About Apple ProRAW

Apple ProRAW combines the information of a standard RAW format along with iPhone image processing, which gives you more flexibility when editing the exposure, color, and white balance in your photo. With iOS 14.3 or later and an iPhone 12 Pro or later Pro models, your phone can capture images in ProRAW format using any of its cameras, including when also using the Smart HDR, Deep Fusion, or Night mode features.* You can edit ProRAW photos in the Photos app and other third-party photo apps.

* You can't use ProRAW with Live Photos, in Portrait mode, or when shooting video.

To take photos with ProRAW, go to Settings > Camera > Formats, then turn on Apple ProRAW & Resolution Control under Photo Capture. To take a ProRAW photo, tap RAW in the Camera app, then take your shot.

If you turn off RAW in the Camera app, the format of the photo defaults to the format you set under Camera Capture in Settings > Camera > Formats: either High Efficiency (HEIF format) or Most Compatible (JPEG).

On iPhone 14 Pro and later Pro models, you can capture Apple ProRAW images at two resolutions: 12 megapixels or 48 megapixels. 48 MP images retain more detail in your image file. This lets you zoom in and have more creative control when cropping. 12 MP images result in a smaller file size.

1. In the Settings app, tap Camera.
2. Tap Formats.
3. Turn on Apple ProRAW to reveal the resolution options.
   
4. Tap ProRAW & Resolution Control and select either 12 MP or 48 MP.

The file size of a ProRAW image at 12 MP resolution is approximately 25 MB and approximately 75 MB at 48 MP. Only photos that you take with the main camera at 1x can be saved 48 MP. Ultra Wide, Telephoto, Night mode, flash, and macro photos can only be saved at 12 MP.

On iPhone 14 Pro and later Pro models with iOS 17, you can choose your format and resolution directly in the Camera app:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Tap and hold the resolution setting at the top of the screen. 
3. Choose the format you want to use.

If you choose HEIF Max or RAW Max, you get up to 48 MP. The resolution changes if you use zoom or switch to Night mode or Flash when you take a picture.

RAW 12 offers up to 12 MP and standard HEIF offers up to 24 MP.

Set your default resolution and format in Settings

On iPhone 14 and later models with iOS 17, you can choose your format and resolution in the Camera app, but RAW Max is only available on iPhone Pro models.

ProRAW files are 10 to 12 times larger than HEIF or JPEG files, and ProRAW files are even larger if you select 48 MP as your resolution. If you store the files on your device, you might run out of space more quickly than you expect. And if you use iCloud Photos to store your photos, you might need to upgrade your iCloud storage plan to make more space available for these larger files.

ProRAW uses the industry standard digital negative (DNG) file format, so you can open ProRAW files with apps that are compatible with DNG files. For the best experience, however, use apps that are compatible with ProRAW files, like the Photos app on your iPhone with iOS 14.3 or later or on a Mac with macOS Big Sur 11.1 or later.

You can share the original unedited ProRAW photo, which has the .dng file extension. And if you edit the photo in the Photos app, you can also share the edited version, which has the .jpg file extension when shared.

Edit a ProRAW file with another app

Here are the best ways to share your ProRAW photos:

• Use iCloud Photos to access the original ProRAW file in full resolution on all of your devices.
• To transfer the original ProRAW file from your iPhone to another iPhone, iPad, or your Mac, use AirDrop. If you edited the photo in the Photos app and then you share it, you'll share a JPG file. To share the original ProRAW file from the Photos app on your iPhone, tap Share, tap Duplicate, tap Edit, tap Revert, then share the photo using AirDrop.
• To share an edited ProRAW photo with someone else, edit the photo in the Photos app on your iPhone, then AirDrop, email, or send with Messages. A JPG file that includes your edits is shared.
• To email a ProRAW photo, create an email in the Mail app on your iPhone, then add the photo to the email. The Mail app automatically converts the ProRAW file to a smaller JPG file, which you can then send with email.
• If you edit a ProRAW photo and want to share both the original ProRAW file and the edited JPG file, use Image Capture on Mac or the Windows Photos app on a PC to import the files. You can also use AirDrop to share both files to a Mac. Tap on Options and turn on All Photos Data before you share, then select Save to Downloads when you receive the files on your Mac.
• If you’ve edited a ProRAW photo in the Photos app on your Mac, and you want to use your Mac to share the original ProRAW file only, select the photo in the Photos app, then choose File > Export > Export Unmodified Original.