Complete Guide to RAW File Processing

Why Shoot RAW for AI Processing

RAW files contain the full sensor data from your camera — more dynamic range, more color information, and more flexibility than JPEG. When the AI processes a RAW file, it works with this richer data to produce higher-quality background replacements with better edge detection and color matching.

Supported RAW Formats

FramePulse supports all major RAW formats:

• Canon: CR2, CR3
• Nikon: NEF, NRW
• Sony: ARW, SRF
• Adobe: DNG
• Olympus: ORF
• Panasonic: RW2
• Fujifilm: RAF
• Pentax: PEF
• Samsung: SRW

Drop any of these into your watch folder and FramePulse handles the conversion automatically. No extra software or manual conversion steps needed.

RAW vs JPEG: Quality Comparison

RAW files produce noticeably better results in challenging scenarios:

• Hair and fine edges: More detail in RAW means cleaner subject isolation
• Shadow areas: RAW preserves shadow detail that JPEG compresses away
• Color accuracy: 14-bit RAW color depth vs 8-bit JPEG means smoother gradients

For standard portraits with good lighting, the difference is subtle. For complex subjects or challenging lighting, RAW makes a visible difference.

Performance Considerations

RAW files are larger than JPEGs (20-50MB vs 5-10MB), which means:

• Longer upload time to the server
• Slightly longer processing time
• More storage space needed in your watch and output folders

For time-critical sessions (events, live shoots), consider shooting JPEG for speed. For quality-critical work (portraits, products), shoot RAW.

Output Format Options

Regardless of input format, you can choose your output format in FramePulse settings: JPEG for smaller files and faster delivery, or PNG for lossless quality. The AI processes at full resolution internally — the output format only affects the final saved file.