DNG Specification and Vista DNG Codec
The DNG Specification has been revised and the version number incremented from 1.1.0.0 to 1.2.0.0. This is not an area of frequent change given that the format has done a good job of addressing the progress of raw formats over the last three years.(The last update was finalized in February of 2005) This update addresses several industry requirements for the DNG format including the formalization of the concept of a "camera profile" and a metadata tag to validate your image data.
The definition of a camera profile for the DNG format as well as the allowance for multiple camera profiles to be embedded in a single DNG file will provide the industry with the ability to characterize raw data in an efficient and standardized format.(Think ICC profiles but for raw data)
Additional metadata tags have been defined for the DNG format including a field to indicate a 'hash' or the integrity of the raw data within the file, providing a valuable tool for validating the safety of your image data. A DNG file is comprised of three components: raw data from the sensor, metadata to describe the raw data and an embedded preview to represent your interpretation of the raw data. (See my earlier blog post on DNG if you need more background) Writing metadata back to a standardized file format like DNG is a common operation but many are concerned about the sanctity of the image data from the sensor. The opportunity to 'fingerprint' that block of data and check it from time to time to ensure that there hasn't been any disk corruption or I/O errors is a significant step forward in ensuring the archival safety of your images. For the developer crowd, the DNG SDK has also been updated to reflect the changes to the specification.
The DNG Codec for Windows Vista users is also now available as a free download from Adobe Labs. This is our first release for the Windows Codec platform and before finalizing the release we're offering it as a 'Release Candidate' on Adobe Labs. A release candidate is a version of the technology that is nearly complete but we would like the community's help in ensuring compatibility across a wide variety of hardware and software configurations.
On a final note, If you missed it earlier, you'll want to check out John Nack's blog post on the DNG format submission to the ISO.
Comments
Where's the 64-bit codec for Vista?
[Sean, it's not available yet. You'll notice that a number of the current Codecs (Nikon, Canon) are not 64-bit compatible yet. We're working with Microsoft to add support in the future. -TH]
Posted by: Sean Phillips | May 12, 2008 10:15 PM
32-bit only?
Why in the world would one move to Vista if not for 64-bit to be able to use more than ~3.5G of RAM? (And photographers are just those who have and need a lot of RAM.)
:(
[I just responded to this topic and I agree with you. My Windows computer is also running 64-bit Vista in order to utilize Lightroom 2 64-bit native functionality.(As well as anticipate Photoshop CS4's use of native 64-bit code.) -TH]
Posted by: Dorin Nicolaescu-Musteaţă | May 13, 2008 01:19 AM
Any chance to get the DNG SDK under the same license as the XMP SDK, aka a 3-clause BSD ? Because so far the DNG SDK does not allow it to be used in conjuction with several Free Software licenses including the GPL.
I already asked that a while back in the Adobe Forums and I got a less that receptive answer.
[Hub, I'm working on that topic but it's obviously languished for a while. Can you walk me through a few of the use cases it's preventing? -TH]
Posted by: Hub | May 13, 2008 06:23 AM
And the DNG Specification link still point to spec 1.1
[From what page? -TH]
Posted by: Hub | May 13, 2008 06:24 AM
Not providing 64bit support is unacceptable. Just because Nikon and Canon hasn't done it yet doesn't mean adobe cannot lead the way. Step up and be an industry leader. I'm disappointed Adobe, I really am.
[Sorry to disappoint you Brandon. It's not that we don't want to provide a 64-bit version but the release had been delayed long enough and waiting for 64-bit development and testing would have led to an initial release date for the Codec that would have been more than disappointing. -TH]
Posted by: Brandon | May 13, 2008 07:18 AM
And where is the Win XP download? As you know WIC is also available for Win XP.
[Christer, the DNG Codec only supports Vista at this time. -TH]
Posted by: Christer Grimsæth | May 13, 2008 09:54 AM
Thanks Tom. I don't understand why the manufacturers haven't come up with 64-bit codecs either, but frankly, I expected better from Adobe. You guys are trying to come up with a universal standard, and it's still not universal. Just like Dorin said, why else would we all switch to 64-bit Vista if the manufacturers aren't going to support it. Who do they think is using things like Codecs anyway? The regulare users who still have XP machines or the power users that have all upgraded... This issue drives me batty!
