How to use Apple ProRAW on iPhone: guide, examples and tips [# 16]

This video is also part of my column "HOW TO TAKE BETTER PHOTOS WITH iPhone" (we are now at episode number 16). Apple finally introduced the format Apple ProRAW among those available in the camera of the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. Arrived with iOS 14.3, this new format is highly recommended for lovers of photo editing and photography in general. In the video I show you what it is, how it works, practical examples and I dispense some useful tips.

In this article we want to summarize some key points of this shooting mode that you must always keep in mind to improve your shots. Let's start:

Apple ProRAW: what it is

Apple ProRAW is a new shooting format for iPhone, and more precisely available (currently) solo per iPhone 12 Pro e 12 Pro Max. Basically we are used to taking pictures in JPEG (a standard format) but as the most attentive of you will know, there are other shooting formats, among which a very particular format is RAW.

The RAW format, unlike JPEG for example, allows you to shoot without compression (in maximum quality) and - above all - without software intervention! In fact, when we take a photo with the smartphone, the software acts heavily to "embellish" it and to correct it in various aspects (noise, exposure, color balance and so on).

Those who want to take professional shots, to be edited later with the computer - post production - it needs a “pure” shot, without any software manipulation: this is exactly what professional photographers do!

Apple ProRAW is the RAW format specially created by Apple for its mobile devices, and in this guide we will show you how to activate it and how to use it. First of all, remember that you need at least an iPhone 12 Pro or 12 Pro Max with update to iOS 14.3 or higher.

Apple ProRAW: how it works

By shooting with this new format as mentioned, you will have uncompressed photos, commonly called "raw" photos which however give you the maximum quality of your sensor. If a normal iPhone photo weighs 2MB, the same RAW photo will weigh 10 times more, which is at least 20 MB. Here is an example:

Once taken you can immediately modify it, using suites such as Photoshop, After Effects, Lightroom or, why not, the app Photos on iPhone! I did some tests and I must say that the result is really very satisfying because you get to have a shot much more natural of the subject, without alterations.

Obviously do not think that it is ALWAYS better to shoot in RAW: obviously it is not possible to modify every single photo taken, and of course you must also think that once modified, even the RAW photo is drastically reduced in size. In the example photo you are looking at for example, I passed from 21 MB to 3.9 MB.

There are therefore cases in which the RAW format is more suitable: low light or high contrast photo. The same mode, thanks to the new Apple PorRAW format, can also be used in Night Photos, with a (in my opinion) significant improvement:

Later we will go into detail with this mode by doing more and more in-depth tests. You start using it and get carried away, and maybe test - if you can - professional editing programs to get the best out of your iPhone!

Other useful tricks

Once you have mastered this mode, you can also add a few more tricks that we have seen in the other episodes. For example, you can use the Burst mode, that is, hold down the shutter button to take many more photos and then choose the best one.

Another trick is to change the exposure: once you have focused on a point of the photo, with your finger swipe on the screen in order to increase / decrease the brightness level of the photo, so as to enhance lights or shadows. Finally, don't forget to always carry a comfortable bag with you tripod like these:

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