In my experience no word is misspelled more often in the photography world than the name of an unprocessed photo file. Some people spell this unprocessed file RAW, assuming that it is an abbreviation for something – but in fact it isn’t. These files are unprocessed, that is, they are uncooked, or raw.
On the other hand, JPEG is an abbreviation – for Joint Photographic Experts Group. A compressed file using the JPEG compression algorithm is a JPEG file. If you look back far enough on my blog you will see that I didn’t know that it should be capitalized – so you’re not alone.
I agree that it’s not a big deal either way, but now you know!
Wrong on both counts, I’m afraid:
– RAW is an acronym dating from the days of slow computers, when the time it took to render an image was expressed by the number of glasses of wine that could be sipped during the process. For these large, complex files one could drink both a glass of red and a glass of white, abbreviated as RaW.
– Early darkroom experts would hang their long wet rolls of film on an elongated hook known as a J peg because of its shape. The film would curl up while drying, compressing the film into a tight coil. Thus the metaphor jpeg for our modern-day compression.
I’m happy to have provided these corrections to a waiting world.
LOL, Tangible!
That’s an awesome trivia. I , like Laura, had the same impressions. But I love this explanation. Thank you
Never mind my last reply, Achuta (that I deleted) – I see now that you were replying to Tangible, and I agree that his/hers is much better!
Now we “know” the real story! Funny how it all makes sense once you know.
Capt. Jim
Thank you, Laura! I always typed RAW assuming it was an abbreviation for something! Now I know better—raw it is! Glad to know the facts!
Laura-
But why then is the extension for a JPEG file, termed JPG or jpg? Is it because extensions are only allowed three letters?
I assume so, Will.
Laura – thank you for the elucidation.
I wonder if this is the right forum to post this, but I take the liberty of going ahead:
I am presently using LR 6.14, and I would really love to shift to LR CC Classic. For some reason it is not available in Mauritius, a you may be aware.
Now, if I were to get my son in London to subscribe to LR CC Classic at his end, and then send me the download, would I be able to use it here in Mauritius (i) technically and (ii) legitimately?
Btw I refrain from a writ large of the number of Mauritians who are enjoying LR CC Classic using the above ploy, in collaboration with people abroad.
Best Regards