7.3 MB and slightly higher.

When I am done processing photos, my photos end up being around 2 MB. I am saving them in JPEG iformat. I do this because I share many of the photos I take with band members and sometimes local newspapers.

For the band members I either email them or if there are many pictures to share, I put them on a disc. I guess my question is: How do I save the data I am losing and can I?

Thanks!
Daniel

[Carbone]

RAW contains the unprocessed information from your camera (white balance and others).

Typically, RAW contains the information of all the sensors of your camera. A typical camera has 3 different sensors, one for Red, one for Green, one for Blue.

When you save as a jpeg, you do two things :

- Compress the file (combines and make an image out of the 3 different colours)
- Discard the unecessary information JPEG doesn't need or can't use or don't support.

In order to keep this information, you need to save your RAW files in a safe place (on a CD or a DVD). RAW is your negative. If you loose it, you loose your original.

Hope this helps !

Ray