What is a .dng file?
Digital Negative · Image · Adobe · 2004
DNG is Adobe's open, documented raw photo format, built as a manufacturer-neutral alternative to each camera brand's own proprietary raw format. It stores the sensor's unprocessed data like any raw file, but because Adobe publishes the specification and a free converter, a DNG stays readable long after a closed format might not.
What is a .dng file used for?
DNG is a TIFF-based container for camera raw data, created so raw photos would not be locked to a manufacturer's private, undocumented format such as Canon's CR2 or Nikon's NEF.
Adobe publishes the full DNG specification and gives away the DNG Converter, which turns a manufacturer's raw file into DNG without changing the underlying image data, which is why archives and libraries favour it for long-term storage.
A handful of cameras and phones, including some from Pentax and Leica and Google's Pixel line, save DNG directly instead of a manufacturer-specific raw format.
Like any raw file, a DNG is not a finished photo until it is developed in software that applies white balance, sharpening and colour, which is why it needs a raw-capable editor rather than an ordinary photo viewer.
How to open a .dng file
The .dng format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list.
Windows
- Lightroom
- Adobe DNG Converter
- darktable
macOS
- Photos
- Lightroom
- Preview
- Capture One
Linux
- darktable
- RawTherapee
Web
- Convert to JPG or TIFF first
How to convert a .dng file
You can convert a .dng file to JPG, TIFF, PNG using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.dng file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .dng file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for DNG. For a full breakdown, see the DNG file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 49 49 2A 00 | 0 | little-endian TIFF-based (most DNG files) |
| 4D 4D 00 2A | 0 | big-endian TIFF-based |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .dng file?
DNG is Adobe's open, documented raw photo format, built as a manufacturer-neutral alternative to each camera brand's own proprietary raw format. It stores the sensor's unprocessed data like any raw file, but because Adobe publishes the specification and a free converter, a DNG stays readable long after a closed format might not.
Should I shoot in DNG instead of my camera's own raw format?
If your camera offers it, DNG has the advantage of being an open, Adobe-published standard rather than a manufacturer's private format, which helps long-term compatibility. Otherwise, Adobe's free DNG Converter can turn existing raw files like CR2 or NEF into DNG at any time without losing image data.
Why won't my DNG open in an older program?
The DNG specification has had several revisions since 2004, and an old app may not understand a newer DNG's compression or features. Update the software, or re-export the file as an older DNG version using Adobe's free DNG Converter.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: