iOS 14.3 Adds ProRAW To iPhone 12 Pro: What To Expect & Getting Started

Apple has released an update to iOS 14.3, which brings various improvements, but the biggest is for owners of the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max smartphones. These two Pro models have now gained the ability to capture photos using Apple’s new ProRAW format. Pro models aside, any iPhone or iPad that has iOS 14.3 or iPadOS 14.3 installed can view and edit ProRAW format files.

At the October 2020 ‘Hi, Speed’ event, Apple announced four new iPhone 12 models, ranging in size from the tiny 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini to the largest iPhone ever, the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max. There are two 6.1-inch models, one designated as iPhone 12 Pro. Part of what makes the Pro models special is the enhanced camera features, an additional telephoto camera, a LiDAR scanner and on the Pro Max, a larger image sensor. Besides the hardware improvements, new software features opened up as well. For example, the LiDAR technology enables portrait bokeh effects to be combined with Night Mode on these advanced devices.

Related: iPhone 12 Camera Features & Upgrades: LiDAR, Dolby Vision, & More Explained

Apple has made the iOS 14.3 update available for download and it brings a hotly anticipated new feature for iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max owners, Apple ProRAW. This new image format is similar to, but significantly better than, RAW image capture that's been available via third-party apps for many years. RAW images provide access to low-level image sensor data, before image sharpening, color balance, exposure adjustments and JPEG compression are applied. This is much appreciated by photography professionals and enthusiasts, since more of the raw image information is available, which makes it easier to correct or refine a photo. However, the drawback is that RAW images bypass Apple’s computational photography, meaning no DeepFusion sharpness, no bokeh magic and no Night Mode enhanced lighting. With Apple ProRAW the user can have the best of both worlds and this can sometimes yield shocking improvements to photos.

Only iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max owners can capture Apple ProRAW photos, but anyone with iOS 14.3 or iPadOS 14.3 can view and edit ProRAW images using the Photos app. Open the Settings app, then tap General followed by Software Update to install the latest version. After installation is complete, open Settings again, tap Camera, then Formats and enable Apple ProRAW. In the Camera app, the word RAW will appear in the top-right corner, but it will be struck-through to indicate it is off. The user can tap RAW to clear the strike-through and begin taking RAW photos and tap RAW again to return to standard photos. It is worth noting that ProRAW images take quite a bit more space and use DNG format, (as much as ten times more depending on the photo), so more attention should be given to storage space and clearing photos from the phone when using ProRAW.

To view or edit ProRAW photos, simply use Apple’s Photos app, although there are several other apps that can edit ProRAW photos, including Halide Mark II on an iPhone, Pixelmator Photo on an iPad, and Adobe Lightroom on a Mac. In the future, more are likely to add support, since the iPhone is such a popular phone for photographers. While not every photo will see huge benefits from tinkering with the ProRAW photo, it is nice to have the option available. In particular, it would be advisable to toggle to ProRAW in difficult lighting situations and when an important or rare photo opportunity arises. To sum up, capturing in ProRAW allows the most options for refining the image and creating the absolute best photo possible, when using an iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max.

Next: Apple ProRAW Format Support Arrives With Pixelmator Photo 1.5 Update

Source: Apple



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