Convert to DNG after import?

Is anyone aware of a good way (workflow, applescript, plugin?) to convert raw files to DNG after they're already in Aperture? In other words, is there a way--like Lightroom--to convert the files but otherwise preserve adjustments, versions, and other meta-data?

if the DNG file could not be displayed in Aperture, it means that the original RAW file format wasn't supported. IIRC, there are two types of RAW files, those that serve as a wrapper around the original RAW file and a "linearalized" format, where the DNG converter attempts to convert the manufacturer specific RAW data into DNG image data. Aperture doesn't support the linearalized format for sure and Aperture only supports DNG wrappers for file formats it supports natively.
at this point i think that advocating DNG conversion on a broad scale is a bit premature. even after several years of promotion by adobe, there is still no industry-wide adoption of the format. camera manufacturers need to start writing DNG right to the storage cards, then it will begin to become a true standard.
PowerMac G5 2.5GHz Mac OS X (10.4.8) MacBook Pro 2.0GHz

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Converting files to dng after import

Hi. Brand-new Lightroom 5 user here. I don't remember the dialog box showing up to ask me at the time of import whether I wanted the pics imported as dng files or not. Now that they're imported, is there a way to tell if they are already dng? I also know how to convert them one at a time, but is there a way to just have them all converted at once? (There are a few hundred.) Also I'm being asked whether I want to only convert RAW files (I'm guessing that this is the case, but let me know if I'm wrong here). And if I want to delete originals after conversion (again, I think I do, but is there a compelling reason not to delete? Can you tell I'm not a professional photographer?)
Thanks much for your help.

Hi. Brand-new Lightroom 5 user here. I don't remember the dialog box showing up to ask me at the time of import whether I wanted the pics imported as dng files or not.
See screen capture.
Now that they're imported, is there a way to tell if they are already dng?
When you have one of the files selected the .dng extention will be displayed.
I also know how to convert them one at a time, but is there a way to just have them all converted at once? (There are a few hundred.)
Sellect the files in the grid view Library module and use the Library menu to select "convert to dng" see the screen capture.
Also I'm being asked whether I want to only convert RAW files (I'm guessing that this is the case, but let me know if I'm wrong here).
There is really little benefit in converting jpeg or tiff files to dng.
And if I want to delete originals after conversion (again, I think I do, but is there a compelling reason not to delete?
If you are using only Adobe products then you may never have use for the original raw files. However your camera manufacturers software and some other raw conversion software will not work with dng files. I am not a user of dng so my opinion is to always retain a copy of your raw files.
My main reason for shooting raw is to retain the original data for the benefit of utilizing further advancements in raw conversion software in the future, including software that does not support dng files.
Can you tell I'm not a professional photographer?)
No, as far as I am concerned there are many professionals and amateurs that may not know the answers to your questions.

How can I safely convert CR2 files to DNG after Import from catalog

Images on my laptop from 2 photoshoots in the studio today were EXPORTED from laptop as catlog and imported to desktop as catalog.
I imported without moving the files anywhere since I was instructed to move that folder to its final resting place.
The 125 images were importred into LR4 but I see they are still CR2 files.
Is there a way to convert these guys to DNG inplace? or is it safe to re-import these. I don't want the side car gig.

Convert to DNG (Library Menu) - do not re-import.

Converting to DNG after editing.

Is there any way to convert raw files to DNG after they have been edited and preserve all the edits in DNG?
I have to say I never converted anything to DNG before. I just tried to convert a few files and all the edits have been discarded.

Yes, just use the Library menu command to convert to DNG.
LR keeps the same development and other metadata instructions as it had for the proprietary raw image.
If you want to this outside LR, you need to save it to xmp, so do a ctrl s after the conversion.
What exactly did you lok at when you said the edits had been discarded?
Cornelia

Converting to dng after the moment

I've just started to convert my 5D RAW files to DNG before importing into Aperture.
However, I have about 1500 images in Aperture which are .cr2 with metadata and adjustments applied. Is there a way to convert these to dng and preserve the changes without reimporting?
Ross

Use the export masters and export with the sidecar file option(under metadata in the export dialog). Just export into a folder and then use the Adobe convertor to convert these files to DNG. The DNG files will contain all the metadata such as keywords. Then import these DNGs into Aperture, Aperture will read the embedded metadata in the DNG and then I believe you can lift and stamp your adjustment settings from the original cr files onto the new DNGs and then if you want to remove the canon files you may.
As you know Aperture does not itself create DNGs from another raw format but once you import a DNG Aperture can export it as a master and embed any metadata into that DNG upon export. Remember that if you export a master that is not a DNG, if you choose to include metadata, use the sidecar option. An application such as Adobe Bridge will read the exported raw files sidecar to see its metadata.

