DNG VS PDF
The ultimate comparison guide. Understanding the technical differences between Digital Negative and Portable Document Format.
DNG
dngOpen RAW photography format that preserves sensor data for non-destructive editing.
Pros
- Lossless archiving
- Rich metadata
- Broad camera compatibility
Cons
- Large files
- Requires post-processing
- Previewing can be slow
Standard for document exchange, preserving layout.
Pros
- Universal layout preservation
- Security features
- Vector text
Cons
- Difficult to edit
- Not responsive for mobile
When DNG wins
Stay with DNG when you need photography archives or lightroom workflows. Its strengths center on lossless archiving and a feature set native to Adobe.
When PDF wins
Choose PDF when your workflow prioritizes contracts or manuals. It delivers universal layout preservation plus modern compression perks.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | DNG | |
|---|---|---|
| MIME Type | image/x-adobe-dng | application/pdf |
| Developer | Adobe | Adobe |
| Release Year | 2004 | 1993 |
| Best For | Photography archives, Lightroom workflows, Long-term storage | Contracts, Manuals, Forms, Printing |
Need to switch?
Where DNG still wins
Keep DNG when you need lossless archiving and workflows depend on photography archives / lightroom workflows. Link those teams directly to the converter above so they can ship PDF deliverables without leaving their browser.
- • Reference the .dng glossary from this page.
- • Embed the conversion CTA in docs, wikis, and onboarding runbooks.
- • Use PDF for contracts while archiving originals as DNG.
Keep crawlers in the conversion hub
Link this comparison to the relevant tool, glossary, and documentation pages so every crawl discovers a monetizable route.