DNG, which stands for "Digital Negative", is a universal format for storing so-called raw data from a camera's image sensor. These files, often referred to as digital negatives or RAW, contain minimally processed image information. Unlike the more common JPEG format, where the data is already processed and compressed on the device, DNG preserves as much of the original detail, color and dynamic range as possible, which is the difference between the lightest and darkest parts of a scene. This allows photographers to make more extensive adjustments on the computer, such as changing the white balance, adjusting exposure, or salvaging details in shadows and highlights without significant loss of image quality. The DNG format was created as a standardized alternative to the various RAW formats from different manufacturers, making them easier to process in different software editors.
