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Think of a RAW image as a digital negative. When you take a photograph the camera records the image in one of two ways. If you shoot in RAW, the data saved by the camera is untouched and is exactly as recorded by the sensor. If you shoot in JPEG, the camera will apply various changes to the RAW data e.g. contrast,saturation,sharpening etc and then discard much of the RAW data and save the file as a compressed jpeg image. The advantage of shooting in RAW is that all the data is available to you so that you can do the processing to your own liking and not the cameras. The disadvantage is that you have to spend the time doing it! Most people (including me) will advise you to shoot in RAW.
Think of the jpeg as being cooked. Think of the uncooked file as being raw, like raw meat or raw fish.
Btw Steve it's not an acronym so no need to write it in capitals 
Tooth, it's touché not touchée
Yep I shoulda captialised the JPEG, you got me 
OK so let me get this straight, if I take photos using my own settings that will be classed as raw (lower casing) and if you want to alter the photograph in any way you can with the aid of software such as photoshop? or this may sound stupid is there a setting on the camera you use for raw instead of manual/custom.
Many thanks and play nicely 
Gary.
You need to set your camera to shoot raw and not jpeg - in menu settings? Everything thing else works the same way when you are taking photos. Raw files are much larger (more digital info) so will require a program like Photoshop or Lightroom to process them. Raw files will give you more scope in altering exposure, whitebalance etc.
Peter
Gary
There may be settings in your camera that allow you to choose which format the camera makes the image. Mine is set to take/make both raw and jpeg. I can also choose the quality of them both i.e. low, med, high.
One disadvantage of using my settings is the impact on the amount of space on the memory card. The jpeg allows me to see what the camera believes the image should look like and the raw allows me to process the image to how I want it to look. However memory cards are not too expensive.
Raw images can be tweaked in photo applications like PS as you say the camera manufacturers also supply software to manipulate the raw image. Manufacturers software is only for their camera raw. The non camera manufacturer software PS/GIMP etc. are non camera specific.
BTW you don't mention what camera you want to set up, it may help if you do so that someone on here can give you specific settings for the image type (raw, jpeg)
ihth
Gary
I notice that in your PF you are using two different cameras. A Canon Digital IXUS 65 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30
Regrettably neither of these cameras are capable of supporting raw format. So unless you use or upgrade to a compatable camera you will be unable to take anything other than JPEG's
Quote: Tooth, it's touché not touchée
Yep I shoulda captialised the JPEG, you got me
What made you assume that Tooth is a man?
What made you assume that I had assumed Tooth is a man? What made you assume that I had assumed touché to be an adjective?
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