Creativity/Productivity Freebies
Download free RAW photos for retouching from these websites. This blog post shows you where to find the best resources.
As a photography enthusiast, you may be aware of the importance of RAW photos. Photographers highly prefer RAW images because they contain more data than any other image file format due to their uncompressed nature.
DSLR cameras have two main formats, JPEG and RAW, and the latter is the preferred choice for professionals who seek greater control and flexibility during post-processing.
When you capture an image in RAW format, the camera saves the image data from the sensor as an uncompressed file format.
However, you cannot simply upload these RAW images on social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. These files must first be processed with special editing software such as Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
Although RAW files have a high file size, making it difficult to store and transfer them, they provide a great advantage when it comes to editing and retouching. With more data available in RAW files, professionals can exercise greater creativity and improve image quality.
JPEG vs RAW For Learning Retouching and Editing
You cannot deny the fact that you can learn and practice editing and retouching with JPEG images. But if possible, you can and you should practice retouching on RAW photos.
RAW photos offer you a high dynamic range thus giving you the freedom to adjust and fix the white balance in your images to make them look more natural.
Also, you can fine-tune the sharpness and adjust the noise in post-processing to get clean overall images. To cut things short, you can retouch RAW photos with Lightroom Presets and then work your way up to give a different look and feel to them.
Free Raw Photos For Retouching Practice
Below we’ve listed some of the best websites where you can download free raw photos for retouching practice. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, these websites offer an opportunity to hone your skills and improve your retouching abilities.
The Retouching Academy Lab
The primary objective of this website is to assist photographers and editors in mastering the skills of image retouching and coloring. Retouching Academy Lab provides complimentary RAW practice files for beauty, portrait, and fashion retouching. You have the opportunity to download these RAW images and hone your retouching skills using them. In addition to the free RAW images, their Photoshop extension, “Beauty Retouch Panel,” offers valuable insights into the art and techniques of image retouching.
Fix The Photo
Fix The Photo provides a unique assortment of studio and outdoor RAW photos for practicing editing and color correction. These free RAW photos are beneficial for beginner photographers and retouchers to experiment with, practice, and enhance their skills and understanding of post-processing. Their RAW files are compatible with all versions of Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
FroKnowsPhoto
FroKnowsPhoto.com, created by photographer and YouTuber Jared Polin, offers reviews of the latest cameras and equipment. He frequently releases test RAW images for users to download and experiment with. You can download Jared’s RAW files and enhance your editing/retouching skills by following his detailed guides and tutorials.
Wedding Retouching
Wedding Retouching is an online professional retouching service tailored for photographers. Numerous photographers have contributed their work, permitting the use of their RAW images for editing practice. You are also allowed to display both the original and edited photos on your website, and social media, or even include them in your portfolio, free from any copyright concerns.
Spectacle
Looking to practice RAW image processing and retouching? Spectaclephoto provides a variety of RAW files for you to experiment with. Their images are available for personal use at no cost. However, if you decide to share them online, just remember to credit Spectacle Photo as the photographer.
Signature Edits
Signature Edits is a community-driven platform offering hundreds of free RAW files, where photographers can both download and upload RAW files for practice. All raw files available on Signature Edits can be used freely for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. There is no need to seek permission from or give credit to the photographer or Signature Edits, although doing so is appreciated when feasible.
Shotkit
Shotkit provides a collection of over 100 free RAW photos for you to download and refine your retouching skills. Their RAW files, captured using the most popular camera brands, are organized into various categories, including Nikon NEF RAW files, and Canon CR2 RAW files, among others. At present, Shotkit offers 138 RAW files that you can download at no cost.
Detty Studio
Detty Studio, an online photo retouching agency, also provides free RAW photos for download to practice retouching skills. All the free RAW images available on Detty Studio are of super high quality, having been captured by professional photographers. Additionally, you are permitted to display both the original and retouched photos on your website or social media platforms.
