In photography, RAW images are less popular since they require more touches before ready to use. Unlike JPG which basically is a portable format and can be open using regular image viewers, a RAW file need to be converted first since not all image viewers have the capability to open RAW. RAW is a proprietary format. Each camera brand has its own file extension of RAW.

RAW-formatted images are good for those who want to learn image editing. RAW images have better quality because no image information is compressed when you shoot in RAW. It’s different to JPG where some image information will be compressed. Because of this, RAW image allows you to make many retouches for any purpose, including printed photos for wall decoration, for instance. Btw, you can use service from Wallpics for tile photos for wall.

You can distinguish both formats by editing a single image over and over. Your RAW-formatted image will remain good in quality. Your JPG-formatted image will also (probably) remain looks good, but it will lose its quality.

If you recently want to learn editing RAW file but is too busy to go out for photographing, there are some websites where you can download some RAW images for free so that you can start learning immediately. Here is the list.

1. FixThePhoto

FixThePhoto is a professional photo editing company, which offers Photoshop services for all genres of digital photography since 2013. Here you can download free RAW photos that you use for training photo retouching skills or other personal purposes. Portraits, still-lives, product, real estate, baby, family, jewelry or wedding photos free and easy to download.

2. Signature Edit

When you’re starting out in photography, it can be really hard to learn to edit when you don’t have a professional camera yet. Signature Edits provides 100% free, shareable raw files that you can download and practice your editing. Kinda like Unsplash, but with raw files.

The tool is (and will always be) 100% free. The image license is very open so that you can share the work you create.

If you’re a retoucher looking to build a portfolio, you have access to high quality images.
If you’re an aspiring photographer without a camera, you can learn how to edit photos without a camera.
If you just free photos for other creative projects, that’s cool too.

The goal is to make photography more accessible to everyone.

3. RAW-Samples

Have been around since 2007, RAW-Samples is one of the best places if you need a RAW file to learn image editing, while you have no time to go out for photographing. This website comes with a very good navigation where images are gathered based on camera brand. Sadly, there is no preview available so you can’t see images forms unless you download them on your computer and preview them by yourself using your RAW viewer.

RAW-Samples is basically meant to help developers by giving them possibility to check their software with different camera-brands and models.

4. Anbeketova.com

Anbeketova.com is basically a professional retouching service which focuses on portrait photos. But, the website also kindly offers free RAW files that you can download to learn image editing or other purpose. The RAW file — just like the service — is limited to portrait photo.

5. PhotoSerge

PhotoSerge isn’t also a purely RAW image provider. It’s a website where you can learn image editing online, handled by photographer Serge Ramelli. The photographer promises to give you free RAW images he use in his free tutorials if you sign up to his website.

6. Retouchbox.com

Not all items available on this site are free, some are paid. But, if you want a free RAW images to start learning image editing you can visit retouchbox.com to get the stuffs you want. You need to create an account first in order to download the free box. RAW photos on this site are available on royalty free license. You can use the images for calendars, portfolio and posters other than for learning.