Converting NEF files to DNG

I have recently purchased the Nikon D800. I am having a difficult time converting the RAW NEF files to DNG so I can view them in Photoshop Elements 6 and Photoshop CS6. I do not understand why Nikon would make it so difficult to upload into Photoshop. Very frustrated. Any information would be appreciated.

Are you using the latest version of the DNG Converter, at least 7.1? There is also a Release Candidate (beta) version, 7.2 RC1.
What do you mean by having "a difficult time converting"? What happens when you try?
Are you aware that the DNG converter works only on folders and not on individual files? You must point the DNG Converter to the folder that contains the files, not at the files themselves.
How are you getting the files to your computer? There have been many reports that the Nikon Transfer (or Nikon Transport) utility damages the files. Try just dragging them from the card to your computer instead.
Are you on Macintosh or Windows? What exact version of the OS?
Please read this FAQ for advice on how to ask your questions correctly for quicker and better answers:
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/419981?tstart=0
Thanks!

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I have Elements 12 and a Nikon D3300 Camera I am having trouble converting Nef files to DNG can anybody please help? Geoff

I didn't realise there was such a wide range of RAW files

The D3300 requires DNG converter 8.4 or newer. That version of the DNG converter requires Windows 7 or newer. Lightroom isn't an option because it requires Windows 7 or newer. It looks like it's time for new computer.

Converting JPEG files to DNG in Lightroom

Is there any advantage to converting JPEG files to DNG when I import them into Lightroom? I am trying to maintain the quality of the file.
Would it be better to save a JPEG file as a PSD file after I import it to use it in Photoshop and Lightroom?

(Please pardon the change of subject:)
Fred T. said, "If you are editing a JPEG in Photoshop going from Lightroom, let Lightroom create a TIFF. "
I am wondering how to do this. I'm just an amateur and my non-SLR camera doesn't even save RAW images. ("Yup, need to take care of that one of these days.")
My Preferences for "External Editors" (in my case Photoshop Elements 4.0) is set as: File Format: TIFF; Color Space: sRGB; Bit Depth: 16 Bits/component; Compression: ZIP.
When I right-click on a file, and choose "Edit in Photoshop Elements 4.0.app", and pick Edit a Copy from the dialog box, the new file that is created and passed over to PE is a .JPG file not a .TIF file.
I get the feeling that the functionality to create a TIFF, or a PSD, only works if my original image is RAW or DNG. But perhaps I am overlooking something???
Life would be a lot easier if I could send the file to PE as a TIFF. At present, as a workaround, I tell LR to edit the original (so it doesn't create a copy), immediately Save-As in PE as a TIFF so I don't overwrite the original, and then when I'm done editing in PE, save the results (still TIFF). Once back in LR, I have to import the new file.
Any Thoughts?

Converting Nikon NEF files to DNG without adding Chromatic Aberrations?

Used Adobe converter 7.4.0.137 and got Cyan and Magenta abberations on all high contrast edges. NEF files were from a Nikon D7100 and look great using ViewNX 2 software. Is there a better converter?

The DNG Converter embeds a thumbnail and preview in the DNG that are rendered with whatever the Camera Raw defaults are set to do for the camera the DNGs are from, which if CA is automatically being removed by default, then the preview should have it removed, otherwise it won't. Again, we'd need to understand what Adobe defaults are in effect for the camera when the DNGs are opened in the Camera Raw plug-in before understanding if this is a CA-no-on-by-default issue or a CA is not the type that can be corrected by the Adobe engine.
The Nikon engine might easily be masking narrow fringes of color by over-aggressive sharpening or via some automatic fringe-removal.
If the OP would post an example photo that exhibits the fringing, then others could test and comment on what can be done or not done to mitigate the issue in Adobe products.

Nikon D5200 - Convert NEF (14bit) into DNG (only 12bit?!)

Hello,
I have a problem concerning the DNG converting process of my NEF (RAW) files of my Nikon D5200 to DNG files. NEF file should have 14 bit color space (according to the manual`s on p. 234 - - http://www.nikonusa.com/pdf/manuals/dslr/D5200RM_NT(11)01.pdf - the camera does ONLY capture NEF file as 14 bit file, not in 12 bit files; there is no setting like in den D7100 to change this e.g. to 12 bit). My problem in lightroom is that when I convert my NEFs in lightroom in DNGs it shows me that the DNGs are only 12 bit?! If I go to library > right toolbar > metadata > DNG > "Bit pro sample" it says 12 and NOT 14
How could that be? Is there any chance to fix this and if so, which way to correct this?
Many thanks for your help!

