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What are RAW files and why are they so important?

.raw files, also known as raw files or raw files, are uncompressed and unprocessed image data that is directly recorded by the camera's sensor. Unlike popular formats like JPEG, RAW files contain all the color, brightness, and contrast information, allowing for more control over the look of the image during editing. In this section, we'll discuss the importance of raw files in photography.

Definition and Characteristics of RAW Files

Raw photos are images saved in a format that has not yet been processed by the camera's algorithms. Thanks to this, RAW files contain the full range of information about colors, brightness, and contrast, which allows for greater control over the look of the photo during the editing process. In practice, this means that the photographer can make changes to the exposure, white balance, or contrast without losing image quality.

When we talk about RAW photos, we usually mean photos taken with a digital camera or, in some cases, a phone. There are many RAW photo formats (depending on the manufacturer of the recording device). Here are the most well-known "RAWs":

• NEF (Nikon)
• ORF (Olympus)
• KDC, K25, DCR (Kodak)
• RAW, RW2 (Panasonic)
• ARW (Sony)
• CR2, CRW (Canon)
• DNG (general format, characteristic for brands such as Canon, Leica, Pentax, Ricoh, mobile phones - e.g. Nokia Lumia)
• ERF (Epson)
• MEF (Mamiya)
• MRW (Minolta)
• PEF (Pentax)
• RAF (Fuji)
• SRW (Samsung)
• X3F (Polaroid)
• SRF, SR2 (Sony)
• MOS (Aptus, Mamiya)
• NRW (Nikon Coolpix)
• 3FR (Hasselblad)
• GPR (GoPro)

Advantages and disadvantages of using the .RAW format

Using .raw has many advantages, but it also comes with its own set of problems. The main advantages of using the .raw format include:

• More control over photo editing
• Recover detail in shadows and highlights
• Use the full potential of your camera's sensor

However, using the .raw format can also come with some issues, such as:

• Larger file sizes, which can fill up your memory card faster
• Dedicated photo editing software required
• No ability to use photos immediately on social media or websites

How to read and process raw files?

To read and process a raw photo, you need the right software that can handle RAW files. The most popular programs for this purpose are Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Capture One or the free program RawTherapee. In these programs, you can make all the changes to exposure, white balance, contrast or colors, and then export the photo to JPEG or another popular format that can be used on social media or websites.

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How do RAW photos get lost?

The process of raw photo loss can be caused by a variety of factors, both hardware and human. In this section, we will discuss how photo loss occurs and what are the typical causes of this phenomenon.

Common Causes of RAW Photo Loss

When it comes to losing files of RAW photos, there are a few common causes that are worth knowing about so you can prevent them:

• Damage to the memory card or hard drive where the photos are stored
• Errors during file transfer between devices
• Software or operating system failure
• Accidental deletion of files by the user
• Virus or malware attack

RAW Drive Symptoms Indicating Possible Data Loss

In the case of raw disk symptoms, there are several signals that may indicate the risk of data loss. Here are some of them:

• Unexpected errors when trying to open RAW photo files
• Cannot access disk or memory card
• Slow disk or memory card operation
• OS does not recognize disk or memory card
• Cannot write new files to disk or memory card

How to prevent file loss from card disk?

To avoid losing raw photos from the card's disk, it is worth following a few practical tips:

• Back up your photos regularly to another medium, such as an external drive or the cloud
• Use trusted and reputable brands of memory cards and hard drives
• Avoid suddenly turning off your camera or computer when working with RAW files
• Keep your memory cards and hard drives clean and properly stored
• Regularly update your software and operating system to avoid crashes and errors
• Watch out for viruses and malware by using up-to-date antivirus software

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RAW Photo Recovery: Basic Steps

If you want to recover photos RAW or other files, there are a few basic steps you should take in the data recovery process. In this section, we will discuss these steps and provide some practical tips for data recovery.

