DNG files - are they the way forward?

CrashEd

CrashEd

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The more and more I get into 'developing' my images in Lightroom and PSE, the more I read about DNG files.

At the moment I record my images as RAW files straight from the camera, keeping a copy of the ones that I may want to print/put online in the future. I then do some image editing in Lightroom, storing a resonably sized jpeg so that I can view the edited image later on down the line...

The question is, should I just be converting all of my RAW images to one DNG file, rather than having tow files (RAW + jpeg) :thinking:

I'f I'm not mistaken, the image information is stored in a DNG file, similar to a RAW file so that 'non-destructive' changes can be made??

Would be interested to hear the pros and cons of each method.
 
All my workflow is with DNG.

Compatible with older / newer software
Smaller file size
No need to worry about separate XMP files, one file to back up.

Where possible I'll shoot straight to DNG too.

You may find this useful.

http://lightroomkillertips.com/2010/to-dng-or-not-to-dng/

x-equals.com also had a piece on DNG, but I can't access the site at the moment ot get you a link.
 
JasonRS said:
All my workflow is with DNG.

Compatible with older / newer software
Smaller file size
No need to worry about separate XMP files, one file to back up.

Where possible I'll shoot straight to DNG too.
.
Click to expand...

Seems it up nicely, I will take any saving on hard disk space any day, and no need to bother with the extra XMP side car files.
 
In a word yes!
 
Thanks guys, I'll go and have a good read of those links. :thumbs:
 
when I import into LR it automatically converts to DNG, I can work on the images in CS2 or Cs4 then and no messy .xmp's all over the place.
 
I have just started converting on import in LR too. Seems to make for a good workflow.
 
DNG is the way to go as once it is in DNG you know that everything else will work with it.
 
I have been watching this thread with interest but I am not convinced. I know it is supposed to be an "open" format but practically speaking doesn't going DNG bind you to Adobe?
 
DonnaM said:
I have been watching this thread with interest but I am not convinced. I know it is supposed to be an "open" format but practically speaking doesn't going DNG bind you to Adobe?
Click to expand...

All you need is OS support for the DNG format and you are sorted. MacOS has OS support for it and so reads/previews them just as easily as a JPG. I am sure there is OS support under Windows too.
 
cowasaki said:
All you need is OS support for the DNG format and you are sorted. MacOS has OS support for it and so reads/previews them just as easily as a JPG. I am sure there is OS support under Windows too.
Click to expand...

Thanks Darren, I will go and have a look. As I am not at all happy with ACR as a RAW converter I do not want to commit my self too much to Adobe. ACR/LR2/CS4 may be convenient but IQ is surpassed by Capture NX2 for my D300 where I need the utmost from the image detail. I am also underwhelmed by the new ACR in LR3 beta. Time to do some comparisons I think.
 
I used DNG last year but have gone back to .CR2 this year as some key competitions like Wildlife Photographer of the Year are not accepting DNG as a RAW format unless natively supported by the camera.
 
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