JPG vs RAW
A detailed comparison of JPEG Image and Generic RAW Image — file size, quality, compatibility, and which format to choose for your workflow.
JPEG Image
Raster & Vector ImagesJPEG is the most widely used lossy image format on the web. It achieves small file sizes through adjustable compression, making it ideal for photographs and complex images where some quality loss is acceptable.
About JPG filesGeneric RAW Image
Raster & Vector ImagesRAW is a generic term for files containing minimally processed data from a camera image sensor. Various camera manufacturers use proprietary RAW variants, but the term broadly refers to any unprocessed sensor capture that retains maximum editing flexibility.
About RAW filesStrengths Comparison
JPG Strengths
- Excellent compression ratio for photographs (10:1 or better without visible quality loss).
- Universal support — every camera, phone, OS, and browser reads JPEG natively.
- Adjustable quality setting balances file size against visual fidelity.
- Embeds EXIF metadata (camera model, GPS, exposure) automatically.
- Progressive rendering for graceful loading over slow networks.
RAW Strengths
- Every bit of sensor data preserved for post-processing latitude.
- Higher bit depth (12-16 bits) than JPEG (8-bit) — smoother gradients.
- Non-destructive editing in raw processors.
- Rich metadata (EXIF, makernotes, camera settings).
Limitations
JPG Limitations
- Lossy — every save degrades the image further (generation loss).
- No transparency channel (use PNG or WebP for that).
- Visible compression artifacts on text, sharp edges, and flat colors.
- Limited to 8 bits per channel — poor for HDR or print work.
- Baseline JPEG tops out at 65,535 × 65,535 pixels.
RAW Limitations
- Proprietary per brand — Canon CR2 will not open in a pure-Canon-free processor.
- Huge files compared to JPEG.
- Requires dedicated software (Lightroom, Capture One, Darktable, etc.).
- No universal standard — DNG aims to solve this but adoption is partial.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | JPG | RAW |
|---|---|---|
| MIME type | image/jpeg | — |
| Compression | Lossy — Discrete Cosine Transform + quantization + Huffman coding | — |
| Color depth | 8 bits per channel (24-bit RGB or 8-bit grayscale) | — |
| Max dimensions | 65,535 × 65,535 pixels (baseline) | — |
| Transparency | Not supported | — |
| Typical quality | 75–90 for web, 95+ for print | — |
| MIME types | — | image/x-* (varies by vendor) |
| Common extensions | — | .cr2, .cr3, .nef, .nrw, .arw, .raf, .orf, .rw2, .dng, .pef, .x3f, .raw |
| Bit depth | — | 12-16 bits per pixel |
| Typical containers | — | TIFF/EP variants with vendor makernotes |
| Universal exchange format | — | DNG (Adobe) |
Typical File Sizes
JPG
- Phone photo (12 MP, quality 85) 2–5 MB
- Web thumbnail (400px) 20–60 KB
- Full-page magazine photo 500 KB – 2 MB
- Social-media square (1080×1080) 100–400 KB
RAW
- 24 MP raw (APS-C/FF, 14-bit) 25-50 MB
- 45 MP raw (high-end FF) 50-90 MB
- 100 MP medium-format raw 120-200 MB
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Frequently Asked Questions
JPG (JPEG) is the most widely used image format, developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group in 1992. It uses lossy compression to achieve small file sizes, making it the standard for digital photography, web images, and social media.
JPG (JPEG) is the most widely used image formato, developed pelo Joint Photographic Experts Group in 1992. It uses com perdas compressão to achieve small tamanho do arquivos, making it the padrão para digital photography, web images, e social media.
JPG files can be opened by virtually any image viewer or editor, including Windows Photos, macOS Preview, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, and all web browsers.
JPG arquivos can be opened by virtually any image viewer ou editor, including Windows Photos, macOS Preview, Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, e all web browsers.
Use JPG for photographs and complex images where small file size matters. Use PNG when you need transparency, sharp text, or lossless quality such as logos, screenshots, and graphics with flat colors.
Use JPG para photographs e complexo images where small tamanho do arquivo matters. usar PNG when you need transparência, sharp text, ou sem perdas quality como logos, screenshots, e graphics com flat colors.