RAW Disk Diagnostics: First Step to Data Recovery

Before you begin data recovery, it is important to perform raw drive diagnostics. Diagnostics allow you to identify problems with the drive and assess the possibility of recovering user data. The diagnostic process may include:

• Checking the health of the disk using diagnostic tools
• Analyzing the file structure and file system
• Verifying data integrity
• Assessing the degree of data corruption

The importance of diagnostics in recovering user data is to determine whether data recovery is possible and what methods and tools will be most effective in a given case.

RAW Disk Repair: How is it possible?

Raw disk repair is the next step in the data recovery process. Repair can include various actions, such as:

• Attempt to repair damaged file system structure
• Reconstructing lost partitions
• Recovering data from bad sectors

It is worth noting that repairing a raw disk does not always guarantee the recovery of all data. In some cases, it may be necessary to use professional raw disk data recovery services.

Recovering Deleted Files: Practical Tips

When it comes to recovering deleted files, there are some practical tips that can help you recover deleted photos raw and other files:

• Do not save new data on the disk or memory card where the files were lost to avoid overwriting the deleted data
• Use data recovery tools that support RAW format, such as EaseUS Data Recovery, StrongRecovery, or Recuva
• If data recovery software does not work, consider using professional data recovery services

RAW photos can be recovered in various ways:

1. Using entries from the file system (which are not damaged)

2. Using additional analyses (especially the analysis of raw / RAW files, where the task comes down to correctly recognizing the file among the analyzed data and estimating the size of the data)

The first of the given methods concerns the case where photos can be recovered in a traditional way. The second method provides support in recovering photos when the first one does not give positive results (most often when the files / photos cannot be found at all). StrongRecovery supports parallel recovery of data / photos from the file system and recovery of data in raw form (RAW).

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Step 1

Select the drive from which you want to recover photos using the initial drive selection window:

Step 2

After processing the partition header data (processing MFT/FAT), you will see a browser window, use this window to browse the paths/folders with deleted data, this is the first method to recover RAW photos (the second one in "step 4"):

Step 3

Now you can select files and folders to recover using the "Recover" option from the main menu or the context menu of the file list (right mouse button), you will be asked to select the target directory for the data to be recovered, select the disk where you want to dump them, remember, the disk should be designed for data recovery (without the risk of overwriting/destroying previously lost or deleted files):

Step 4

StrongRecovery also scans data for raw files - RAW (files to be recovered +). If the scanning process is completed or RAW files are found to a satisfactory degree (photos or other multimedia), then they can be dumped/recovered. RAW files are searched for by detecting header information (file format), this is done independently of the file system, so in the event of file system corruption or loss of file data (allocation data, name, date, attributes), it is possible to recover them. StrongRecovery has the ability to edit the size of the dumped file / photo (right mouse button on the file -> edit file size). If the size is too small, a larger size is set from above, this is a virtual set size and only serves to inform the program how much data to dump, in this case it dumps with a reserve, i.e., if you know that the file should be about 5 MB in size, you can set 6 MB.

Step 5

Sometimes it happens that it is not possible to recover RAW photos in their entirety or their header data is damaged and the files cannot be identified or are dumped as overwritten. Some RAW photos contain thumbnails or larger photos in the form of copies in JPG format. In the case when there is no way to recover normal RAW photos, it is worth using the context menu option (option available only in the professional version) "Recover photo thumbnail (Ctrl+Alt+M)":

It is worth remembering that the speed of action and the use of appropriate methods and tools are crucial for the successful recovery of deleted files.

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RAW Photo Recovery Tools and Software

In this section, we will provide an overview of popular data recovery tools and RAW photo recovery software. We will discuss their features, advantages and disadvantages, and compare their effectiveness in data recovery.

EaseUS Data Recovery: Is it worth it?

EaseUS Data Recovery is a popular data recovery software that supports various file formats, including RAW photos. Here are some of its advantages:

• Intuitive user interface
• Fast data scanning and recovery
• Ability to preview files before recovery
• Support for various file systems and storage media

However, EaseUS Data Recovery also has some disadvantages, such as:

• Limitations in the free version of the software
• No support for some RAW formats

Podsumowując, EaseUS Data Recovery is a RAW photo recovery software worth considering, especially for users who value simplicity and speed.

