via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

There is a debate in another thread about file format, in particular “raw” versus “RAW.” Not wanting to “hijack” that thread any more than it has already been hijacked, I am starting this new thread that might accurate information to people who do want to know the correct way to write the term.

Several people thought that the correct term was raw, not RAW, as JPEG and TIFF stood for the names of actual file formats, so they were acronyms, whereas RAW was not. But the standard for naming is not based on acronyms, it’s simply based on a given name. Thus, a Photoshop file is called a PSD file (Photoshop document), which is sort of an acronym but not completely as Photoshop is one word). Often the letters are based on acronyms, but not always. Canon uses CRW, Nikon uses NEF and Fujifilm uses RAF (RAF actually stands for “Fuji Raw Image” file, why not FRI?, maybe because that commonly stands for Friday???). The standard is simply to write camera file name types in all caps, thus RAW is the correct way to write RAW if you want to use the proper letters for a RAW file format. But when referring to raw data, it is simply raw data.

Does it really matter? It only matters if you want to use correct language when you write something and you want people to clearly understand what you are referring to. Words do matter in any context. It’s an easy mistake to make, to think that all file formats have to use an acronym but it would be a mistake to believe that as it is apparently not the naming standard for file formats.

In the end we can all use whatever term we want, of course, but we should not expect others to use the term if they know it is not correct. And perhaps we should not correct others on the use of the term and just assume they want to use the term incorrectly as they have a right to do that.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Alafoto Loc: Montgomery, AL

I think that anyone with enough intelligence to employ the various features of a modern digital camera will surely be able to discern the writer's intent no matter how he (or she) writes RAW.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

The terms are used interchangeably, but raw is more correct that RAW. Either use will get the point across.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

One would think that certain members have more to contribute to the UHH community than arguing about whether to write RAW vs raw in discussing photography in 2021 ...

tommystrat Loc: Bigfork, Montana

I've seen much more pedantic discussions than this over the years...

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Best, and most useful, thing about such pointless disagreements is in identifying who vehemently cares. I mentally dress them up in polka dots, with a tall pointy hat, to always remind me who they are.

Pointy hats for the pointless. It’s whatz known as functional fashion.

(Download)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

I think it is better to write it as "RAW". That way people are less likely to confuse it with the more typical definition of the word "raw". Obviously, the interpretation of a word will also depend on context.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Hi Gene, why do you say this? From everything I've read, including a scholarly text, RAW is the correct usage. Would like to know what you are basing your opinion on? Thanks.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Nothing wrong with a debate on language use. Someone else began the discussion, the rest of us just gave voice to the discussion. I generally like to know the "why" about things and try to get it correct as much as is humanly possible, which often does lead to errors. I never quit learning.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

I really don't care either way, but just for fun, I looked in the indexes of my Lightroom and Photoshop books to see what their authors used. Here's how it went:
RAW
Scott Kelby
R. C. Concepcion
Matt Klosklowski
and, authors of The Photoshop Bible

raw
The Lightroom Queen
Martin Evening
Steve Laskevitch

Proving what - that there's no consensus?

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

Looking at the excessive use of acronyms now days it seems like the end of this road might be a return to Hierglyphics... I wonder how symbolic language would have handled the diff. between RAW and raw ?

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“RAW” is acronymonical for “Rasterized Analog Waveform”, which being the basic foundation of digitized imagery, is going to cause even further miscommunication.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Only perception/interpretation and conviction.