ProRAW gives you the most flexible photo files an iPhone can make, but it is switched off out of the box and the setting is easy to miss. Here is how to turn it on and shoot it.
Turn ProRAW on
- Open Settings, then Camera, then Formats.
- Turn on Apple ProRAW (on newer phones it is called ProRAW & Resolution Control).
- While you are there, you can set the default resolution, 12MP or 48MP.
ProRAW is available on iPhone 12 Pro and newer Pro models. If you do not see the option, your model does not support it.
Capture a ProRAW shot
Turning the setting on does not make every photo a ProRAW. In the Camera app, tap RAW at the top to switch it on for your shots (it shows RAW MAX if you are using 48MP). It stays on until you turn it off, so check it before an important shot.
A couple of things worth knowing
- 12MP vs 48MP. 48MP captures more detail but the files are much larger. 12MP is plenty for most photos.
- The files are big. A ProRAW is a DNG and can be tens of megabytes each. Worth it when you plan to edit, overkill for a quick snap.
- They look flat. Straight out of the camera a ProRAW looks dull. That is not a fault, it is editing headroom. See what ProRAW actually is.
What to do with them
ProRAW only pays off when you edit. The easiest route is to apply a look and export: see editing ProRAW on iPhone and applying a .cube LUT to a photo.
RAWCraft is built for exactly that, applying your LUTs and presets to ProRAW and exporting at full quality, for a one-time $14.99 with a free export to try.