By Shutterbug Staff

June 11, 2008 — Adobe has released an update to the Adobe Digital Negative specification (DNG), a publicly available archival format for the raw files generated by digital cameras. This update provides new and expanded specifications that provide the digital imaging industry with increased flexibility and improved workflow for their raw images. A DNG Codec for Windows Vista has also been released on Adobe Labs, allowing photographers utilizing the Windows Vista platform to work with raw files in a more seamless manner.

The Adobe DNG specification addresses the lack of an open standard for raw files created by individual camera models, helping to ensure that photographers will be able to access their files in the future. DNG is a publicly documented and readily available specification that can easily be adopted by camera manufacturers and updated to accommodate future technological changes.

This update addresses several industry requirements in the DNG format, including formalization of the concept of a "camera profile" and allowance for multiple camera profiles to be embedded in a single DNG file, producing the desired image results in a streamlined and efficient workflow. Additional metadata tags have been defined for the DNG format, including a field to indicate the integrity of the raw data within the file, providing a valuable tool to validate the safety of photographers'image data. The DNG SDK has also been updated to reflect the changes to the specification.

Adobe DNG Converter is available as a free download at www.adobe.com/dng. The DNG Codec for Windows Vista is only compatible with Windows Vista 32-bit editions and is available as a free download at www.labs.adobe.com.