CineDNG

CineDNG is a term used in the film and digital imaging communities to describe workflows that store RAW cinema image data using the Digital Negative (DNG) format. It is not an official standard; CinemaDNG is the formal specification published by Adobe for RAW cinema data, while CineDNG typically refers to practical, DNG-based workflows that align with or derive from CinemaDNG conventions. In CineDNG workflows, a shot is represented as a sequence of DNG image files, each containing single frame sensor data, often with per-frame or sequence-wide metadata specifying exposure, white balance, color space, and lens parameters.

These workflows are used with cameras that can export DNG sequences, such as certain models from Blackmagic Design, and are favored by filmmakers seeking maximum post-production latitude, debayering control, and archival-quality results. The DNG sequences can be processed with open-source and commercial tools that read DNG, debayer the frames, and integrate them into color-managed pipelines. Because DNG sequences are large and software support varies, adoption tends to be niche and require careful workflow planning.

Advantages include high image fidelity, flexible color workflows, and long-term archival prospects; disadvantages include large file sizes, complex de-mosaicing requirements, and uneven software compatibility. CineDNG remains mainly a specialized approach within CinemaDNG ecosystems, used by experimental, archival, or open-workflow projects rather than as a general-purpose standard.