This exercise runs a comparative practical analysis of Raw and JPEG formats and the potential implications on image quality.
My practice prior to this exercise: Having tried different formats such as RAW, JPEG and TIFF, my preference now is to record images in raw format. I often shoot in raw and TIFF as it allows m flexibility and choice. I use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop (raw converter) in my regular practice. I usually compare the two versions of the same image in Lightroom. I have noticed some slight variations in how the colours are reproduced in JPEG/ raw images. These variations usually matter when the lighting is tricky and extra adjustments are necessary.
So this exercise was a good opportunity for me to look critically (and try to look objectively) at how these different formats perform and whether the image quality is affected.
For the exercise I selected three images that were taken this summer/ autumn in Cambridge and Truro.
My camera settings were as follows:
First set of images:
JPEG and raw, large files
White balance: daylight
ISO speed: 200
Second set of images:
JPEG and raw, large files
White balance: daylight
ISO speed: 200
Third set of images:
JPEG and raw, large files
White balance: I tried both tungsten and daylight for this exercise
ISO speed: 50
The process of analysing the images was as follows:
a) For the first set of images I started with comparing the paired images (raw and JPEG) in Lightroom.
b) I then made the necessary adjustments to the raw image.
c) Finally, the results were compared and any differences were noted.
d) The process was repeated for the remaining pairs of images with only one change: after comparing the images in Lightroom, I used Photoshop to open raw images. This was done to compare the programmes as well as the image results.
