Where can I find free RAW files to practice editing in Lightroom?
Asked 7/17/2012
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I’m learning Lightroom and want some free RAW files to practice common editing skills such as exposure correction, white balance, histogram work, and HDR-style adjustments. Are there any good online sources for downloadable RAW files, or is it better to create my own practice files with my camera?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
23
Check out Fro Knows Photo.
There is a weekly RAW file you can edit and you can post your result on the forums (they are at edit 81 at the time of writing). Jared (the guy behind the site) then selects a handfull RAW edits from the forum and comments on them in a youtube video. As a plus, Jared and/or Adam will give a full tutorial (again youtube video) on how they edited the RAW file themselves in Lightroom
Definitely good learning material on that site (although not always that well structured).
Originally by user10099. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user10099
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. A few community-suggested options are:
- FroKnowsPhoto: they’ve offered weekly RAW files for editing practice, with forum feedback and Lightroom edit walkthroughs.
- Free retouching/practice RAW collections: some sites provide RAW files specifically for practice and portfolio-building.
Also, creating your own RAW files can be one of the best ways to learn. If you have a camera that shoots RAW, try:
- shooting the same scene at different exposure compensation settings (for example, under- and overexposed frames) to practice recovery,
- using program mode with auto ISO and auto white balance to produce mostly correct files that still benefit from adjustment,
- photographing a variety of subjects to see how different scenes respond to editing.
For HDR-related practice, shooting your own bracketed exposures is especially useful because you can control the scene and exposure range.
So the short answer is: yes, free RAW files are available online, but making your own test shots is often just as valuable for learning Lightroom basics.
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