StrongRecovery: How effective is this tool?

StrongRecovery is another data recovery tool that offers support for RAW photos. Here are its main advantages:

• Support for many RAW formats
• Ability to recover data from bad sectors
• Support for various file systems and storage media

StrongRecovery disadvantages include:

• Less intuitive user interface compared to EaseUS Data Recovery
• Slower scanning and data recovery

To sum up,StrongRecoverycan be an effective data recovery tool for users who need support for more RAW formats and the ability to recover data from bad sectors.

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Summary

In this article, we have provided a comprehensive guide to RAW photo recovery, which includes the definition and characteristics of RAW files, their advantages and disadvantages, and how to read and process this type of file. Then, we have discussed the common causes of RAW photo loss and how to prevent it. In the following sections, we have introduced the basic steps of RAW photo recovery, such as disk diagnostics, disk repair, and deleted file recovery.

In the rest of the article, we focused on RAW photo recovery tools and software such as EaseUS Data Recovery and StrongRecovery. We compared their features, advantages and disadvantages, as well as their effectiveness in data recovery. Choosing the right data recovery software depends on the individual needs and preferences of the user, and it is important to choose a tool that offers support for RAW formats, is easy to use, and is effective in data recovery.

In conclusion, RAW photo recovery is a process that can be complicated, but with the right tools and knowledge on the subject, you can effectively recover lost data. It is important to keep your files safe, make regular backups, and use the right data recovery tools when needed.

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Glossary of terms

RAW files: Raw image data recorded directly by the camera sensor.

RAW format: The file format in which RAW images are saved. There are many different RAW formats, such as NEF, ORF, CR2, DNG.

RAW editing: The process of modifying and adjusting RAW images to achieve the desired effect.

RAW recovery: The process of recovering lost or corrupted RAW images.

Memory card: The storage medium used to store RAW images in a camera.

Hard Drive A storage medium used to store RAW photos on a computer.

File System: A system for organizing data on a storage medium, such as NTFS, FAT32, exFAT.

Disk Damage: A problem with the storage medium that prevents access to stored data.

Data Recovery Software: A tool used to recover lost data from a storage medium.

Photo Thumbnail: A small image of a photo used to preview it.

Backups: Copies of data stored in a safe place to protect against loss.

Glossary: A list of definitions for key terms used in this article.

Camera sensor: The element of a camera that is responsible for recording an image.

Exposure: The amount of light that reaches the camera sensor when taking a photo.

White balance: A camera setting that ensures the correct color reproduction in a photo.

Contrast: The difference between light and dark areas of a photo.

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FAQ - RAW Photo Recovery

What are the most common causes of RAW photo loss?

The most common causes of RAW photo loss include:

• Memory card or hard drive damage: This can occur due to physical damage to the storage media, software error, or virus attack.
• Accidental deletion of files: Users may accidentally delete RAW photos from the memory card or hard drive.
• Errors during storage media formatting: Formatting the memory card or hard drive can result in data loss if not done correctly.
• Virus or malware attack: Viruses and malware can damage or delete RAW files.

What are the best practices for preventing the loss of RAW photos?

To prevent loss of RAW photos, please follow these practices:

• Back up RAW photos regularly: Backups can be stored on an external hard drive, in the cloud, or on another secure storage medium.
• Use trusted and reputable memory card brands: Low-quality memory cards can be more susceptible to damage.
• Avoid suddenly turning off your camera or computer while working with RAW files: Sudden shutdowns can corrupt data.
• Keep your memory cards clean and properly stored: Keep your memory cards safe, away from dust and moisture.
• Use up-to-date antivirus software: Antivirus software can help protect against virus and malware attacks.

What are the factors that affect the effectiveness of RAW photo recovery?

The effectiveness of RAW photo recovery depends on many factors, such as:

• Type of damage to the storage media: Some damage is easier to repair than others.
• Severity of data corruption: The more data is damaged, the less chance there is of recovering it.
• Quality of the data recovery tool used: Some tools are more effective than others.
• User skills: Users with more experience in data recovery may achieve better results.