Lightroom: Converting entire library to DNG

I'm intersted in converting my entire library to DNG in Lightroom 5 without losing any quality and
maintaining the most flexibility possible.
Currently I have all of my folders organized chronologically.
Unfortunatley, over time I have switched back and forth between xmp and catalog based metadata which
has left some folders with xmp and others without.
I want everything to be consistent and ultimatley more efficient for Lightrooms performance.
What is the cleanest, safest and most comprehensive steps to accomplish this?
What boxes should I check in the "covert to dng" dialog box?
Lossy will reduce the file size but compromise quality, correct?
Any other tips for things that come up along the way would be greatly appreciated.
All the best,
Alex

Alexander Herring wrote:
•the file is the same quality and yet a smaller file
Most of the size reduction comes from reduced jpeg preview, raw data compression is about the same. Save fast-load data, xmp, and a full-size/high quality jpeg in there and it will be bigger than the original raw. Don't take my word for it - do the test!
Alexander Herring wrote:
•dng allows the option to turn on FAST MODE in Lightroom which is up to 8x faster
That's pure crap.
Alexander Herring wrote:
•no need for a side car xmp, which make the file more easily transportable
Whether sidecars are a net plus or minus is a subject of constant debate in this forum. I keep all my raws in proprietary format, but frequently give other people DNGs, in order to assure the sidecar isn't dropped. But I wish sidecars were an option for all file types including DNG & jpeg...
Alexander Herring wrote:
•dng is non proprietary which is more stable for archive becasue it's an open source
Remember: you can convert to DNG at any time, but you can't convert back. Well, actually, you can revert with a little help from UnDNG.
Alexander Herring wrote:
Having not taken such a large step like this with my entire library I thought it wise to see if anyone had and if there were any pitfalls
by doing to much at a time, etc
Lots of people convert to DNG and are proud of it - the only practical problem you may run into is if using non Adobe-converted-DNG compatible software. I mean, if you try 100,000 at once you may not make it through, since Lr often has memory leaks which can gang up, etc. but you can always restart.
Alexander Herring wrote:
Ultimatley for me, having my files in an open source format make me more comforable about the future
In my opinion, the warm fuzzy feeling you get converting to DNG is the only good reason to do it (or the main reason anyway).
Alexander Herring wrote:
and gives me better performance within adobe.
This is not true.
Rob

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I would like to know if it is possible to convert my entire iphoto library from mostly raw to jpeg and save as different library.
File -> Export and select Jpeg as the format. Apps like iPhoto2Disk or PhotoShare will help you export to a Folder tree matching your Events. You can then import that to an iPhoto Library.
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Is there a "one-touch" way to convert to my existing library to DNG?

Is there a "one-touch" way to convert to DNG?
My Aperture library currently has three types of files: JPEG files taken with point-and-shoot camera going back for years, (ii) RAW (NEF) files made with a Nikon D60, (iii) RAW (CR2) files made with a Canon G9, and (iv) RAW (DNG) files I have shot recently.
I am interested in converting all the non-DNG RAW files (NEFs and CR2s) into the Adobe DNG file format. I understand that the format has a smaller file size (than the original RAW file) and that it is "lossless" (unlike converting to JPEG). So, in addition to "standardizing" my file-types, it will also reduce my overall library size (in GBs).
So, the question is: is there a way to take my existing Aperture library and, through some (hopefully free) combination of scripts and programs, convert all the RAW files to DNG automatically and without having to export each one from Aperture and them import it again. That is, I want a solution that will look at each file and ignore the JPEGs and DNGs, (ii) convert the NEFs and CR2s into DNG, and (iii) move the original NEF/CR2 files to a folder (just in case)?
This is not an problem going forward, because I can easily just import as DNG to begin with ... but its an issue for a few thousand images in my library.
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~B

Do you find that using Aperture to "import" the pictures (e.g., using the import function on Aperture and pointing it at your memory card) gives better results than using the DNG converter to "import" (e.g., by selecting the camera memory card and saving the conversions to disk, then importing those DNG files into Aperture)?
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• Remove the CF card from the camera and insert it into a CF card reader. Faster readers and faster cards are preferable, and Firewire is much preferable to USB2.
• Finder-copy images from CF to a labeled folder on the intended permanent Masters location hard drive.
• Eject CF.
• Burn backup hard drive or DVD copies of the original images (optional recommended backup step).
• Eject backup hard drive(s) or DVDs.
• From within Aperture, import images from the hard drive folder into Aperture selecting "Store files in their current location." This is called "referenced images." During import is the best time to also add keywords, but that is another discussion.
• Review pix for completeness (e.g. a 500-pic shoot has 500 valid images showing).
• Reformat CF in camera, and archive originals off site on hard drives and/or on DVDs.
Note that the "eject" steps above are important in order to avoid mistakenly working on removable media.
Alternatively, does anyone actually use (or recommend) Nikon-branded software for any step in this process? If your camera shoots JPG (as all mine did till a few months ago), it does not matter ... but does the RAW thing change that equasion?
Yes RAW changes the equation. Folks who want the very best NEF conversions will use Nikon Capture NX2 but the interface *****. Personally I find Aperture very good for the D2x.
Good luck!
-Allen Wicks

