RAW to PDF
Turn a camera RAW capture into a one-page PDF for a mixed-camera handoff. The extension alone does not identify the encoding, so decoding depends on the file.
Format Comparison & Technical Specifications
| Specification | RAW | |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | application/octet-stream | application/pdf |
| Type | raw flat disk image | document container |
| Compression | none | Flate / JPEG / JBIG2 / CCITT |
| Standard Specification | Raw Binary Storage Standard | ISO 32000-2:2020 |
| Magic Bytes Header | Flat unformatted byte stream | 25 50 44 46 (%PDF) |
Format Overview & Applications
In a mixed-camera handoff, write the camera model beside each generic RAW file before conversion so the PDF proof can be matched back to its source.
Technical Specifications & Codec Breakdown
The .raw file is sent to LibRaw using the common AHD, camera-white-balance, camera-matrix, upright, 8-bit sRGB settings; supported files become a PNG page image.
OS & Browser Compatibility
A generic RAW extension does not identify one camera format to office software; use a compatible raw reader for the source and a PDF reader for the converted page.
Useful info
Confirm the camera model and make sure the file is genuinely supported by LibRaw before relying on a generic .raw extension in an archive.
Format Comparison & Technical Specifications
A 4000×3000 generic RAW frame in a mixed-camera handoff makes a 26.7×20 inch page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does .raw identify one specific camera encoding?
Several camera systems use that extension, and decoding depends on the actual container LibRaw recognizes.
What is retained in the output?
The page contains the developed sRGB image; keep the original raw file for camera-specific decoding and later edits.
How do I identify a generic RAW page later?
Record the camera model and keep the source file with this PDF, since the extension alone does not identify its encoding.