How to Upload Raw Files to Dropbox?

Uploading raw files to Dropbox allows you to store and access your original, unedited photos and videos in the cloud. This offers easy backup, sharing options and flexibility in your editing workflow. Follow the step-by-step guide below to start uploading your raw files using a computer or mobile device.

Benefits of Storing Raw Files in Dropbox

Storing raw image and video files in Dropbox offers several key advantages:

• Backup and access from anywhere - Your original files are safely stored and accessible from any device. No need to carry around external hard drives.
• Easy sharing - You can quickly generate shareable Dropbox links to collaborate with team members and clients.
• Flexible editing - You can download raw files to your local device for editing in your preferred photo/video software, then re-upload the edited versions.
• Saves storage space - Dropbox compresses raw files so you get the original quality without the huge file sizes.
• Integrates with other apps - Many photo/video editing apps integrate directly with Dropbox for a seamless workflow.

Requirements for Uploading Raw Files

To get started uploading your raw files, you'll need:

• A Dropbox account - Sign up for free or log into your existing account.
• The desktop app installed on your computer and/or the mobile app on your device.
• RAW files - Located on your computer, external drive, phone, camera, etc. Common raw formats include:
• .NEF, .CR2, .ARW for photos
• .MOV, .MXF, .RAW for video
• Reliable internet connection - For smooth uploading of large raw files. Wired connections are ideal.
• Patience - Raw files are large so uploads can be slow. Overnight uploads are recommended.

How to Upload from a Computer

Uploading raw files from your desktop or laptop computer to Dropbox is straightforward:

1. Install Dropbox Desktop App

Download and install the Dropbox desktop app if you haven't already. Log into your account.

2. Locate Raw Files

Find the raw files you want to upload on your computer. They may be in your camera roll, external drives, Lightroom catalog or folders on your hard drive.

3. Drag & Drop Files

Select the files/folders and simply drag and drop them into your Dropbox folder or directly in the Dropbox desktop app.

4. Wait for Upload

Depending on your internet speed and the file size, uploads can take a while. You can continue working as the upload progresses or leave your computer on overnight.

5. Access Raw Files Anywhere

Once fully uploaded, the raw files will appear in your Dropbox account. You can now access them from any web browser or linked device.

6. (Optional) Free Up Space

To save hard drive space, safely remove the local copies of raw files after uploading. But keep backups just in case.

How to Upload from a Mobile Device

You can also upload camera raw files directly from your iPhone, Android device or tablet using the Dropbox mobile app:

1. Install Mobile App

Download and install the Dropbox mobile app if you don't already have it. Log into your account.

2. Connect Camera to Device

For photos/videos shot on a DSLR or mirrorless camera, connect it directly to your phone or tablet either with a cable or wireless transfer.

3. Locate Raw Files

Open your camera roll or file manager app to locate the raw photos/videos. If transferred from your camera, they may be in a separate folder.

4. Select & Upload

In the Dropbox app, tap the + (plus) icon and select Upload. Choose the raw files/folders to upload.

5. Check Progress

The mobile app shows upload progress for each file. You can background the app if desired and let the uploads run overnight.

6. Access from Any Device

Once fully uploaded, the raw files will appear in your Dropbox account for access on any web browser or linked device.

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to ever lose them to hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts. 

Simply Download PicBackMan (it's free!), register your account, connect to your online store and tell PicBackMan where your videos are - PicBackMan does the rest, automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and uploads those too. You don't have to ever touch it.

Tips for Smoother Raw Uploads

• Upgrade to Dropbox Plus - Paid plans offer more storage and faster upload speeds to handle big raw files.
• Use 'smart sync' - Only frequently accessed files are stored locally. Saves space without sacrificing access.
• Compress first - Use photo/video software to compress raws into smaller DNG or CINE files before upload.
• Upload in batches - Don't select all your raw files in one go. Upload folders gradually for more efficient transfers.
• Pause uploads if your internet slows to a crawl to resume later.

How to Manage Raw Files Uploaded to Dropbox

Once your raw files are safely backed up to Dropbox, you can:

• Preview files - Many raw formats can't be viewed normally but thumbnails are generated.
• Search - Quickly find files by name or date using Dropbox search.
• Share links - Right-click files/folders to copy shareable links to send to others.
• Organize in folders - Keep things tidy by moving raw files into relevant folders as desired.
• Rename files right within Dropbox if needed.
• Download locally - Pull raw files back down temporarily for editing or safe keeping.
• Free up space - Delete local copies to save hard drive room after uploading.
• Add star ratings - Handy for marking your best shots to easily locate them later.

How Does Dropbox Handle Raw Files?

When you upload raw photo or video files to Dropbox, they are compressed but remain completely original quality. Here's how it works:

• Compression - For smaller storage size, Dropbox compresses raw files on upload. DNG and CinemaDNG files are losslessly compressed. Other raw formats use lossy compression maintaining original quality.
• Preview generation - Small JPEG or MP4 previews are created for viewing and sharing raw files directly within Dropbox.
• Proprietary algorithms - Advanced deduplication and compression algorithms minimize redundant data so files take up less space on Dropbox servers.
• Format preservation - The original raw file formats like .NEF or .CR2 are fully preserved, not converted to anything else.
• Editable downloads - Raw files compressed by Dropbox can be freely downloaded and edited losslessly using photo/video editing software.

Queries and Answers About Raw Files in Dropbox

Still have questions about working with your camera raw files in Dropbox? See the common queries below:

Q: Does Dropbox support RAW files?

A: Yes, Dropbox supports all the major camera raw photo and video formats like CR2, NEF, ARW, MOV, MXF and CinemaDNG. The original files are compressed on upload for smaller storage but remain fully editable.

Q: Is Dropbox lossless for RAW files?

A: Most raw formats upload losslessly to Dropbox with no quality degradation including DNG, CinemaDNG, CR3 and more. JPEG compression is applied to some unsupported raw types like NEF and ARW but quality remains excellent.

Q: How do I view RAW files on Dropbox?

A: Since raw files can't be directly viewed, Dropbox generates small JPEG previews. Click the file thumbnail then use the left/right arrows to preview. Download the files to view or edit raws natively.

Q: Does Dropbox edit my RAW files?

A: No, Dropbox doesn't apply any edits or alterations to your original raw files. They remain in their original state for full flexibility in editing.

Q: Can I recover deleted RAW files on Dropbox?

A: Yes, Dropbox File Recovery allows restoring deleted files for up to 30 days after removal. Useful for recovering accidentally deleted raw photos or videos before they are fully purged.

Q: How do I share RAW files from Dropbox?

A: Right click any raw file/folder and select Share Dropbox Link. Send the copied link to anyone to allow them to preview or download the original raw files from your Dropbox.

Q: What is the best way to organize RAW files on Dropbox?

A: Create a top level folder like "Raw Files Archive". Inside, you can organize by shoot date, location, project, camera type or any logical structure. Just avoid overly complex nested folders for easy accessing.

Conclusion

Storing your unedited camera raw files in Dropbox is a smart way to free up local storage space while keeping your originals safely backed up. Both desktop and mobile uploading are simple drag and drop operations. Manage your raw files seamlessly across devices with robust organization, sharing and editing capabilities through Dropbox. Just be sure to have patience with larger raw file uploads. Now go out and fill up your Dropbox with stunning photos and brilliant videos stored in fully editable raw source formats!