I read the EXIF data with RawDigger (many thanks to ssprengel!) and it seems that the "bits per sample" (RawDigger > EXIF) are the SAME in ALL DNG files (= 16 bit), no matter if I converted a 12 bit lossy or lossless or a 14 bit lossy or lossless NEF file. What I was able to seen in the EXIF data of the DNG files was if the "NEF compression" is lossy or lossless, although is was a DNG file. So I was able to "reconstruct" if this DNG file was once (= before the conversion) a lossy or lossless NEF file, but nit if it was once a 14bit or 12bit NEF file.
As soon as I opened the NEF file in RawDigger I was able to read if the file is a 12 bit lossy, 12 bit lossless, 14 bit lossy, 14 bit lossy. But when I compared the e.g. 12 bit lossless NEF file with the equivalent DNG file, I WAS NOT ABLE to see any difference in terms of quality. Both are exactly the same in terms of their image quality, the e.g. 12 bit lossless NEF file and the converted DNG file. The only differnce between the both is size. The equivalent DNG files are a lot smaller (and it seems the Adobe has a much better compression algorithmus without compromising the image quality):
12 bit lossy NEF (10,9 MB)               = equivalent DNG (7,4 MB)            --> 32% less
12 bit lossless NEF (12,2 MB)          = equivalent DNG (7,5 MB)            --> 39% less
14 bit lossy NEF (13,8 MB)               = equivalent DNG (12,2 MB)          --> 12% less
14 bit lossless NEF (16,2 MB)          = equivalent DNG (12,7 MB)          --> 22% less
So, to summarize, the good news is that no matter what option you chose to save your NEFs in your camera (12 bit lossy, 12 bit lossless, 14 bit lossy, 14 bit lossy) when you convert them in DNGs the quality DOES NOT change. The only downfall is that the metadata in lightroom is somewhat missleading and confusing:
12 bit lossy NEF           = 10 "bits per sample" DNG (in lightroom`s metadata: right toolbar > metadata > DNG), but exactly the same image quality as the 12 bit lossy NEF
12 bit lossless NEF      = 12 "bits per sample" DNG (in lightroom`s metadata: right toolbar > metadata > DNG), but exactly the same image quality as the 12 bit lossless NEF
14 bit lossy NEF           = 12 "bits per sample" DNG (in lightroom`s metadata: right toolbar > metadata > DNG), but exactly the same image quality as the 14 bit lossy NEF
14 bit lossless NEF       = 14 "bits per sample" DNG (in lightroom`s metadata: right toolbar > metadata > DNG), but exactly the same image quality as the 14 bit lossless NEF
Many thanks to all of you and hopefully this help someone who has the same "troubles".

Can't convert CR2 files with DNG converter

After buying the Canon T2i, I realized that the files (CR2) won't open in PS. I did my research and found that the dng converter was the thing I need. Unfortunately, the converter won't recognize and convert the CR2 files that I try to convert.
I am guessing I will probably get a reply telling me I should have done my research before I bought the camera (as I have seen in other forums), but I am hoping for a more productive (and less offensive) answer.
Thanks!

I see a lot of answers speaking about having the most up to date version of the Camera RAW Plug-in. I have a similar issue with my .CR2 files... I cannot open them in Camera RAW because it tells me that my camera model or make is not supported by the Plug-in, and so I was directed by other forums to just try converting the .CR2 files to .DNG. I already had the Adobe DNG Converter (version 6.5 I believe), so I tried this. It too told me that my files or camera make were not supported. However, I have always been able to successfully both open my .CR2 files AND convert them to .DNG. I had not updated anything on my camera nor on my Adobe programs and for some reason this last attempt to open RAW files failed me... I have no idea what change would have led to it. Luckily I shopt in both RAW and Large JPG but I certainly don't want to rely on my JPGs of course... Any idea why this problem might have arisen now if it had always worked easily in the past?
Thanks!

Can't convert .ARW files to .DNG

Cannot convert SONY .ARW raw files to .DNG using DNG Converter 8.7.1. My SONY A7 MII is listed as a 'supported' camera. Original files are in a folder on my desktop. Thanks!

This is how it looks on Windows if the "PhotosTemp" folder on my Desktop is what contains my images. On Windows this means that the folder name is both up top and in the Folder: selection box. I don't know how this might be different on a Mac:
If you're sure you're doing it correctly, show us a screenshot of your DNG Converter - Select Source Folder panel before clicking Select.

Converting Raw files to DNG

When I open RAW files in Photoshop CS4, I can save them as a DNG file, however when I try to use the DNG 5.6 converter to do the conversion, it will not recognize the RAW files. According the the Adobe website, the current verion of DNG converter is supposed to recognize my CR2 files, but in it actually does not.

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alacker1 wrote:
I discovered that when I open the Raw files in Photoshop CS4, I can then save it as a DNG file. The DNG converter has a bug in it
When you convert the raw in DNG in the ACR dialog then you are not using the newest DNG converter; you have been using that, which came with your ACR. Start the DNG converter on its own (by double-clicking on the file name,..) or drop a file on its file name with Explorer, and try if that DNG is all right.
Relating the unusable DNG file: can you upload it somewhere? If you don't have web space, use yousendit.com and post the URL for the downloading here (the receiver's and sender's email address may be fictious).
Gabor

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.

