Canon® EOS Rebel XSi/450D Digital Field Guide

Appendix B. Exploring RAW Capture

In This Chapter

• Learning about RAW capture

• Canon's RAW conversion program

• Sample RAW image conversion

• Creating an efficient workflow

You may have heard about RAW capture, but you may not understand what the advantages and disadvantages of RAW shooting are. This appendix provides an overview of RAW capture as well as a brief walk-through on converting RAW image data into a final image.

RAW capture provides significant advantages including the ability to get the best quality from the XSi/450D images. But RAW capture isn't for everyone. If you prefer images that are ready to print straight out of the camera, then JPEG capture is the best option. However, if you enjoy working with images on the computer and having creative control over the quality and appearance of the image, then RAW is the option to explore.

Learning about RAW Capture

RAW capture allows you to save the data that comes off the image sensor with virtually no internal camera processing. The only camera settings that the camera applies to a RAW image are ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. And because many of the camera settings have been noted but not applied in the camera, you have the opportunity to make changes to settings including image brightness, white balance, contrast, and saturation when you convert the RAW image data into a final image using a conversion program such as Canon's Digital Photo Professional, Adobe Camera Raw, Adobe Lightroom, or Apple Aperture.

Note

In addition to the RAW ...