[Sean, I didn't mean to use the lack of 64-bit support from camera manufacturers as an excuse. If it was straightforward and easy to test we would have included it. But to be honest I think it's more important that we validate the DNG codec's behavior on one platform before we expand a release candidate to address multiple platforms. I don't think our ability to support Microsoft's imaging component system is an accurate way to measure the effectiveness or universal nature of the format. The fact that a third party, ArdFry, was able to create a solution based on the format's open documentation validates the appeal of the DNG format. In the long term you don't want any one single company to be a roadblock to providing support for your image files. -TH]
Posted by: Sean Phillips | May 13, 2008 10:31 AM
I don't mean to be overly critical, I just hate being frustrated with things I love, like photography.
To Adobe's credit, the announcement of 64bit support for Photoshop and Lightroom are wonderful. I use the lightroom 2 beta 64 bit and love it. It does seem quite a bit faster (probably not due to the 64bit, but maybe, for me x86 is faster as well with the 2.0 version).
In the future though, nothing, I mean *nothing* should be released without proper support for the 64bit platform, I and many others have moved on, it is important to cover all bases. We'll notice when good things happen. That is why I had to comment on Photoshop and Lightroom ;)
[Thanks Brandon. My daily work machine is a MacBook Pro running Vista 64-bit so I'm definitely biased in one direction. -TH]
Posted by: Brandon | May 13, 2008 03:45 PM
I'm glad to actually see people using Vista, with all that FUD out there saying it is another ME....
Totally unrealated, but it certainly is nice to see that not everyone is stuck in 2001.
Posted by: Brandon | May 14, 2008 10:00 PM
Just want to add more moral support for 64-bit compatibility. If you'd have told me ten years ago that 64-bit software would still be like exotica I never would have believed you.
Posted by: Ed | May 15, 2008 04:08 AM
The link is OK now (it has changed).
As for the DNG SDK licensing, mostly the indemnification clauses and the choice of jurisdictions.
IANAL, but that my understanding. Using a well know and identified version (like the one for the XMP SDK) is probably the best (and it is compatible with the GPL), and would be more consistent with the XMP_SDK.
That's the sole reason originally I started writting my own XMP library, until XMP SDK 4.1.1 was released.
Posted by: Hub | May 15, 2008 09:09 AM
Thanks for the mention of ArdFry. I had never heard of them before and did not realize that somebody else had created a 64-bit codec. I will definitely be giving that a go...
Posted by: Sean Phillips | May 15, 2008 12:14 PM
I installed the DNG codec on my Vista Home Premium laptop. My DNGs don't show a preview in Explorer, and opening them in Windows Photo Gallery, it says "The file appears to be damaged or corrupt."
The files open just fine in Bridge and Camera Raw.
I had no such problems with the Ardfry DNG codec.
[Will, can you provide any more details on the DNG forums so that we can track down the issue? (Camera model, operating system specifications and hardware description)
http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx/?14@934.gMyqi1vvPzI@.3bb5f0ec
-TH]
Posted by: Will Green | May 17, 2008 08:39 AM
Had a little difficulty with the new codec and Vista. Soon after installing the codec, Vista's search indexer began pegging my CPU and hanging. So bad I had to disable the indexer.
A Microsoft tech on another forum mentioned several cases of the codec causing this issue. I uninstalled the codec and all it well.
Posted by: Dan Carter | May 29, 2008 10:17 PM
For those looking for 64 bit codecs, Ardfry continues to lead the way.
DNG x64
http://www.ardfry.com/dng-codec
CR2 x64
http://www.ardfry.com/cr2-codec
NEF x64
http://www.ardfry.com/nef-codec
Posted by: David Blake | May 30, 2008 08:16 AM
When do you suppose to release 64bit DNG Codec?
[No schedule has been announced at this point. -TH]
Posted by: Rostislav Kramsky | June 3, 2008 03:35 PM
Great info about Vista DNG codec.
What is the pros & cons of this codec? just like
Pros & cons of Video Codecs
What is the licensing cost for such software codecs
[John, the video codec analogy really doesn't fit. And there's no charge for using the DNG Codec. - TH]
Posted by: john_jk | June 30, 2008 12:15 AM