RAW or raw?

[Redhenry]

This has probably been raised before in these forums, but surely, raw is not an abbreviation or acronym? I’ve always thought that while JPEG is an abbreviation of Joint Photographic Experts Group, raw simply means that the data from the camera has not yet been processed (or “cooked”) yet, and therefore, the word should not be capitalised? I think the boat has probably sailed on this question, but I shall continue to be pedantic and refer to raw files!

 

[drynn]

I see RAW, raw, JPEG, jpeg and jpg, and never get confused as to the meaning. I am kind of... 'who care's'. But I am happy to accept your pedantry :-D

 

[Saint 112]

This has probably been raised before in these forums, but surely, raw is not an abbreviation or acronym?

It has and it came up occasionally.

Some people care and some (like me) don't.

 

[Redhenry]

OK, I’ll shut up now!

 

[jrtrent]

This has probably been raised before in these forums, but surely, raw is not an abbreviation or acronym? I’ve always thought that while JPEG is an abbreviation of Joint Photographic Experts Group, raw simply means that the data from the camera has not yet been processed (or “cooked”) yet, and therefore, the word should not be capitalised?

That's been my understanding, too. Raw Therapee offers this explanation:

1. The word “raw” is a plain word. It is not an acronym or an initialism. As such, the usual noun capitalization rules apply. Writing RAW is incorrect. If starting a sentence, capitalize the first letter, leave the other two in lowercase. If in the middle of a sentence, all letters should be lowercase.

I think the boat has probably sailed on this question, but I shall continue to be pedantic and refer to raw files!

I'm thinking that your writing raw in lowercase letters is simply being correct. Offering unsolicited correction or criticism of someone else's choosing to use all caps might be pedantic.

 

[AndroC]

Out of interest, Fujifilm refers to RAW in its user manuals and on the camera menus, at least for my X-T30.

Just saying.

This may be a quest, noble and logical though it may be, that is not worth pursuing.

 

[Johan Borg]

Out of interest, Fujifilm refers to RAW in its user manuals and on the camera menus, at least for my X-T30.

So does Apple, Canon, Hasselblad, Leica, Nikon, OM, Ricoh, Samsung, Sigma and Sony on their web sites.

Just saying.

This may be a quest, noble and logical though it may be, that is not worth pursuing.

 

[kalisti]

This has probably been raised before in these forums, but surely, raw is not an abbreviation or acronym? I’ve always thought that while JPEG is an abbreviation of Joint Photographic Experts Group, raw simply means that the data from the camera has not yet been processed (or “cooked”) yet, and therefore, the word should not be capitalised? I think the boat has probably sailed on this question, but I shall continue to be pedantic and refer to raw files!

I say RAW because (in my mind) its an abbreviation of the many RAW file formats (.cr3 .dng .rw2 etc).

Does it make sense? Probably not, but as much sense as people calling maths 'math', which is to say, however people use it will win, right or wrong.

Never really thought about it before, good question!

 

[tbcass]

I don't think it really matters. I do like the look of all caps better. Using all caps lets me know we are not talking about uncooked food.

 

[dunfly]

So, should it be ISO or iso?

 

[tbcass]

So, should it be ISO or iso?

I like ISO better. ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization, and they capitalize it, so all caps is technically correct. Why they didn't use IOS is anybody's guess.

 

[thebangaloredhaba]

This has probably been raised before in these forums, but surely, raw is not an abbreviation or acronym? I’ve always thought that while JPEG is an abbreviation of Joint Photographic Experts Group, raw simply means that the data from the camera has not yet been processed (or “cooked”) yet, and therefore, the word should not be capitalised? I think the boat has probably sailed on this question,

 

[Johan Borg]

So, should it be ISO or iso?

I like ISO better. ISO stands for International Standards Organization so all caps is technically correct.

Well.. ;-)

Because 'International Organization for Standardization' would have different acronyms in different languages (IOS in English, OIN in French), our founders decided to give it the short form ISO. ISO is derived from the Greek word isos (ίσος, meaning "equal"). Whatever the country, whatever the language, the short form of our name is always ISO.

ISO - About ISO

ISO brings together global experts to develop International Standards that help solve problems and drive innovation.

www.iso.org

 

[tbcass]

So, should it be ISO or iso?

I like ISO better. ISO stands for International Standards Organization so all caps is technically correct.

Well.. ;-)

Because 'International Organization for Standardization' would have different acronyms in different languages (IOS in English, OIN in French), our founders decided to give it the short form ISO. ISO is derived from the Greek word isos (ίσος, meaning "equal"). Whatever the country, whatever the language, the short form of our name is always ISO.

https://www.iso.org/about

Thank you for that bit of information.

 

[Heritage Cameras]

I like ISO better. ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization, and they capitalize it, so all caps is technically correct. Why they didn't use IOS is anybody's guess.

https://www.iso.org/about

"Many languages, one name: ISO
Because “International Organization for Standardization” would have different acronyms in different languages (IOS in English, OIN in French for Organisation internationale de normalisation), its founders opted for the short form “ISO”. The story goes that ISO is derived from the Greek word “isos”, meaning equal.
Whatever the country, whatever the language, we are always ISO."

 

[ishwanu]

Out of interest, Fujifilm refers to RAW in its user manuals and on the camera menus, at least for my X-T30.

So does Apple, Canon, Hasselblad, Leica, Nikon, OM, Ricoh, Samsung, Sigma and Sony on their web sites.

As do many top tier photo software developers.

Think of it as Reconfigurable Architecture Workflow, and feel free to capitalize.

 

[Supisiche]

DSC: Digital still camera or digital stills camera?

 

[Doug J]

As noted elsewhere, some companies in the photography market use RAW, although this is neither an acronym or abbreviation. The files are, for most part unprocessed or in some cases minimally processed in a camera.

There are references in other markets to unprocessed, or raw commodities. Cornell Law School sites US CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) government regulations pertaining to unprocessed agricultural commodities as "raw".

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/40/180.1

I wouldn't use "RAW data" to describe an entry in a spreadsheet, or "RAW sugar" when cooking, etc.

At this point, we may need to just accept that either can be used interchangeably for photography.


Cheers,
Doug

 

[Cherry_F]

Judging by my own pictures, I tend to believe it was forged as an acronym for "Rubbish And Waste".

 

[Erik Baumgartner]

This has probably been raised before in these forums, but surely, raw is not an abbreviation or acronym? I’ve always thought that while JPEG is an abbreviation of Joint Photographic Experts Group, raw simply means that the data from the camera has not yet been processed (or “cooked”) yet, and therefore, the word should not be capitalised?

That's been my understanding, too. Raw Therapee offers this explanation:

1. The word “raw” is a plain word. It is not an acronym or an initialism. As such, the usual noun capitalization rules apply. Writing RAW is incorrect. If starting a sentence, capitalize the first letter, leave the other two in lowercase. If in the middle of a sentence, all letters should be lowercase.

I think the boat has probably sailed on this question, but I shall continue to be pedantic and refer to raw files!

I'm thinking that your writing raw in lowercase letters is simply being correct. Offering unsolicited correction or criticism of someone else's choosing to use all caps might be pedantic.

Raw Therapee is an authority? They can’t even spell therapy correctly…