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Ilia_Smirnoff
Participant
August 12, 2022
Answered

Lightroom. Converted JPG photos to DNG are not opening by Apple Preview or Photo

  • August 12, 2022
  • 1 reply
  • 805 views

I was think to convert a few old JPG photos to DNG, so I can apply edits and return back if I don't like it. However when I convert them with Lightroom they are not opening with Apple Preview or Photos as regular DNG that are created from real RAW files or originally created by iPhone raw.

Is there sonething I can do to see them in my Apple Photo? 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Ian Lyons

DNG files created by converting a non raw file to DNG is not supported by the Apple Preview application. Furthermore, the files aren't raw and they aren't even what is known as Linear Raw. All that you've done is wrap the fully rendered file (i.e. JPEG) into a DNG wrapper, whcih for JPEG is pointless!

1 reply

Ian Lyons
Community Expert
Ian LyonsCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
August 12, 2022

DNG files created by converting a non raw file to DNG is not supported by the Apple Preview application. Furthermore, the files aren't raw and they aren't even what is known as Linear Raw. All that you've done is wrap the fully rendered file (i.e. JPEG) into a DNG wrapper, whcih for JPEG is pointless!

Ilia_Smirnoff
Participant
August 12, 2022

🙂 thank you for the first part of the answer

However, I am not the only one whi finds converting JPG to DNG very convenient, so I wouln't use the word "pointless"

TheDigitalDog
Inspiring
August 12, 2022

I am well aware that this is not a RAW file. The point is that using embedded JPG into DNG I can fix colors, use masks and other edits in Lightroom and after that I can save it as DNG as one file. If later on, I decide to re aply the edits or make a few steps back I can easily open DNG in Lightroom and do it all over again not hurting the original JPG because every save will decrese its quality. 

Another option is using TIFF with layers but the file is significally larger that DNG



@Ilia_Smirnoff wrote:

I am well aware that this is not a RAW file. The point is that using embedded JPG into DNG I can fix colors, use masks and other edits in Lightroom and after that I can save it as DNG as one file.

 

ANY edits you do to a DNG in Lightroom Classic you can also do to the JPEG. Anything. You've gained absolutely nothing by embedding the JPEG into the DNG container.

Author “Color Management for Photographers" & "Photoshop CC Color Management/pluralsight"