Raw Footage

Definition and Characteristics

Raw footage, or RAW, refers to camera files that retain unprocessed sensor data—unlike baked-in video codecs, RAW preserves full dynamic range, color gamut and bit depth. Each frame contains metadata on exposure, white balance and ISO, allowing extensive post-production adjustment without image degradation.

Common RAW formats include REDCODE RAW, ARRIRAW and Blackmagic RAW. These files are larger—and require debayering in software—than compressed proxies, but they deliver maximal flexibility for colorists and VFX artists.

Role in Post-Production

Upon ingest, RAW footage undergoes a digital intermediate (DI) process: colorists apply LUTs, adjust shadows and highlights, and match shots across cameras. VFX teams composite CG elements against RAW plates, leveraging clean keying channels and camera metadata for lens distortion correction and motion tracking.

Workflow Considerations

Managing RAW demands robust storage (RAID systems, LTO archives) and high-performance workstations. On-set dailies often use proxy transcodes for review, ensuring editors and producers can assess performance without waiting for full RAW debayering. While costly in storage and compute, RAW footage future-proofs projects by preserving pristine image data for re-grading and re-release decades later.