Editing RAW image and using Denoise Enhanced creates at a DNG file.

[Bakerxxxxx]

While editing an NEF image, I chose for the first time to use de-noise by clicking on the Enhanced option. After that process was completed (good looking edit) I discovered a second image file was created in the folder. It was Enhanced-NR.DNG file.

1. Assume creating an extra file is something in the process I can't stop from happening, it's automatic. If I can, how do I stop it?
2. Afterwards, if I delete the DNG file does that also erase the enhanced edit on the RAW file? If it doesn't what's the purpose for an extra file in DNG?
3. Is the Enhanced edit doing more than just de-noise?

Thank you

[johnrellis]

This help article provides a thorough explanation:

https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/help/enhance-details.html

[dj_paige]

1. You cannot stop it from creating a DNG file
2. If you delete the DNG, the edits you did on the DNG are gone (just like when you delete any other file in LrC, DNG or otherwise). Edits done on the DNG do not get applied to the original RAW.
3. If you used AI DeNoise (is that what you mean by "Enhanced Edit"?), then all it is doing is AI DeNoise. (Had you edited the RAW before you did the AI DeNoise, those edits are applied to the denoised DNG). Lightroom Classic does what you tell it to do, nothing more.

[JohanElzenga]

Your confusion comes from the fact that you think that there is an "enhanced edit on the RAW file". There isn't. The DNG file is the enhanced file. The raw file itself is not changed in any way. In Camera Raw Denoise is a non-destructive edit of the raw file, just like all other edits. If and when that is implemented in Lightroom Classic, then Lightroom Classic will no longer create a DNG.

[Conrad_C]

This is an area that is under development, so the answers are changing over time.

In Lightroom Classic currently, Enhance operations require creating a new file. From the day Adobe introduced Denoise, they have said this is not ideal. For more background straight from the engineers, you might want to read the Adobe blog article Denoise Demystified which they posted in April 2023 when the feature was first released. In, it Adobe says:

We’re proud of what it can do today, but we’re already looking ahead to make it even better. For instance, we have some ideas on how to use additional training data to improve resolution. We’d like to support additional file formats and combine Denoise with Super Resolution. We’re even looking into ways to speed up the workflow by not needing to make a new DNG file.

In Adobe Camera Raw 17 last year, Adobe followed through, releasing a form of Denoise that does not create that extra DNG file. This is only at the Technology Preview user testing stage for now, which Adobe is using to collect public feedback about how well it’s working.

When they feel that the new implementation is debugged and ready for full integration with Lightroom Classic and the Lightroom clients on all platforms, and syncing reliably among all, they will upgrade Denoise in Lightroom Classic so that it no longer needs to create an extra DNG file. There is no public information on how far along that is and when Lightroom Classic might get it.

[Bakerxxxxx]

I really appreciate replies from Johan, dj, John and yourself.  I would have replied sooner with a couple more questions but encountered a hardware problem with my NAS which spilled over into limited access to LRC app.  Yes, I did think the enhanced edit was also in the RAW file because when I viewed it in passing, a quick glance, it looked the same.  But there were other edits that both RAW and DNG had in common.  Just can't double check that until I fix my system.  Then I was going to ask if I had converted to DNG before doing an enhancement, would LRC create a second DNG or just use the one I created.  All of this will be water over the dam when new update U mention is available.  Everyone, thank you!