DNG Files Question

[G.K.Jnr.]

Does anyone know if there's a converter software for converting Adobe DNG files back to another type of RAW file ?

I want to purchase a Macbook Pro for PP work while I'm on my travels using Affinity Photo for my PP work.
All of my Raw files have been converted from their native RAW formats to Adobe DNG.
I understand from Serif that Affinity Photo will not open DNG files correctly on Apple Units from Fuji-X cameras (ie they all have a very very strong magenta cast) which is also what I get if I try to open one my iPad pro (DNG files converted from other cameras are all ok)
The only way apparently that Affinity Photo on Apple Units will open Fuji-X RAW files correctly is in there original RAW format uncompressed.

I don't mind purchasing other software as well as Affinity Photo (Not LR or PS) such as On1 etc, but I'm unable to find out if other software will open the files correctly to do the RAW part of my PP work on an Apple unit.

All my Fuji-X DNG files open correctly in Affinity Photo on a Windows PC, but I do really want to get a Macbook pro.

Any help would be very much appreciated.,

George.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Are they saying that it is an issue that they are working on and expect to resolve.
Or are they just washing their hands and saying it will remain your problem.?
To them to get it to work on one platform and not another is bizarre.

 

[Furtim]

Affinity uses OSX to initially render the raw file, not their own code, so it's not surprising they have some issues related to Mac only. This has caused issues before (lack of support for compressed Fuji raw files etc).

In terms of reverting to the original RAF files, that's only possible if you selected the option to embed a copy of the original file into the DNG on conversion (which no one does, as it doubles the file size).

Your second best option is to convert DNG to 16 bit TIFF - not as good but very close. You can do this with preview on OSX to batch convert DNG to TIFFs (open the DNGs and select Export and select TIFF or anything else for that matter). There are likely also lots of options available - BUT if the magenta cast is there in Affinity, it will likely be there for any app that uses OSX native raw support to open the files.

 

[G.K.Jnr.]

Are they saying that it is an issue that they are working on and expect to resolve.
Or are they just washing their hands and saying it will remain your problem.?
To them to get it to work on one platform and not another is bizarre.

Many thanks for your reply Terry, I have enclosed a copy of the email that I received back from Serif Affinity Photo.

George.


Hi George,

Thanks for that, unfortunately as can be seen from the following list - https://support.apple.com/HT208967- the X-30, X-T2 & X-H1 are only compatible RAW files in Uncompressed RAW format only.
We use a different RAW engine from Lightroom, hence you aren't seeing the same issues there.

Could you please make sure your camera is set to Uncompressed RAWs, then try importing one of these files into Affinity, without converting it to DNG. Does this import correctly?

Kind Regards,
Dan

 

[G.K.Jnr.]

Affinity uses OSX to initially render the raw file, not their own code, so it's not surprising they have some issues related to Mac only. This has caused issues before (lack of support for compressed Fuji raw files etc).

In terms of reverting to the original RAF files, that's only possible if you selected the option to embed a copy of the original file into the DNG on conversion (which no one does, as it doubles the file size).

Your second best option is to convert DNG to 16 bit TIFF - not as good but very close. You can do this with preview on OSX to batch convert DNG to TIFFs (open the DNGs and select Export and select TIFF or anything else for that matter). There are likely also lots of options available - BUT if the magenta cast is there in Affinity, it will likely be there for any app that uses OSX native raw support to open the files.

Many thanks for your reply David, your suggestions are very helpful and much appreciated. I shall certainly be giving it a go.

George.

 

[Brian G]

Does anyone know if there's a converter software for converting Adobe DNG files back to another type of RAW file ?

All of my Raw files have been converted from their native RAW formats to Adobe DNG.

The only way apparently that Affinity Photo on Apple Units will open Fuji-X RAW files correctly is in there original RAW format uncompressed.

George.

You mean to say that, after you converted to dng, you deleted your original raw files?
Very unwise.
I don't use dng myself, but if I did, I would always archive my original raw files.
There's always the possibility that in the future, someone will create new conversion software that will produce better results from your original raw files.
For that reason I would NEVER delete my original raw files.
As is often said, storage is so cheap these days that here is no reason not to save your out of camera originals.
Personally I do not use the raw developer in Affinity Photo, preferring the results from alternative software.
For me, converting to dng, for any reason, is an unnecessary extra step.

 

[G.K.Jnr.]