Convert to DNG after Lightroom adjustments

Hello,
I have a number of CR2 (RAW) files that I have made adjustments to in Lightroom. I would like to use the DNG Converter (standalone) to convert to DNG.
Usually, I convert to DNG before making adjustments...will my adjustments to the CR2 files be applied to the DNGs after conversion (outside of Lightroom using DNG Converter)?
Thank you
PS: Under what circumstances is it necessary to embed the Raw file in the DNG?

YTou don't want to use the dng converter. If you use DNG converter, you will lose all your adjustments and Lightroom will lose track of your files. Just use Lightroom to do the dng conversion. That will make sure the changes are kept and you will not lose the link in Lightroom. The option is in the Library menu. There is no difference in the generated dng file, so it is far more convenient to do it in Lightroom.
> PS: Under what circumstances is it necessary to embed the Raw file in the DNG?
Never. My advice is to if you really want to use dng (there are a few good reasons to do it, one is reduced file size, but also a lot of good reasons against it), to back up the original RAW files first in a separate location if you don't already have a backup. You might need the RAW file later. If you embed the RAW file in the CR2, you end up with very large files (about double the size of the original file), which completely negates the filesize advantage of dng, which is without embedded raw about 10-25%. You will be able to extract the RAW files later if need arises though which might be convenient but absolutely not necessary.

Can I convert to DNG after I have edited all my original Raw files in Lightroom?

I'm asking because i've become convinced to use DNG's instead of NEF's and RW2's from my Nikon and Panasonic cameras. My main reason is future compatibility.
I have already edited all my NEF's & RW2's from the past 2 years in their native file format in Lightroom 4. Is it still ok to convert them to DNG now (even though they have been already edited (non-destructively of course)).
Thanks.
Also, why can't Windows Explorer show thumbnail previews of DNG's on my Windows 8.1 64bit Pc. I assume is has something to do with not having the DNG codec. However, on Adobe's website it says their DNG codec only works on Windows 7. Any ideas?
Thanks again.

Yes, you can convert your images to DNG at any time. But are you absolutely sure you want to do that? You won't be able to use any Canon or Nikon software to work on those DNG files if you ever find a need to do that. And I really wonder about the "future compatibility" issue. But the choice is yours, of course.
You will have to do a Google search for a DNG codec. It will have to be installed in order for you to see your DNG content in Windows Explorer. You worry about future compatibility, but you have to be concerned about compatibility now in order to use DNG files.

Can I convert to AAC after import?

I have been importing all my music files as Apple Lossless and I wanted to convert them to AAC to save space. Is this possible or do I have to re-import the same CDs again?

Yes, change your importing options to AAC in Edit > Preferences.
Then select/highlight a song, right-click and choose "Convert selection"

Can't convert to dng

With my installation of Bridge its not possible to convert into dng while importing RAW-files.
Do I have to instal something? But where? The DNG-Converter is still in the Bridge directory.
Thanks for Help
Hubert

Jim,
the standalone converter (4.3.1)works well on my Nikon D3 and D300. The problem is, that the option "convert to dng" in the import dialog of Bridge is greyed out. I have read a similar discussion in this forum, but the options offered there don't work for me (changing language).
I think, Brigde doesnot find the converter. I have not find any option to tell Bridge that there is a DNG-Converter. (Which is in the Bridge directory)
Is this a bug? Is there any whitepaper? On the Adobe webside I can't find any informations

Slow extra steps in "Convert to DNG"?

I have seen several similar questions with no answers:
It appears that in the new LR6/CC, when I "convert to DNG and Import", LR CC first imports all of the CR2 files to the destination folder, THEN converts the RAW files to DNG while simultaneously trying to process the Preview images. This is a departure from previous versions and seems to drastically slow down the import/convert process. It took nearly 2 hours to import 700 20MB CR2 and convert them to DNG. I am running OS X 10.10.3 on a late 2013 27-inch iMac with 16 GB RAM. Is this a bug, or is this what Microsoft would call a "feature"?

I believe I watched a tutorial that indicated that Lightroom now downloads the raw files first and then does the conversion. This speeds up the download process and enables you to go back to my room to do other work more quickly. I cannot comment on the speed of the conversion because I don't convert to DNG. But my thoughts are that 700 raw files will take some time to convert.

