Mark Today’s Question
I recently transferred photos from my iPhone to my computer and noticed that all the images were in JPEG format – none of the RAW (Apple ProRAW) files were transferred as RAW. What might have gone wrong, and how can I retrieve my RAW captures?
Mark’s Answer
If you use the Apple ProRAW capture option on an iPhone, you’ll need to follow specific transfer workflows to ensure the RAW format is retained when moving the files to your computer.
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Higher-end recent iPhone models (Pro and Pro Max, starting with the iPhone 12) support shooting in RAW through Apple ProRAW, which is based on the Adobe Digital Negative (DNG) format. However, simply transferring these photos directly to your computer can result in them being converted to JPEG, rather than preserving the original RAW format.
Options to Retain the RAW Capture Format
- Using iCloud Synchronisation
If iCloud Photos is enabled on both your iPhone and Mac, the ProRAW images will sync to the Photos app on your Mac automatically. To export the original RAW files, open the Photos app on your Mac and use the menu command:
File > Export > Export Unmodified Original.For Windows users, a similar approach works by signing in to iCloud.com with your Apple ID. From the Photos app on iCloud, you can download the original RAW files directly. - Using AirDrop
AirDrop allows you to send ProRAW files directly to your computer while retaining their RAW format. However, if the photo has been edited on your device, AirDrop will send it as a JPEG. To avoid this, duplicate the image on your iPhone, revert the duplicate to its original state, and then use AirDrop to transfer it.
Key Consideration
While converting ProRAW captures to JPEG may be convenient for quick sharing, it poses a challenge for photographers who want to retain the full editing flexibility of the original RAW files. Thankfully, iCloud synchronisation and AirDrop provide straightforward workflows to ensure you can transfer your ProRAW files without losing quality.
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