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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???
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help!!!
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Hold down the SHIFT key and then select File > Display Exact Duplicates. This gives a list of all tracks where more than one track has essentially the same metadata, name, track no., artist, album, etc. Actually, if you know everything has been doubled then I guess you skip that step...
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System or program crashes when converting from NEF to DNG

Hello Adobe.
First off, I love your software.
Second, this is my concern. You guys are pushing DNG as the go to raw format. That would be great if it worked good, but it doesn't.
First, when I convert from my Nikon NEF format (Nikon D7100) it chugs along just fine, then suddenly crashes either the program or my system after converting 50-100 or so images.
I have tried everything from downloading your software again, to turning off everything other then what is needed to do the conversion.
Of course I have the latest DNG utility/plug in/drivers from your website.
Second, the DNG images open much slower then my NEF images. Plus when I view them in Windoze file system view and want to see the photos in extra large icons, it renders the images very slowly.
My system is Windoze 8.1 updated always, Photoshop CC latest and greatest (I'm in the rental program), Bridge and Lightroom.
I have tried to use bridge and lightroom to do the conversion, even a separate utility and the crashing still happens. All these are up to date.
My system has an i7 Intel processor, 16 gb of Kingston ram, an ASUS P8Z77 MPRO mother board and a good stable power supply.
No other software crashes my system like converting from NEF to DNG.
What I do notice is my CPU fan goes into high RPM's and I am wondering if the CPU is overheating causing this.
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Are you aware of problems with the DNG software and or file format?
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Photoshop Help | Digital Negative (DNG) - Adobe
helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/digital-negative.html
DNG is a publicly available archival format for storing camera raw files. Adobe provides Adobe DNG Converter, a free utility that converts files from more than ...
That is off the net, therefore, Adobe looks at DNG as part of Adobe Photoshop, which it is if a person chooses to convert.
My issue has to do with it crashing, both my system and software.
I assume if people here are using it, then they can advise me if they are having similar problems.
I have also written Adobe directly several times over the last month and have yet to receive a response.
I apologize that I posted here, but since I consider DNG an integral part of Photoshop, then I think it is appropriate here.
I was also not aware of a DNG forum, if one exists.
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< Edited by Host >

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Hello guys,
I am currently experiencing some problems with iTunes, I hope someone can help me. After not having used my PC since September, I accessed it yesterday. After installing the iTunes update, everything was still normal, but after the computer had to be restarted for the HP update, ALL my media files are gone. Not only is the library wiped, the actual folder where the file should be is empty.
I will explain what I did below.
Also, please excuse my English, it's not my first language.
Okay, then let me explain my problem from the beginning. Maybe someone can tell me what I did wrong.
I am from Germany, but I am currently in the US as an exchange student. At home, I used a HP PC with Vista, but I decided to buy a little netbook (Asus eeePC)to take with me. The most important thing for me was (and still is) my music, my iTunes library. It is 86.4 GB big and consists of everything; songs, TV-shows, movies, apps, podcasts, audiobooks - you name it. In short, it's the result of years of listening to and collecting music; and it's not mine alone, the whole family uses it. I researched ways to copy my library unto my new netbook, but with a file that size, it's not that easy. Eventually, I decided to use a backup and re-create the library on the netbook. However, this did, for reasons unknown to me, not work, the backup was (from the 2nd disc on) unreadable. I created 2 more backups, tried to read them with different PCs - the same problem every time.
Finally, I had to leave without having accomplished anything. But I took my iPod touch with me, it had most of the files on it. I hoped that I could somehow transfer the files from my iPod. However, shortly after I arrived, it was stolen. I bought a new one, but of course all the files on it are gone.
In he meantime, my family at home created a new backup and send it to me - but this one, again, is not readable. Now I researched other possible ways on how to get my files over here. I decided to use a torrent this time. I had someone install a VNC client on my PC so I can access it from here, and then I installed utorrent and created a torrent from my entire library, send it to myself per e-mail and started downloading on my netbook. I was really happy to finally have found a way - but I should be wrong.
Since I had access to my iTunes after so much time, I decided to open iTunes and listen to a few songs. However, as my PC has not been used since I left in September, there were some available updates. Unsuspecting, I installed the new iTunes version and also a HP update. After the iTunes update everything was still okay, but after the PC had to be restarted for the HP update to work, my entire library was gone! And I checked, not only is the library empty, but the actual song-file is gone, meaning when I open, eg, "C:\Users\Chris\Music\iTunes\iTunes Music\Linkin Park\Meteora" the folder is totally empty.
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Please please please, can somebody help me?

If you don't have any other back up, and the torrent files you sent to yourself are gone, then your music is gone.
Nobody can help you recover data that no longer exists, but I can offer some sympathy. Sorry to read your story.

Lightroom: Converting entire library to DNG

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