Can I output RAW files?

[OldNick]

If I process say, a CR2 file in ASP, then try to export it, I can only choose other formats. I have been told that RAW files have a heap of other information that stores the editing history, that will be lost if I save as other formats. But in ASP AFAICS I have only 3 choices, none of them "save in original format" or whatever.

There seems to be no way to even save for later processing in ASP.

What is the story here, please?

Thanks for any help.

[Voiceofexperience]

You're fundamentally missing the point of Raw, Nick.

Think of it as a film negative: you never, ever change the negative, you take "copies" of it, which you then manipulate. But the negative stays exactly the same.

That's precisely the model for Raw files. You convert and export them into files that allow further processing, but the Raw original remains completely unchanged and untouched, as it came off the camera.

This is basic stuff, and you really should consider educating yourself about it.

I have been told that RAW files have a heap of other information that stores the editing history, that will be lost if I save as other formats.

Whoever told you that can safely be completely ignored going forward: nothing is lost, precisely because the Raw file is unchanged. Anything that is in the Raw file when it came off the camera, is there forever.

And no, no "editing history" (apart from in-camera adjustments) is written to a Raw file.

Ever.

That's what a converter's database - or XMP files - are for.

Note the phrase "non-destructive editing": if you start changing the data in a Raw file, it's not non-destructive editing any more.

[OldNick]

Gah! PSP has a "save image settings" check box when it goes through the RAW process stage... that is set to off by default...sheesh!

I set it to on and suddenly xmp files appear. BAH!