A RAW image is image data that has recorded output data of imaging
sensor. As image processing is not performed inside the camera when a
photo is taken and the photo has been recorded in the special form of
“RAW image data + Image processing conditions information at the time
of shooting”, special software is needed to view or edit the image.
* “RAW” means “in a natural condition” or “not processed or refined”.

If described in terms of film, the concept of a RAW image is a shot
image not yet developed (latent image).
With film, the image appears for the first time when it is developed. In
the same way, for RAW images too, you cannot view them as images on
your computer unless you perform subsequent image signal processing.
Therefore, even though it is digital, this processing is called
“development”.

DPP automatically carries out this “development” processing when
RAW images are displayed in DPP. As a result, RAW images displayed
in DPP are images whose development processing has been
completed.
With DPP, you can view, edit and print RAW images without being
particularly conscious of the development processing.

RAW Images

RAW Development

When RAW Development is to be Done

RAW images are recorded in the format “RAW image data + Image
processing conditions information at the time of shooting”. When you
open a RAW image in DPP, the image is automatically developed and
you can view the image as an image to which image processing
conditions at the time of shooting have been applied.
Even if you perform various adjustments to the image you have opened
(it undergoes automatic development processing each time), only the
image processing conditions (development conditions) change and the
“original image data itself” remains unaffected. Therefore, it is the
perfect data for users who want to get creative with the images after
shooting, as you do not have to worry about image deterioration.
In DPP, the “Image processing conditions information” that can be
adjusted is called a “Recipe”

(p.86)

In DPP, all the adjustments (image processing conditions information)
made with the tool palettes can be saved in the image as data called a
“recipe”

(p.87)

, or can be saved, downloaded and applied to other

images as a separate recipe file (extension “.dr4”,

p.88

). However, a

recipe file with saved RAW image adjustments cannot be applied to
JPEG or TIFF images.

Advantages of a RAW Image

Image processing conditions information

RAW image data

Contents adjusted using the tool
palettes can be handled
individually as a recipe file
(extension “.dr4”)