Not long ago the Raw format was limited to high-end digital SLR cameras–which meant you pretty much had to be a professional (or at least quite serious) photographer to take advantage of it. Not so today. Now that Raw is included on even the simplest point-and-shoot cameras, shutterbugs of all stripes can start taking advantage of its greater editing flexibility to produce better final images. This guide is the place to start. In these pages, veteran author Ben Long begins at the beginning, explaining exactly what Raw is and why photographers should use it. He then describes the theory, shooting, and image editing practices needed to work with Raw files. Ben also provides an overview of software used to convert raw files and a thorough explanation of how to use Photoshop Elements to edit Raw images. Some cool Camera Raw tricks, tips for shooting for Raw format, and a glossary of important terms round out the offering.