RAW and ICO explained
A camera RAW file is the sensor's unprocessed readout, plus the camera's settings as metadata. It is not really an image yet: it has to be developed, which is why the same RAW can produce very different-looking photos.
ICO is a container that holds several versions of the same icon at different sizes, so the operating system or browser can pick the one that fits. It is capped at 256×256 pixels.
- Where RAW files come from
- Interchangeable-lens cameras and phones shooting in professional mode.
- Where ICO is used
- Website favicons and Windows application icons.