Does a JPEG proof change the RAW?

No. It is a separate derivative; keep the RAW as the editing and archive source.

Which EXIF fields need review?

Check GPS, capture time, camera, lens, copyright, and author fields against the delivery policy.

What if a RAW is unsupported or damaged?

Keep the original, record the failure, and use a full RAW editor or recovery workflow.

Camera RAW Intake, Proofing, and Metadata Workflows

Goal and scope

Inspect camera RAW intake, verify EXIF and orientation, create format-specific JPEG proofs, and remove sensitive metadata before handoff.
Use this guide to turn the stated scope into a reviewable result. Keep the source, intermediate outputs, and decisions together so the next person can understand what was checked and why.

Prepare evidence and make decisions

Keep original RAW files separate from derivatives.
Define whether the recipient needs EXIF or a privacy-clean copy.
Decision: Which converter matches the file?. Use the extension and batch facts to choose the matching camera RAW converter.
Decision: Should metadata remain?. Keep internal facts, but strip GPS, device, or author fields from a shareable JPEG when policy requires it.

Complete the workflow

1. Inspect the intake batch

Record names, dimensions, and EXIF so unsupported or suspicious files remain traceable. Use image-metadata, image-exif-batch-view, image-batch-info.

2. Correct orientation and create proofs

Correct the derivative orientation and convert ARW, CR2, CR3, and DNG without overwriting the source. Use image-auto-orient, arw-to-jpg, cr2-to-jpg, cr3-to-jpg, dng-to-jpg.

3. Convert remaining camera formats

Route NEF, RAF, RW2, ORF, and Leica RAW files to their matching JPEG converters and record the mapping. Use nef-to-jpg, raf-to-jpg, rw2-to-jpg, orf-to-jpg, leica-raw-to-jpg.

4. Clean and verify delivery

Convert CRW when needed, remove metadata only from the shareable JPEG, then reopen it for a final check. Use crw-to-jpg, jpg-to-metadata-removed-jpg.

Verify the result before handoff

The RAW remains unchanged and separate.
The JPEG proof has correct orientation and matches the source.
The handoff copy contains only approved metadata.

Common questions

Does a JPEG proof change the RAW? No. It is a separate derivative; keep the RAW as the editing and archive source.
Which EXIF fields need review? Check GPS, capture time, camera, lens, copyright, and author fields against the delivery policy.
What if a RAW is unsupported or damaged? Keep the original, record the failure, and use a full RAW editor or recovery workflow.

Camera RAW Intake, Proofing, and Metadata Workflows

Continue with adjacent topic clusters

Goal and scope

Prepare evidence and make decisions

Complete the workflow

1. Inspect the intake batch

2. Correct orientation and create proofs

3. Convert remaining camera formats

4. Clean and verify delivery

Verify the result before handoff

Common questions

Before you start

Camera RAW Intake, Proofing, and Metadata Workflows — practical workflow

Inspect the intake batch

Correct orientation and create proofs

Convert remaining camera formats

Clean and verify delivery

Choose the right path

Which converter matches the file?

Should metadata remain?

Done when

Image Metadata Inspection, Orientation, and Privacy Cleanup

Image Format Conversion Without Losing Transparency or Motion

Image Metadata Extractor

Batch EXIF Viewer

Batch Image Info Viewer

Auto-orient Image

Convert ARW to JPEG

Convert CR2 to JPEG

Convert CR3 to JPEG

Convert DNG to JPEG

Convert NEF to JPEG

Convert RAF to JPEG

Convert RW2 to JPEG

Convert ORF to JPEG

Convert Leica RAW to JPEG

Convert CRW to JPEG

JPEG Metadata Removal Tool