

As a result, the Sony image sensor and processor capture all the image data and save it using TIFF specifications. ARW images use information similar to TIFF image formats. ( Canon uses CR2, Nikon uses NEF and Fuji RAF.)Īn image with the ARW file type actually stands for Sony Alpha Raw – not that this makes any sense to me. If you have a Sony digital camera, it uses a specific Sony RAW format known as ARW. It would have been so much easier if they’d all just agreed to the one file format – but here we are! As a result, we need photo management and editing software that can handle all the different RAW file types.

However, RAW files are more complicated and often need specialty software.Īny RAW image file contains uncompressed image data, making it a much larger file with a huge level of data, detail and resolution.Īnd, just like the early days of memory cards, most camera brands have developed their own RAW format. JPEG images are easy to open with most standard computer operating systems. Today, most digital cameras will produce both JPEG images and some form of RAW image file. The file extension defines the type of file it is and what software will support it. In photography, there’s a large range of file extensions with the most common being. For example, maybe you’ve received a document via email with a. That way you’ll easily recognise them, access them and open them, and most importantly, edit them into amazing images.īefore we cover ARW, a quick lesson on file extensions.ĭigital files generally have a file extension attached to the end of their name.

If you’re a photographer working with Sony ARW files, you’re going to need to know a little bit about them.
