Adobe DNG Codec is a Windows application that allows users to work with images encoded in the Digital Negative file format.

Setup

The program is very easy to install. It comes in the form of a standalone executable package. You can click the file to begin the process. It is necessary to agree to the Adobe license terms for integrating the codec. After completing the installation you are instructed to reboot the computer for the changes to take effect.

When the codec is set up, DNG files can be viewed in the Windows Photo Gallery app. Support for the File Explorer thumbnails is provided as well.

About DNG

Digital Negative is a file format developed by Adobe. It is intended for storing high-resolution digital images. A DNG package contains the raw pixel data as well as meta details about the picture. Moreover, at least one JPEG preview is included in the file.

The format can be opened by every product in the Creative Cloud family like Photoshop or Adobe InDesign. Additionally, some niche camera manufacturers utilize this standard. DJI has integrated it into several high-end drones as well. However, popular brands like Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus and Fuji do not support saving photos as a DNG file.

Features

free to download and use;
lets users open images in the DNG file format in Windows;
there is support for the File Explorer thumbnails;
installation process is quick and easy;
compatible with all modern versions of Windows.