raw

can anyone explain to be what raw it? i here so much about it but i am unfamiliar with this

thanks

Not only will you find a wealth of info on POTN (read post processing, read "sticky's")
I also like http://www.rawworkflow​.com/

RAW is a mode that gives you more control over the image while it is still in 12 bit mode. You can do some adjustments to the image that are virtually impossible to do in JPG - the most notable being in recovery of blown out hightlights. In many cases you can recover between 2/3 f-stop and a full f-stop of overexposure.

Another valuable feature is being able to do several different and important steps within the same user interface. You would have to visit several different tools in PS in order to do all of the same things in PS.