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March 8, 2005* – Adobe Systems Incorporated announced today that Leica and Hasselblad have committed to support the Digital Negative specification that standardizes raw files. Adobe saw a problem years ago when camera manufacturers designed their own raw file formats; not every software program could read the files. In September 2004, Adobe announced the new .dng Digital Negative specification that will allow photographers more freedom to work in different programs with their raw image file. Leica and Hasselblad digital cameras will now come with a Digital Negative option, rather than their own raw formats.
"Hasselblad and Leica Camera are photo industry icons and innovators and their support for DNG is great news for professional photographers who want to simplify their Digital Negative workflows," said Bryan Lamkin, senior vice president of Digital Imaging and Digital Video at Adobe. "Adobe will continue to update the DNG Specification as customers and industry partners integrate DNG into their everyday work and we look forward to their feedback."
Leica plans to include a DNG option on its Digital Module-R, the digital back available in April that attaches to the Leica R8 and R9. Hasselblad cameras will also export to the Digital Negative format. Other camera manufacturers are expected to pick up the specification soon. Currently, photographers can download a free converter for the Digital Negative at adobe.com/dng. The Adobe Digital Negative Converter translates raw formats from more than 60 digital cameras into the Digital Negative format.
"Professional photographers and other creative professionals are moving to raw camera workflows because of the outstanding creative control they get over digital images," Lamkin said. "However, clients and publishers have difficulty working with disparate raw file formats and nobody can be sure that today’s raw formats will be supported ten years from now. Adobe customers asked us to work on a unified, public format for raw files and that’s what we’ve delivered with the new Digital Negative Specification."