Camera RAW conversion
Convert DNG to GIF
DNG is a maker-neutral raw format, written by some cameras directly and by phone camera apps in professional modes, and used as an archival container for raw files from other systems. GIF is limited to 256 colours per frame, so converting discards nearly all of the raw file's colour information in exchange for a very small, universally viewable image.
All 2,911 conversions verified on macOS, Windows, and Linux against the shipping release, this one included. Every conversion runs entirely on your own computer.
- Extension
- .dng
- Type
- Camera RAW
- Typically
- Adobe / universal RAW
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .gif
- Type
- Images
- Typically
- Animations, memes
- Transparency
- Supported
Convert DNG to GIF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.
How to convert DNG to GIF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the DNG files, or a folder of them from a camera or phone.
- Choose GIF as the output. The raw data is developed first, then reduced to a 256-colour palette.
- Convert. The DNG originals stay exactly as they were, and the GIFs are written next to them.
DNG vs GIF: what actually changes
| DNG | GIF | |
|---|---|---|
| Colour depth | Typically 12 to 14 bits per channel | 256 colours in total per frame |
| Editing latitude | Wide, shadows and white balance can still be recovered | None, everything is fixed |
| Portability | Good, it is a documented format many tools read | Total, every device displays GIF |
| File size | Large, though smaller than some maker formats | Small |
| Gradients | Smooth | Banded, visibly so in skies |
| Animation | Single frame | Multiple frames in one file |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert DNG to GIF when you need a tiny, guaranteed-viewable version of a raw shot, such as a thumbnail for a catalogue, a preview for someone with no raw software, or a short animation made from a burst.
Do not use GIF for the photograph itself. Its 256-colour limit will band any smooth tone, and JPG or PNG gives a much better result from the same DNG at a comparable size.
Why not just use an online converter?
DNG is often produced by phone camera apps, which means the files can carry exactly the data people least expect to share: precise GPS coordinates, the device identity, and the capture time down to the second. Because DNG is treated as the safe, portable raw format, it gets uploaded more casually than a maker-specific file would. Converting on your own computer keeps that record on your machine, where you can strip the location before sharing anything.
Questions
Where do DNG files come from?
Some cameras write DNG directly, phone camera apps produce it in professional or raw modes, and it is also used as a conversion target for archiving raw files from cameras whose own formats may not stay readable.
Is a DNG the same as a JPG from the same shot?
No. The DNG holds the sensor data before processing, so it can be re-developed with different exposure and white balance. A JPG is one finished interpretation with those choices already applied and discarded.
Should I convert DNG to GIF or to JPG?
JPG for anything you want to look at. GIF is worth choosing only when you need animation, or a format so old that absolutely nothing will refuse it.
Can I convert DNG files without uploading them?
Yes. Everything is developed on your own computer, which avoids uploading large files and keeps the location and device data inside them from being shared.
Morphjet runs this conversion and 2,910 others, all on your machine. Available now.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.