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RAW at a glance
RAW
Digital photography fragmented into many manufacturer-specific raw formats because camera makers optimized for their own sensors, metadata, and software ecosystems rather than for one shared public raw standard.
ARW at a glance
ARW
As Sony expanded from consumer electronics into serious camera bodies and sensors, ARW became part of the broader shift that put Sony raw support on the critical path for many photo applications.
Format comparison
| Feature | RAW | ARW |
|---|---|---|
| File type | Image | Image |
| Extensions |
|
|
| MIME type |
|
|
| Created year | 1990 | 2006 |
| Inventor | Various camera manufacturers | Sony |
| Status | proprietary | proprietary |
| Transparency | Not supported | Not supported |
| Animation | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary use cases |
|
|
| Layer support | Not supported | Not supported |
| Vector scaling | Not supported | Not supported |
| Camera raw data | Supported | Supported |
| HDR support | Not supported | Not supported |
| Streaming ready | Not supported | Not supported |
When to use each format
When to use RAW
- Your source file is already in RAW.
- Preserve source expectations before exporting to ARW.
- RAW is commonly used in image workflows.
When to use ARW
- Your target workflow expects ARW.
- Improve delivery compatibility with ARW.
- ARW is commonly used in image workflows.
FAQs
Why convert RAW to ARW?
Convert to ARW when preserving Sony camera originals or returning processed material to a Sony raw workflow.
It is useful for archival retention, high-latitude editing, and non-destructive photographic post-processing.
What changes when converting RAW to ARW?
This conversion changes how the format behaves in downstream tools and delivery environments.
What should I review after converting RAW to ARW?
Validate output quality on representative files and confirm the target format behaves correctly in the destination workflow.