Since the Photoshop User magazine came out, I’ve had a number of emails asking about my own workflow for DNG files and backups, so let me run through it quickly. There is no right or wrong workflow – this is just what works well for me.
I want the best of both worlds – I want smaller file sizes, no sidecars and updated previews on my working drive so I use DNG for my main working files, but maybe one day I might want a proprietary raw file for something, so I keep one of my offline backups as a proprietary raw format. I want the files to have matching names and folder structure, so converting on import doesn’t work for me, so this is my current workflow:
- Import with backup turned on – this is a temporary backup, just in case something goes wrong before I finish sorting.
- Rename files – the proprietary raw files now have the new names
- Use the OS or File Sync software to copy the images to my offline backup structure. Export as Original format to the other drive would do the same. That drive is then disconnected again.
- Select all in Grid view and go to Library menu > Convert Photo to DNG with ‘delete originals after successful conversion’ turned on swaps my proprietary raw files in the catalog for new DNG files, and removes the proprietary files from the hard drive.
- That leaves me with DNG files in the catalog, complete with all of the settings that were previously attached to the proprietary raw files. The proprietary files are safely backed up on my offline drive, with matching file names and a matching folder structure, just in case I ever need one. Ok, I’ll admit, I’ve never been back to them yet, but you never know! 😉
Hi All,
I’ve just made the switch to LR CC and very much liking it. I’m shooting RAW files on Canon 5DSr, and importing them to LR. I would like to export the original files to my external hard drive, but I’m not given this option. When I export as DNG file, the exported file size is very small. Any advice would be great, thanks!
Hi Maurice. I’m not quite following your workflow… are you trying to move the raw files to the external drive, or create copies?
I took the leap last year and converted all my CR2 files to dng. I like it – still raw, but it saves about 20% in hard drive space, which is always nice.
Dear Queen Victoria,
When you say rename files… what do you mean?
[If you like to rename your files, that’s a good point to do it, as both the proprietary raw file backup and the DNG file will both have the same names. You could also do so in the import dialog, with the same effect. – VB]
Hello: Do you know the details of a workflow where proprietary RAW files that have been processed in either Lightroom or Camera Raw, now with sidecar files, can be archived as DNG files wherein the information in the sidecar files becomes bundled in the DNG file, leaving only the single DNG file? Thanks. Jon Clarke
[Hi Jon – you can select them all in Grid view and go to Library menu > Convert Photos to DNG and that will swap the proprietary files for DNG files, or you can use Export to DNG to put them elsewhere, leaving the proprietary files in the catalog. Either would work. – VB]