Digital negative
From The Glossary of Digital Photography
Another term for a raw file. The term digital negative is used because a raw file needs to be processed to create the final image. More adjustments are possible with a raw file than with a JPEG file, which has already been processed in the camera. It is important to archive the original raw file in case it is necessary to reprocess it at some future time. Advancements in raw file processing software enable photographers to go back and create more pleasing versions of images at a later date. See also raw file
