The DNG file is a high quality image format that is quite common, although it is a relative newcomer compared to some file types, such as the TIFF format, which is several decades older (2004 and 1986, respectively).
A large number of applications and most operating systems support DNG files, and some camera manufacturers allow you to save photos in DNG format directly from the camera. If not, then it is relatively easy to convert photos to this format. For those unfamiliar with this format, the following questions remain: What is a DNG file and how do I open one?
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DNG is the short name for Digital Negative, an image format created by Adobe in 2004. This is what is known as a RAW image, although in many cases it is not directly captured by the camera, meaning it is not the original. RAW format for most cameras. Canon uses CR3 and Nikon uses NEF and each of these formats perfectly represents the data captured by their cameras. While many manufacturers have proprietary formats, some save files in the DNG format.
Common to all RAW image files, including the DNG format, is a much higher image fidelity than files saved in JPEG or HEIC format. These types of compressed images are specifically designed to save disk space while allowing some degradation in image quality. The main purpose of DNG is to save a high quality file that matches the original image captured by the camera. The difference between DNG and JPEG or HEIC is not always noticeable when viewing a saved image, but often becomes apparent after applying edits or zooming in to see finer details.
How to open a DNG file
Most operating systems support DNG files by displaying thumbnails in a file browser and being able to open them for viewing with the built-in photo application. For example, a Mac computer can display thumbnails and show large Quick Look previews when you press the spacebar while using the Finder. The backspace key may open in a preview application or a third-party photo editing application that supports DNG.
The experience on Windows is similar, with thumbnails displayed in File Explorer and opening in the Photos app unless an editing application such as Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, DxO Photolab, ON1 Photo RAW, or other RAW editors is installed on the PC.
Several photo editing and painting applications can open and edit DNG files, even if they don’t specialize in RAW editing. Almost every Adobe application can open DNG, and many others support DNG just like any other image type, including popular ones like Corel Paint, Affinity Photo, Paint Shop Pro, and Pixelmator. There is a good chance that most computers have an application installed that can open and edit DNG files.
Who created the DNG format and why?
Adobe created the DNG format in 2004 to offer a universal RAW format, making it easier for software to support a large number of cameras. Recognizing the need for a standard, Adobe developed DNG as a publicly available RAW archive format for photographs. Adobe owns the patent for this format, but allows free use as long as Adobe is referenced in the source code and documentation. This makes it an attractive solution for organizations and government agencies that prefer to use industry standards.
The availability of DNG has been a great incentive for software and hardware development for beginners. Smartphone manufacturers such as Google, Apple, and Samsung started supporting RAW images around 2014, and all three companies have chosen to use the quick and easy way to save as DNG. Previously, capturing, viewing, and editing DNG files required a third-party app, but this is now possible with apps built into Android and iOS.
Is DNG a lossless photo format?
DNG is generally considered a lossless format, but it is possible to use compression to drastically reduce the file size to about a third of its normal weight. The algorithm is based on JPEG compression, but with some important changes to improve the result compared to creating a JPEG file of the same size.
While most photographers still prefer to save their best work as lossless DNG or keep the original, it’s nice to have a more efficient alternative. With this file size reduction, every raw file can be stored as DNG without breaking the bank by buying more and more drives or paying a large monthly cloud storage subscription bill.
Are there any downsides to using DNG?
There may be times when it is not possible to convert a RAW image to a DNG file. In particular, when a manufacturer launches a new RAW file type, it can be months before apps are updated to be able to convert to DNG format.
The DNG specification itself is also updated periodically to reflect the changing needs of digital imaging. Whether this happens fast enough or not is subjective. Recently, there have been discussions about whether a new type of compression for lossy DNG files, such as HEIC, should be considered instead of the old JPEG compression.
Alternatives to DNG: JPEG, HEIC, TIFF and RAW.
Instead of converting camera photos to DNG format, it’s easier to store files in whatever RAW format the camera natively supports. Whether it’s a Canon CR3, Nikon NEF, Sony ARW or some other type of RAW file, this guarantees the full quality and ease of use of the manufacturer’s software. However, compatibility with third party software may be better with a DNG file.
The native RAW format often takes up slightly more space than lossless DNG and rarely has a high quality compressed variant like lossy DNG. While a smaller manufacturer may stop using their proprietary format, Adobe will continue to support DNG files for the foreseeable future, and the format has become widespread in other applications and operating systems.
TIFF is another lossless format used for photos, but it’s not as efficient as DNG. Both DNG and TIFF are owned by Adobe, the latter being developed for desktop publishing in the 1980s. Since DNG is a new Adobe format created specifically for photography, it is likely to be the best choice for storing photos.
JPEG and HEIC are compressed formats designed to reduce file size while maintaining visual fidelity. While either can produce high quality final images, enlargement or editing of these files will reveal the trade-offs made to free up storage space. Lossy DNG is probably the best choice if you need to archive photos that can be adjusted or edited in the future.
Which brands of cameras can shoot in DNG format?
Google’s Android operating system supports DNG for RAW photos taken with a smartphone, and many Android camera apps support this feature. Both Samsung and Apple have unique options for RAW images that include AI processing. Samsung’s Expert RAW and Apple’s ProRAW formats enhance smartphone photography and save as DNG.
Leica, Hasselblad, and Pentax are full-fledged DSLR manufacturers that make cameras capable of taking photos and saving them directly in DNG format. This means that RAW files from these cameras do not require any special processing and avoid the extra step of converting to DNG format if that is the archival format of choice.
However, converting RAW images to DNG files is very fast and can be done individually or in batches using the free Adobe Digital Negative Converter app.
Conclusion
It is clear that the DNG format will remain for years to come and will become a reliable way to store RAW photos in the best possible quality, leaving the door open for editing in the future. Keeping the best images as close to the source material as possible provides more editing flexibility.
Thanks to the incredible advances in computational photography, it may be possible to salvage unique photographs that have some flaws with AI enhancement technology that is yet to come. DNG formats maintain image fidelity and allow for future editing, expanding compatibility and saving storage space. That is why it is such a popular and widely used file format.