Guide

How to open and review Blackmagic RAW (.braw) on iPhone

Blackmagic cameras record BRAW, which the iPhone Photos app cannot open. Here is how to review and work with .braw files directly on an iPhone or iPad.

What you need

• An iPhone or iPad with USB-C and the external SSD or card reader you record to.
• BlackRAW Studio, which decodes Blackmagic RAW with the official Blackmagic RAW SDK.

Step by step

1. Connect the drive. Plug the SSD into the iPhone and open the folder from the Files browser in the app. Files are read where they are when the drive allows it, so there is no import and no copy.
2. Review. Scrub the clip, check the camera metadata and judge exposure.
3. Adjust the RAW decode. Set ISO, white balance, tint, exposure, gamma and gamut with the RAW controls, the same kind of decode settings you find in a Camera RAW panel.
4. Grade. Add wheels, curves, HSL or a LUT on top of the decode, per clip or across the timeline.
5. Trim the original RAW. Save a selected range as a new .braw file. It is not re-encoded and the grade is not baked in, so the trimmed file stays fully flexible in DaVinci Resolve.
6. Hand off. Export proxies or graded clips, a .cube look, and FCPXML or EDL for your editor.

Why do this on a phone?

On a small shoot the laptop is often the heaviest item. Checking focus, exposure and white balance from the actual RAW before you leave a location, and sending a client a quick graded preview, saves a return trip.

FAQ

Can the iPhone Photos app open .braw files?

No. Blackmagic RAW needs a decoder. BlackRAW Studio opens .braw files from Files or an external SSD.

Do I need to copy the footage to the iPhone?

No. Clips are read from their original location when the file provider allows it. Keep the drive connected while you work.

Which cameras are supported?

Cameras that record Blackmagic RAW, such as Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, 6K, 6K G2 and 6K Pro, Cinema Camera 6K, URSA models and PYXIS, as long as the clip is supported by the Blackmagic RAW SDK version in the app.

Will DaVinci Resolve read my changes?

BRAW trims stay original RAW, and the app can write Blackmagic sidecar files with RAW settings that DaVinci Resolve reads.

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