The short answer
- DNG is a camera raw image archive format that stores sensor pixel data and metadata, with TIFF 6.0-based structures and version-dependent reader compatibility.
- Open a DNG in Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom or Lightroom Classic. On Windows or macOS, use File > Open or import the file into a Lightroom catalog. If it will not open, update the reader or create a DNG with a compatibility target suited to the installed Camera Raw or Lightroom version.
- Treat an untrusted DNG as potentially risky input. A .dng extension alone does not validate its contents, and Adobe APSB26-67 documents code-execution, memory-exposure and denial-of-service flaws in DNG SDK 1.7.1 build 2536 and earlier. Use a fixed decoder such as build 2611 or later, plus resource limits or isolation for untrusted files.
DNG file: how to open, inspect and convert Digital Negative images
Digital Negative (DNG) is Adobe's publicly documented, non-proprietary format for archiving raw images from digital cameras. It extends TIFF 6.0 and can contain sensor pixels, EXIF data, capture date and time, camera model, camera settings and private metadata.
Adobe DNG Converter converts supported proprietary camera RAW files to DNG and offers compatibility targets including DNG 1.1, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6. Mosaic output preserves the most data. Linear output stores a demosaiced image and cannot be converted back to mosaic data. Some proprietary metadata may be omitted; embed the original RAW when that information must be retained.
How to open it
Open a DNG in Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom or Lightroom Classic. On Windows or macOS, use File > Open or import the file into a Lightroom catalog. If it will not open, update the reader or create a DNG with a compatibility target suited to the installed Camera Raw or Lightroom version.
Open a DNG in Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Lightroom or Lightroom Classic. On Windows or macOS, use File > Open or import the file into a Lightroom catalog. If it will not open, update the reader or create a DNG with a compatibility target suited to the installed Camera Raw or Lightroom version.
Adobe DNG Converter converts supported proprietary camera RAW files to DNG and offers compatibility targets including DNG 1.1, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6. Mosaic output preserves the most data. Linear output stores a demosaiced image and cannot be converted back to mosaic data. Some proprietary metadata may be omitted; embed the original RAW when that information must be retained.
File safety
Treat an untrusted DNG as potentially risky input. A .dng extension alone does not validate its contents, and Adobe APSB26-67 documents code-execution, memory-exposure and denial-of-service flaws in DNG SDK 1.7.1 build 2536 and earlier. Use a fixed decoder such as build 2611 or later, plus resource limits or isolation for untrusted files.
An unknown sender, a name ending in two extensions, or contents that do not match the extension — check before you open it.
Converting it
Adobe DNG Converter converts supported proprietary camera RAW files to DNG and offers compatibility targets including DNG 1.1, 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6. Mosaic output preserves the most data. Linear output stores a demosaiced image and cannot be converted back to mosaic data. Some proprietary metadata may be omitted; embed the original RAW when that information must be retained.
Convert a copy, never the original, then compare quality, metadata, and layout against what you started with.
Common questions
What is a DNG camera raw file used for?
It is Adobe's publicly documented format for archiving raw sensor pixels and metadata from digital cameras. Its structure extends TIFF 6.0.
How do I open a DNG file in Photoshop?
Use File > Open in Adobe Photoshop and select the DNG. Adobe also lists Photoshop Elements, Lightroom and Lightroom Classic as supporting DNG.
How do I open a DNG file in Lightroom on Windows?
In Lightroom or Lightroom Classic for Windows, use the import dialog to add the DNG to a catalog, then open it from the Library or Develop view.
Why will my DNG file not open in an older Camera Raw or Lightroom version?
The file may target a newer DNG version than the reader supports. Update the reader or reconvert from the source RAW with an appropriate DNG 1.1, 1.3, 1.4 or 1.6 compatibility setting.
Should I use DNG or a proprietary camera RAW file?
DNG is publicly documented and designed for broad implementation, while proprietary RAW may retain maker-specific information. When converting, embedding the original RAW can preserve information that might otherwise be omitted.
How do I convert a supported camera RAW file to DNG?
Select the source files in Adobe DNG Converter, choose a destination and a compatibility target, then run the conversion.
Can converting camera RAW to DNG omit original metadata?
Yes. Adobe says some proprietary metadata may be ignored in certain cases. Embed the original RAW in the DNG if retaining it is important.
Can a Linear DNG be converted back to mosaic sensor data?
No. Linear stores an interpolated, demosaiced image, and Adobe states that conversion from mosaic data to linear data cannot be reversed.
Is a DNG file from an email safe to open?
Its extension does not prove safety. Open untrusted files only with a fixed, current decoder and consider isolation and resource limits because older DNG SDK releases had serious parsing vulnerabilities.
Do the listed hexadecimal signatures identify every DNG file?
No. PRONOM's two sequences identify DNG 1.6 by matching little- or big-endian TIFF headers and a DNGVersion value of 1.6.0.0; they are not universal DNG signatures.
Related formats
Sources
Digital Negative (DNG) · Adobe official format documentation
Adobe Digital Negative Converter · Adobe official converter and compatibility documentation
Digital Negative Specification 1.7.0.0 · Adobe official format specification
Digital Negative Format (DNG) 1.6 — fmt/1842 · The National Archives PRONOM format registry
Security update available for Adobe DNG Software Development Kit (SDK) — APSB26-67 · Adobe Product Security Incident Response Team bulletin