Take camera RAW files through to a finished export
What you will do
Section titled “What you will do”Use this workflow when a shoot is in camera RAW and you want to work in Arams without converting the entire shoot first. You will import a supported RAW file, adjust the decoded photograph, and export a full-size JPEG while keeping the camera original unchanged.
Before you start
Section titled “Before you start”Sign in to Arams and create or open a project for the photographs. These steps cover Sony ARW files. RAW support varies by camera and format.
If you have not used files from this camera and format in Arams before, first try a small set that represents the shoot. This compatibility check is optional for a camera and format you already use successfully.
Import camera RAW files directly
Section titled “Import camera RAW files directly”- Open the project.
- In Windows File Explorer, select the RAW files you want to work on. For the optional compatibility check, select only the representative files.
- Drag the files into the central photo area in Arams.
- Wait for the filenames, format badges, and thumbnails to appear. For a Sony ARW file, look for the ARW badge.
A thumbnail means that Arams has added the file to the project. It does not show that the full RAW photograph has decoded, because the thumbnail may be an embedded camera preview.
Open the decoded photograph
Section titled “Open the decoded photograph”- Double-click one of the imported ARW files.
- Wait for Loading… to disappear.
If this is the optional compatibility check for a new camera or format, inspect the photograph at a useful zoom before continuing. Confirm that its orientation is correct and that details, shadows, and highlights do not contain blank or corrupted areas. You do not need to repeat this check for every photograph in a familiar shoot.
Adjust the decoded photograph
Section titled “Adjust the decoded photograph”- Open Color correction from the right toolbar.
- Enable Basic.
- Adjust only the controls the photograph needs. When changing Exposure, watch the subject and brightest areas so that important highlights retain detail.
The screenshot shows Exposure at 0.20 EV as an example, not a required value. Choose the setting from the photograph in the viewer.
Do not use Raw Mode to decide whether Arams recognizes a camera RAW file. In this release, Raw Mode converts a JPEG to virtual RAW for color correction; it does not identify the source as a supported camera RAW.
Export a full-size JPEG
Section titled “Export a full-size JPEG”A Retouch preview is optional. Use it if you want to inspect the current processing closely before export; otherwise, export directly with your current settings. Keep any retouching you want in the JPEG enabled. The screenshots show Basic color correction only; they are not a reason to turn off other wanted processing.
- Keep the adjusted ARW selected and open Export settings.
- Under Export to, choose Hard drive.
- Under Photos to Export, choose the selected photograph.
- Choose the output folder. Use Original Files Folder with Put in Subfolder to keep the JPEG near the shoot but separate from the camera original. Choose another destination if you organize finished photographs elsewhere.
- Under Naming and Overwriting, choose a rule that creates a distinct filename. Add -retouched when that accurately describes the output; otherwise, use a name that identifies the finished copy without implying retouching.
- Leave Add to Current Project off unless you specifically want the exported JPEG added to the project.
- Turn Resize to fit off to retain the source dimensions.
- Set Format to JPEG, then select Export.
Open Export and Render History and wait for the task to show COMPLETED and 100%.
Open the saved JPEG before delivery to make sure it is the photograph and appearance you intended. Keep the RAW file as your camera original; the JPEG is the finished copy for delivery or further use.
Reopen the project
Section titled “Reopen the project”This step is optional. To continue editing later, return to the Arams home screen and open the project again. Select the RAW photograph and open Color correction to continue from the saved adjustment. Keep the source files in their original location so Arams can find them.
Check the result
Section titled “Check the result”The workflow is complete when Export and Render History shows COMPLETED and 100% and the full-size JPEG opens from the destination you chose. The directly imported RAW remains your separate camera original.
If you began with the optional compatibility check and its files decoded and exported correctly, you can now use the same route for the rest of the shoot.
If it does not work
Section titled “If it does not work”If the RAW filename or expected format badge does not appear after import, stop there. Keep the camera original unchanged and use a RAW converter that explicitly supports that camera and format to create a JPEG copy, then import the JPEG. Renaming a converted JPEG does not turn it into a RAW file.
If the large viewer remains on Loading…, or shows a blank, rotated, or damaged image, return to the grid, reopen the photograph, and wait for decoding. If the state does not change, keep the original and do not export from that file.
If the history does not reach COMPLETED and 100%, do not treat the destination file as finished. Review the export settings, confirm that any wanted processing is still enabled, and run the export again to a new subfolder. Do not overwrite the RAW source.