I have PS6, and could happily upload CR2 files from my Canon EOS 6D AS CR2 files and could manipulate these in bridge. When I purchased a Canon 1Dx this was not possible - despite downloading plug ins it still converts my files to dng or jpegs - how do I

CR2 files for pr-manipulation in bridge.

The T1i was first supported by Camera Raw 5.4 which is only compatible with CS4 and later
Camera Raw plug-in | Supported cameras
Camera Raw-compatible Adobe applications
Some options:
Upgrade to CS6
Join the Cloud
Download the free Adobe DNG converter, convert all T1i Raw files to DNGs then edit the DNGs in CS3
Camera raw, DNG | Adobe Photoshop CC

Converting NEF files into TIFF's

I have a PowerBook G4 OS 10.2 and I am using Photoshop CS and CS2. I shoot a Nikon D2X and the RAW files are called NEF.
In photoshop is there a way to automate converting NEF's into TIFF's without having to do each file manually?

There may be, without using the SDK. Check in the main Photoshop Mac
forum.
Aandi Inston

Batch convert Raw files to DNG via Library's convert to DNG issue

I have LR 4.4 running on a Win 7 64 bit PC...
I selected 4 RAW files (CR2) to convert to DNG via the Library modules 'convert to DNG' and then delete the CR2 file.
It converted only the last of the 4 files and left the other 3 untouched as CR2 files. Can LR not batch convert the RAW files in this manner??
Dave

I tried again to convert the remaining 3 CR2 files to DNG by selecting the 1st file and shift clicking on the 3rd file in the film strip and then via 'Library-Convert photo to DNG. I have Delete originals after conversion checked.
This time it converted the 1st file and left the other 2 unchanged. It seems to perform the operation on the 1st file selected...the first time when I tried this on the 4 original files I had clicked on the last file and then shift clicked on the first on in the series.
BTW...I have LR4.4, Win 7 64-bit, 16G ram, Pentium 7...
For what it's worth, I also noticed that when I "round-trip" a file to CS6 and then SAVE the file it should bring me back to LR with the new file placed next to the old one in LR. Mine does not. The new file is not shown and I have to synch and add photo's to have it show in LR. Another issue...
Thanks for checking on your end. I suspected LR should properly batch the conversion as it did for you and that I had an issue. With the Nik suite and Perfect Effects 4 installed I'm hoping not to have to do a complete uninstall/reinstall...what a pain (sigh).
Dave

I have converted some NEF files to DNG without compression but the conversion were performed WITH compression!

How to avoid it?
Bernard

As LR5user correctly notes, dng ALWAYS uses compression. You can only choose whether you want lossy compression or lossless compression. If you did not check the lossy compression checkbox, it will use a lossless algorithm. You do NOT want to avoid this as you are only wasting disk space if you don't use that compression. There is no loss of information. You should end up with files that are somewhat smaller than native raw files as the compression is somewhat more efficient than what camera makers use in their cameras in general.

Convert NEF 14bit to DNG with Lr4 (or 3)

I converted all my NEF (nikon D700) 14Bit to DNG using Lightroom 4.
The file size of NEF is 22-26Mb
The file size of the DNG is 11-15
I think is to lower becaus I was told that the DNG is 20% smoller than the RAW.
So I think that Lightroom is converting in 8Bit
thnx
Alberto

Forrest61,
First, there is absolutely no need to shoot in uncompressed raw on the D700. Change the settings to "lossless compressed", and your raw files will only be about 14 MB each. You'll be able to fit more shots on each card, the images will download faster, and you'll save on disk space. The resulting images are mathematically identical to an uncompressed raw.
Yes, a DNG places the 12-bit or 14-bit data into a 16-bit container, so no data is discarded when you do a lossless conversion. It is only when you opt to use lossy compression or downsize the image when some data obviously needs to be thrown out.
Once the image is opened in Photoshop, it will not show whether the source was 12-bit or 14-bit. Photoshop documents exist as 8-bit, 16-bit or 32-bit documents. There are no in-between bit depths, since they operate in multiples of 8 (8 bits in a byte). So whether you open a 12-bit or a 14-bit NEF, they will appear in Photoshop as either 8-bit or 16-bit documents, depending on your settings.

Convert NEF files to JPg

i am new to this and all I want to do for the moment is convert my raw file from NEF to JPG so I can upload them. anyone able to help in very basic language?

Go to Library Module.
Choose Export.
Choose Files on Disk.
Choose Export Location
File Settings are JPEG sRGB ( you can choose other formats)
In Post-Processing you can choose "Show in Explorer" or "Open in another application" or "Do Nothing"
Push the Export Button.

Converting NEF files to DNG

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