Adobe enhances the Digital Negative

Posted on 13 May 2008 at 08:11

Adobe has updated the Digital Negative specification (DNG), its archival format for raw files generated by digital cameras.

The update provides expanded specifications designed to provide increased flexibility and improved workflow for raw images. It provides several industry requirements including formalisation of the concept of a "camera profile" and allowance for multiple camera profiles to be embedded in a single DNG file.

Additional metadata tags have been defined, including a field to indicate the integrity of the raw data within the file.

Introduced in 2004 to provide a standard for raw files so that photographers will be able to access their images in perpetuity, DNG is a publicly documented specification that can be freely be adopted by camera manufacturers and software developers.

While the latter have been enthusiastic, camera makers have been slow on the update; Adobe lists just four models that use DNG as their native format for raw files.

The format is, however, supported by the two leading pro image management applications, Adobe's Lightroom and Apple's Aperture, though with some reservations.

Adobe also provides free software for converting camera raw files to the DNG format, and the format is supported by the Camera Raw plugin for Photoshop.

Author: Simon Aughton

Get more reviews, tutorials and in-depth advice, every month with Computer Shopper.
Click here to try 3 issues for £1

< Previous News : Software Next >

Be the first to comment on this article

You need to Login or Register to comment.