Learn How to Shoot and Edit RAW Photos on iOS 10 iPhone and iPad
There is no doubt that iPhone 7 plus and iPhone 7 have the best camera among all iOS devices. It comes with a dual-camera system that takes mobile photography even further. But if you want to shoot and edit raw photos on your device for greater control over adjustments and editing, iOS 10 provides you a tool to shoot and edit RAW photos.
If you are using iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9.7-inch, and you have installed iOS 10 on your device, you can take your camera to the next level and be your own photographer that even a professional photographer would be amazed.
What Exactly is Raw?
RAW is a file format and the purest form of an image. It captures all image data recorded by the sensor. These files appear flatter and allow editors to bring the photos to life. RAW photos are also not compressed, which make them bigger than JPEGs (which are already compressed and the image information is lost). Because of that, RAW files have all image information and can be edited in many ways. This is why shooting RAW is essential for editing purposes.
Shooting RAW allows you to boost shadow or make highlights to enhance new detail. This is the reason why most photographers prefer to shoot and edit RAW photos.
Benefits of Shooting RAW Photos
If you are wondering what the benefits of RAW are, here are some reasons why you should shoot and edit raw photos:
- Highest Image Quality
One of the great benefits of shooting raw is that you acquire the highest quality of the image. All information is recorded and no data is lost since the photo is not compressed.
- Easy Adjustments without Quality Reduction
When adjusting brightness in JPEG photos, the quality of the image is reduced because the photo is already compressed and some information are lost. But if you adjust brightness, contrast, exposure, white balance and others on RAW images, the image quality stays high as there are more levels available.
JPEG records 256 levels of brightness. On the other hand, RAW records 4,096 up to 16,384 levels of brightness! In other words, JPEG captures in 8bit while RAW captures from 12-14 bit.
- Better Printing
Printing RAW files are much better due to finer gradation of colors and tones. Professionals also opt for RAW because it provides the highest quality even when the photos are already printed.
Shoot and Edit RAW Photos with iOS 10
iOS 10 now lets you shoot RAW photos and you have more control when it comes to editing the light, imagery, color and more. With this new feature of iOS 10, your photos can look more excellent. Professionals and avid editors are also able to maximize their skills as their iPhone and iPad running iOS 10 allow them to have full control over the images.
iCloud Photo Library also syncs RAW files so you can effortlessly access your RAW photos captured using third party apps. This means that you can always access your RAW images not only on your iPhone or iPad but also on your Mac. In addition, you can as well import RAW images from your DSLR.
How to Shoot and Edit RAW Photos on iPhone and iPad
You can only shoot RAW photos using third-party apps that let you shoot RAW. Some of the most used third-party apps to shoot and edit RAW photos are Manual, Obscura, ProShot, ProCam 2, Slow Shutter Cam, VSCO Cam and more.
Step 1: For you to be able to shoot and edit RAW using your iOS 10 iPhone or iPad, you will need to download one of the third-party camera apps. Then you can check its settings for RAW photos. This guide will show you how to shoot and edit RAW photos using the Manual app.
Step 2: Wait for the installation to be finished. Open Manual app and tap the Settings icon located in the lower right corner. You will see a menu that includes settings for Save RAW + JPEG, Grid, Level, Histogram, Adaptive Theme, Sounds and Shutter Delay.
Step 3: Tap the switch next to SAVE RAW + JPEG to enable this feature.
Step 4: The app will show you two options for saving RAW files. You can choose if you want to save RAW file only, or RAW + JPEG. RAW file is in DNG format and pure while choosing RAW + JPEG may take up more space on your device as it has to save two files.
That’s all! Now you can shoot and edit raw photos on your iPhone or iPad running iOS 10. Share your experience with us in the comments section below!