Why do my RAW photos look good at first, then turn grainy and dull on my computer?
Asked 10/6/2020
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2 answers
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When I open RAW files from my Canon Rebel T7 on my computer, the image looks great for a moment, then after a few seconds it changes and looks grainy, flat, and less saturated. Why does this happen with RAW files, and how can I view them more accurately or fix it?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
5y ago
2 Answers
8
Quite likely your application is displaying the built-in JPEG thumbnail from the RAW, while it tries to decode the RAW. Then when it is done it replaces the thumbnail by its own interpretation of the full RAW.
So it would all depend on your application's RAW decoding defaults and support for your particular camera.
Given the size of SD cards these days, you can always shoot in RAW+JPEG, and use the RAW when necessary.
Originally by user75947. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user75947
5y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
This is normal behavior with many apps. At first, the program often shows the embedded JPEG preview stored inside the RAW file. That preview uses the camera’s processing, so it can look punchy and clean. A moment later, the app finishes decoding the actual RAW data and replaces the preview with its own default interpretation, which may look flatter, less saturated, or noisier.
A RAW file is not a finished image—it’s sensor data that must be processed. Different software can render the same RAW differently.
How to fix it:
- Use a good RAW editor/converter with solid support for your camera.
- Adjust the RAW processing settings (contrast, color, noise reduction, sharpening, etc.).
- If you want the camera look immediately, shoot RAW+JPEG and use the JPEG for quick viewing.
So the image doesn’t have one single “true” look. The first view is usually the camera-made JPEG preview; the later view is your software’s version of the RAW.
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