Camera raw image files are digital files created by reading data from the image sensor of a digital camera or a motion picture film scanner. These files contain unprocessed and uncompressed image data that are usually developed into a final JPEG or TIFF image in several steps.
Raw image files are sometimes referred to as "digital negative", as it contains untouched image data. However, the raw file formats are not very standardized. Each camera has its own proprietary RAW file format, and so one program may not be able to read all formats.