You mean to say that, after you converted to dng, you deleted your original raw files?
Very unwise.
I don't use dng myself, but if I did, I would always archive my original raw files.
There's always the possibility that in the future, someone will create new conversion software that will produce better results from your original raw files.
For that reason I would NEVER delete my original raw files.
As is often said, storage is so cheap these days that here is no reason not to save your out of camera originals.
Personally I do not use the raw developer in Affinity Photo, preferring the results from alternative software.
For me, converting to dng, for any reason, is an unnecessary extra step.

Many thanks for your reply, but your way of working may and probably does work well for you but I PREFER TO WORK MY WAY, and that is by converting everything to DNG. I'll briefly explain why.

As some of my Medium Format camera backs native RAW files are already DNG files I chose to convert everything from my other cameras to DNG thus keeping everything tidy in my opinion. This originally was just fine as my copy of LR & PS would open all of these files without a problem. It was and is nothing to do with the price of storage however cheap or expensive it may be.

As and when I purchased later models of various cameras I found that my copies of LR & PS were not able to open the native RAW files even if I wanted to. Hence I still continued to convert to DNG and still want to as its the way I PREFER TO WORK. There was no reason for me to upgrade my copies of LR & PS just to be able to open certain RAW files as the copies that I already have do everything that I wish to do, so no reason to upgrade. So as you can see converting to DNG is a necessary step for me.

I only really wanted to know if there was any way of converting or opening the DNG files from Fuji-X cameras using Affinity on an Apple unit without using LR & PS. If there isn't then I'll not purchase an Apple unit and get a high end Windows laptop and carry on working the way I PREFER TO, as a Windows unit will open all the DNG files that I want to open.

George.

 

[Nod]

I PREFER TO ride my motorcycle rather than drive a car but for some things (lets call those things "working on Fuji raw files"), I need to use a car since the bike can only "work on DNG files". I then make a compromise since (in reality) carrying my golf clubs and cart would be all but impossible on the bike.

As you may have realised, you need to either change the way you work or compromise on the platform you'll have to use.

 

[Nod]

Although another option has just occurred to me...

IIRC you can run Windows on some Apple stuff - could that be the case with the MBP you want?

 

[Cockney]

Although another option has just occurred to me...

IIRC you can run Windows on some Apple stuff - could that be the case with the MBP you want?

Dual boot is always an option.

 

[Cockney]

I PREFER TO ride my motorcycle rather than drive a car but for some things (lets call those things "working on Fuji raw files"), I need to use a car since the bike can only "work on DNG files". I then make a compromise since (in reality) carrying my golf clubs and cart would be all but impossible on the bike.

As you may have realised, you need to either change the way you work or compromise on the platform you'll have to use.

Sounds like you need a trailer!

 

[Stephen L]

Just throwing this in as a question, not as a solution, but will Adobe Bridge do want you want? I know it will convert TO DNG but I’m not conversant with its conversion capabilities FROM DNG. But if it can convert to, say, Tiff ...

 

[Retune]

Does LR still function in some sort of limited way after a trial or subscription has expired, and is this enough to export as tiff (without adjustments)?

Dual boot as Brian suggests, or maybe a Virtual Machine in Parallels or something to run the Windows version of Affinity?

The only use I'd have for DNG is to allow older versions of Adobe products to read newer files,, as George has done previously. Anyone moving away from Adobe should probably drop DNG if it isn't your camera's native format - this isn't the first time I've heard of DNG issues in raw converters from other companies that are fine with the original raw files straight out of the camera. If you're stuck with old DNG files that don't process correctly in your current converter, and don't want to use LR/PS, then it's probably worth trying a few other converters to see how they perform - I imagine Adobe isn't the only company that uses its own raw engine on Mac rather than the engine provided by the OS. Most of the popular raw converters have a demo version you can try before you buy, and there are several free converters that would be worth installing. I would just work through a list like this:

https://havecamerawilltravel.com/photographer/lightroom-alternatives/

 

[sphexx]

Dual boot as Brian suggests, or maybe a Virtual Machine in Parallels or something to run the Windows version of Affinity?

Don’t assume that will will work, though I’m not saying it won’t. If you run a an older macOS as a Virtual Machine on a Mac some apps don’t work eg Apples own iWork apps (Pages etc) — the app runs but can’t create/open a document and since it’s something to do with the graphics (sorry, forgotten precise description) not being accessible to the VM I think it could apply to photo apps.

