Converting Your RAW Files into Adobe's Digital Negative (DNG) Format

[James Fee]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/main.html' target='_blank'>http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/main.html</a><br /><br /></div>Now that we've all read about the Adobe Digital Negative (DNG) format, what are your options to convert your existing Nikon NEF and Canon CRW files. The easy and quick way is to download the <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/main.html">Adobe DNG Converter</a> which converts almost every RAW format into DNG which then can be used by both Adobe Photoshop CS and Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0. Some users at <a href="http://www.robgalbraith.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB29&Number=270550&Forum=,All_Forums,&Words=&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=270515&Search=true&where=&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=d&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post270550">Rob Galbraith's Forums</a> have stated that they get a 30% reduction in file size. Hopefully those who use software other than the latest Adobe products will be able to join in with the fun.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/dng_tm.gif" />

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Hope they read this:

Note: ...it is recommended that you archive both the resulting Digital Negatives as well as the original, camera-specific raw files. ...the Converter will not necessarily duplicate all private metadata that is sometimes included by manufacturers.

http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/pdfs/dng_primer.pdf

[James Fee]

That is fine, but if you have no software that can read the RAW format in the future, what is the point?

[Jason Dunn]

Note: ...it is recommended that you archive both the resulting Digital Negatives as well as the original, camera-specific raw files. ...the Converter will not necessarily duplicate all private metadata that is sometimes included by manufacturers.

That's odd. Why would it be difficult to duplicate EXIF data? There aren't THAT many RAW formats out there, are there?

[WiredPig]

That's odd. Why would it be difficult to duplicate EXIF data? There aren't THAT many RAW formats out there, are there?

Because some of the manufacturers EXIF data is proprietary and Adobe isnt sure where in the file the data is or if/how its encoded. Hense the Proprietary EXIF data.

As for the number of RAW formats there are... with RAW 2.3 Adobe added support for 65 + formats... and those are only the supported ones. I'd say thats a few to keep supporting as well as adding new ones to the mix when a new camera comes out.

That is fine, but if you have no software that can read the RAW format in the future, what is the point?

Adobe is assuming that your going to keep the manufaturers RAW conversion program. That way if there is some META data that the DNG didnt capture, you can use the original program to convert the file if that data is needed to get the image looking just the way you want it.

[James Fee]

Adobe is assuming that your going to keep the manufaturers RAW conversion program. That way if there is some META data that the DNG didnt capture, you can use the original program to convert the file if that data is needed to get the image looking just the way you want it.But 10 years from now, can we be assured any of these current programs will work?

Honestly, we aren't talking about critical metadata here (at least that is how I read it). The most important thing for me is to make sure when I archive, I will be able to read the files in the future and not have to worry about what program I have installed.

[WiredPig]

Honestly, we aren't talking about critical metadata here (at least that is how I read it). The most important thing for me is to make sure when I archive, I will be able to read the files in the future and not have to worry about what program I have installed.

And there I agree. Last night I converted all my 10D shots to DNG just for ease of use and interopablity (a word I'm not sure I spelled correctly and never thought I'd use with photography) with updated programs when they come out. Thats why I'm all for an open, universal RAW statndard.

Being a Canon 10D user, I would like to know that in even 5 years the photos I took in CRW will be accessible (as DNG files). Just with the CRW differences between the 10D, 20D and D1 I'm not sure that in that short period of time Canon will support the older formats.

Oh well... I just hope it flies... then I can get rid of my CRW files when I archive.

Be safe,

Glenn

[SassKwatch]

Thats why I'm all for an open, universal RAW statndard.

Amen. Seems to me the last thing the world needs is another graphic format.