The RAW file is now a professional photographeru2019s preferred image format. Unfortunately different camera brands use different RAW formats and therefore most software applications canu2019t read all of these different formats. Even though the RAW format is an uncompressed and high quality format, sharing the files across a variety of workflows may prove difficult. Adobe has now created a publicly available archival format, known as the Digital Negative (DNG). The new DNG format is regaled as being u201cfuture proofu201d and most of the big software manufacturers are supporting the format.

Adobe has also created a DNG converter for mass conversion from RAW files to DNG. This software will convert most RAW formats to the new DNG format for image archiving.

 overview

Compatibility: As the purpose of this software is to unite all RAW formats, it is a standalone application and is therefore compatible with both Mac and PC formats. The DNG format is supported by Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.  

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01 Once the standalone converter has been opened, you will find it very similar to the “Automate” palettes found in Photoshop. There is a source and destination option. You select the source as a folder, and not as an individual file. This software is, after all, designed to batch process. The destination can be dictated, but you also have the option to select the same folder as the source. 

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02 Now that you have selected the number of images being converted, Step 2 is to name the images. Not only can you unify your images with a name, you also have a variety of ways to number each individual image. As you can see in the illustration, they range from simple numbering systems, to date and time groups. 

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03 Once you have entered the information, press the “Convert” button and the conversion status window will pop up. This window shows you the progress that the conversion is making. You can stop the conversion at any time and you can keep tabs on the numbers at the top left of the window, where it shows you how many images have been converted in relation to those that are left.