BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Software Techniques, Tips, & Tricks

Photography Question 

Peter K. Burian
 

Converting RAW Files to Adobe DNG (RAW) Format


Anyone who owns Elements 3.0 or Photoshop CS can convert RAW files generated by their cameras to Adobe DNG RAW format. Whether you own the Mac or Windows version of the Adobe product.
You can find full specifics on how to do so in the last few posts at:
http://www.betterphoto.com/forms/qnaDetail.php?threadID=13346

If you own a Windows-based PC, the Adobe Download page is at:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=39&platform=Windows

For Mac owners, the Adobe download page is at:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=39&platform=Macintosh

Full specifics on how to download and how to use the Adobe Raw software, and the DNG converter are provided at:
http://www.betterphoto.com/forms/qnaDetail.php?threadID=13346
Cheers!
Peter Burian


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March 19, 2005

 

Peter K. Burian
  Why would you want to convert a RAW file made by your camera to the Adobe raw format (DNG)? There is no overriding reason to do so. I do not do so.
Also, most other brands of software do not even recognize the Adobe DNG format. (Some new versions do and others will too, in future.)
In theory, the DNG format will be supported for decades while not all cameras' RAW file formats will be supported for that long.
Hence, if you convert all your cameras' RAW format files to DNG, you will feel safe in knowing that you will be able to open the DNG files decades from now. (Assuming you plan to save your Raw format files for a long time.)
At least Adobe promises to support the DNG format for a very long time. If (if!) it becomes a popular format, other software manufacturers will do so, as well.
I can see no other benefit at this time.
Note: In future versions of its own RAW converter software, Canon will stop supporting the old EOS D30. In other words, if you shot RAW files with that camera, you will not be able to open them in the Canon software.
See http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.php?cid=7-6465-7664

Going forward, the D30 will be the only Canon digital SLR not supported in Digital Photo Professional software. (Older versions of the Canon software support it, of course.)
So, if you have any such EOS D30 RAW files, it may not be a bad idea to convert them to DNG format if you own Elements 3.0 or CS. (Assuming you plan to save your Raw format files for a long time.)
The same may happen to other cameras' RAW format files in the future. That's why DNG may have some value in the long run.
Peter Burian


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March 19, 2005

 
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