RAW files are read through the full-size JPEG preview almost every camera embeds, the same preview the camera itself shows on its screen, which is a fair basis for judging focus and motion blur. A RAW with no embedded preview is skipped and listed rather than guessed at.
Frequently asked questions
What can't the Best Shot Picker check that the desktop app can?
Eyes, faces, expressions and composition. It cannot tell a sharp frame with closed eyes from a sharp frame with open ones; it only judges sharpness and exposure.
Does it ever decode the actual RAW sensor data?
No, only the embedded preview. That is what keeps it fast and entirely in the browser with no upload, but it also means the exposure flags it shows are a warning, not a verdict on how much you could recover from a shadow.
When should I use the desktop app instead?
For a whole memory card of RAW files, or whenever eyes, faces or Action-mode peak-picking across a burst matter. The desktop app culls thousands of RAW files on your own machine, checks eyes and faces, then edits and exports the keepers or hands them to Lightroom.
Is there a size limit on the browser tool?
Up to 400 frames in one run. For bigger shoots, or RAW files without embedded previews, the desktop app has no such limit.
Related
Other common issues
Still stuck?
Email help@imagic.ink and a person replies, usually within hours.