Raw mode is a camera setting in which images are captured in their unprocessed, "raw" state directly from the cameras sensor (CCD or CMOS). In this mode, the camera does not apply automatic adjustments such as sharpening, white balance, or compression, preserving the maximum amount of image data.
Photographers can use RAW processing software, such as Capture One or Adobe Lightroom, to adjust exposure, colour balance, sharpness, and other image properties on a computer, giving full creative control over the final output. Raw mode is preferred by enthusiasts and professional photographers who want the flexibility to tailor each image to their vision. The main trade-off is that raw files are much larger than JPEGs, meaning memory cards fill more quickly and fewer images can be stored per card.