Raw is a term used to describe the proprietary file format that your camera uses. In other words, this is the camera manufacturer's file format. Nikon has a raw format. Canon has one. And so do other manufacturers.

One manufacturers raw file is no better or worse than another's. The format is simply a proprietary way to save images. Raw captures a pure file without any image processing occurring in the camera.

The raw file format is comparable to a film negative. Negatives, unlike slide film, involve an additional step of printing, and during this step, many adjustments can be made to the image. Similarly, the raw format offers substantial flexibility when processing images in a software program, like Photoshop. For example, when opening up a raw file, you can adjust the color, brightness, shadow details, tint, and the white balance of the image. Instead of these settings being decided upon capture, you get to choose what you would like to see in the image as you open it.

You can change these and other settings long after you've captured the image, as these settings are adjustable if you don't get them perfectly right in the first place. Many photographers prefer shooting in the raw mode because it captures the image without processing the image in the camera. They want to retain full control over what gets changed and what does not. That is the real power of rawfull control. Most people think that the main advantage of shooting raw files is that they can produce large, high-quality image files. This is truly a big advantage, but the best thing about raw is the total control it gives to those digital photographers who want it.