 

[G.K.Jnr.]

Just throwing this in as a question, not as a solution, but will Adobe Bridge do want you want? I know it will convert TO DNG but I’m not conversant with its conversion capabilities FROM DNG. But if it can convert to, say, Tiff ...

I

Thank you kindly for that, I sure do appreciate your reply.

“I’m thinking just to save any more hassle I’ll just purchase a high end Windows unit, as I know everything will open & work correctly on those units using Affinity”

George.

 

[Brian G]

Many thanks for your reply, but your way of working may and probably does work well for you but I PREFER TO WORK MY WAY, and that is by converting everything to DNG. I'll briefly explain why.

I only really wanted to know if there was any way of converting or opening the DNG files from Fuji-X cameras using Affinity on an Apple unit without using LR & PS. If there isn't then I'll not purchase an Apple unit and get a high end Windows laptop and carry on working the way I PREFER TO, as a Windows unit will open all the DNG files that I want to open.

George.

With all due respect, I would still maintain that backing up your out of camera raw files, whatever format, is the safest course of action, and would certainly avoid the situation you are now facing.
Dng was devised by Adobe because (in their own words) they did not want their software engineers re-writing their conversion software every time a new raw format was introduced .
Although I know that it is supported by a number of manufacturers, to expect it's universal adoption by camera makers is about as likely as the sun rising in the west.
Dng is not a "universal" raw standard, it is an Adobe standard, and as such, Adobe are most unlikely to give you any help in changing to another format.

Others have suggested converting your dng files to16-bit tiff, and in the circumstances this is probably your best course of action.

 

[G.K.Jnr.]

Dual boot is always an option.

Thank you kindly for that, I sure do appreciate your reply, and its probably a very valid option.

George.

 

[G.K.Jnr.]

Does LR still function in some sort of limited way after a trial or subscription has expired, and is this enough to export as tiff (without adjustments)?

Dual boot as Brian suggests, or maybe a Virtual Machine in Parallels or something to run the Windows version of Affinity?

The only use I'd have for DNG is to allow older versions of Adobe products to read newer files,, as George has done previously. Anyone moving away from Adobe should probably drop DNG if it isn't your camera's native format - this isn't the first time I've heard of DNG issues in raw converters from other companies that are fine with the original raw files straight out of the camera. If you're stuck with old DNG files that don't process correctly in your current converter, and don't want to use LR/PS, then it's probably worth trying a few other converters to see how they perform - I imagine Adobe isn't the only company that uses its own raw engine on Mac rather than the engine provided by the OS. Most of the popular raw converters have a demo version you can try before you buy, and there are several free converters that would be worth installing. I would just work through a list like this:

https://havecamerawilltravel.com/photographer/lightroom-alternatives/

Thank you kindly for that, I sure do appreciate your reply.

"I've already sent emails to various company's asking them if mt files would open using an Apple unit, The only one so far that has got back to me is ON1 saying their software is compatible with DNG files but couldn't answer my question about DNG files from Fuji-X cameras, but they did suggest a free trial for a month which certainly a possibility"

George.

George.

 

[G.K.Jnr.]

I PREFER TO ride my motorcycle rather than drive a car but for some things (lets call those things "working on Fuji raw files"), I need to use a car since the bike can only "work on DNG files". I then make a compromise since (in reality) carrying my golf clubs and cart would be all but impossible on the bike.

I have a similar scenario to that but not with a Motor Cycle (although I do have one) and golf clubs.

As you probably know when possible I prefer to fly myself to wherever I want to go either in Choppy or the Bandit. But its a constant problem with finding suitable places to touch down, the Bandit usually has to go to a local airfield as it needs at least 100 yards preferably 150 yards to land & take off depending on wind etc so is usually pre booked. Choppy's a bit different as most of the time its flying outside of controlled airspace so can pretty much touch down wherever I have permission. Its just getting permission in unfamiliar areas that's the problem ie who owns the land etc ? hence the car has to be used. But unlike you I no longer or want to play golf.

George.

 

[G.K.Jnr.]

Thanks for all your replies folk, its now sorted.

I made a trip in to Walmart at Nashville early this morning and purchased both a Macbook pro 15" and a high end Windows 17" i7 ips screen unit. If I can't get the Macbook to do what I want without too much faffin' about then I'll use the Windows (which I know will work) unit and just keep the Macbook mainly for my design work.

George.