Is it wise to keep the Nikon camera files "DSC's" after downloading them and converting to DNG files via Adobe converter for lightroom use. In other words do the DNG files have all the raw data I would ever need in processing or should I save the camera'

Is it wise to keep the Nikon camera files "DSC's" after downloading them and converting to DNG files via Adobe converter for lightroom use. In other words do the DNG files have all the raw data I would ever need in processing or should I save the camera's DSC files?

DNG files do not contain some metadata supplied by the camera, which can be used by the manufacturer's software. Thus, if you don't keep the original Raw photo, you will lose this information.
If your 1000% sure you're never going to use the manufacturer's software, then this isn't a problem. But who can be sure what software you will be using 10 years from now?

Receive message after importing serveral songs from CD into iTunes (latest ver 11.1.5.5)... "Error occurred while converting the file 'songname'. The required folder cannot be found." CD/DVD ROM is no longer recognized until restart.

Consistently receive the following message after importing serveral songs from CD into iTunes (latest ver 11.1.5.5)...
"Error occurred while converting the file 'songname'. The required folder cannot be found."
CD/DVD ROM is no longer recognized until computer is restarted.

I have the same problem. I recently moved my music from a Vista PC to a new Laptop with an external CD drive. It will copy one song from the CD and it will show in the Music file and then I get the message ' Error importing a CD - Folder not found'. I must unplug the CD drive and plug it back in. I have seen no fix for this problem.

Can I import raws w/o converting to DNG?

I notice that my imports to LR are converted to DNG's and when I edit them they DON'T stay in original form----how can I retain the original file?
Stack?

Jao,
But I assumed that Jim did want to convert his raw files to DNG, and also to retain the original raw file. If he does not need to convert to DNG then just import them as you said.
Jim,
the "Import Photos Screen" is shown when you have selected photos during import. (ctrl-shift-I) to get you to "Import photos or Lightroom Catalog" screen. Select files, click Open and now you are shown the "Import Photos Screen". (by the way, Adobe's DNG converter allows you to extract the original raw file from DNG also; so you may be able to use it to get back your original raws from those already converted to dng).

Auto Import feature lacking convert to DNG and move to subfolders...

Folks,
As many of you may be aware, when setting up a folder for auto import, LR 3.3 does not give you the same options as you might see in the regular import functionality. Namely, the ability to convert to RAW images to DNG on the import as well as move to subfolders is not available. This is a real bugger for me as I have a nice new Eye-Fi Pro card that I have setup to dump all images from my camera to a "watched" folder which is then imported into LR automatically. Unfortunately, auto import doesn't solve the issue for me, so I am back to doing the same old import routine I had done before which is tethering the camera back up via USB (or popping out the card and mounting it instead) and use the regular import feature.
I realize a lot of the design impetus for auto import is around tethered usage, where a photographer may want to see the images as fast as possible, but why would Adobe cripple the auto import functionality deliberately. Give the auto import the same functionality as the regular import and let the customers decide which works best for their setup. Geez!!
~David

I believe I watched a tutorial that indicated that Lightroom now downloads the raw files first and then does the conversion. This speeds up the download process and enables you to go back to my room to do other work more quickly. I cannot comment on the speed of the conversion because I don't convert to DNG. But my thoughts are that 700 raw files will take some time to convert.

Should I convert my Rebel XT RAW files to DNG before importing?

First, I'm glad the Automator script for renaming files is working now in Leopard. I always would import from my CF card to a directory and run an automator script to change the filenames to something somewhat useful. That broke in Leopard but it now works. But anyway, I was wondering if its worth the extra step to convert my RAW files to the Adobe Digital Negative format before importing into Aperture? Does any metadata get lost in the conversion?

I'm not aware of any metadata being lost.
According to http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307385, by converting to DNG, you lose
The Auto Noise Compensation adjustment under Raw Fine Tuning is not available with DNG images. Auto Noise Compensation requires specific knowledge of the camera's sensor characteristics in combination with the ISO value of the image. DNG images do not provide the needed sensor information.
but you gain lossless compression of the files by converting to DNG. A recent test converted 500MB of Xti images to about 400MB. I would rather convert to DNG in order to keep all my files in one format so in 10 years so I don't have 8 different Canon camera raw formats I have to worry about - whether or not Aperture is around.
Aperture still uses the 2.0 raw converter and not the DNG converted. I haven't yet made a decision as to if losing the auto noise compensation is that big of a deal.

Convert to DNG after import?

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