The RAW format is not one format for...

The RAW format is not one format for archive, its one format to work with the White Balance and exposure adjust. I archive with TIFF. It is not possible one format RAW standard in the actual and permanent evolution of the technology.

Xavier Puigvert – Fri, 2005/11/11 – 2:53am

It is right to say that RAW is and may stay un ever evolving...

It is right to say that RAW is and may stay un ever evolving format. Yet some standard multi-purposed, self-described format already exists. For instance XML is intended to allow people to develop such standard format that can handle todays and tomorrow data in a standard and open way. Then as long as such meta format exists and can be developped easily, your statement "It is not possible one format RAW standard in the actual and permanent evolution of the technology." clearly is false with respect to technology and engineering science. If you mean that it is impossible because of the commercial strategy of some big company's, then I may agree with you... But our purpose here is just to make this point changing.
regards
Pierre-Matthieu Anglade

Pierre-Matthieu... – Wed, 2005/11/23 – 4:32am

Yes, formats that can continue to evolve are...

Yes, formats that can continue to evolve are possible.

TIFF-like formats can evolve. They pre-date XML, and don't have all the advantages, but that can be managed.

XML-based formats can certainly evolve. They must surely be part of the solution.

But we don't necessarily need a format that can itself evolve for ever. Perhaps in 10 years time or 20 years time we can design a better format. As long as we can convert from the previous format to that new format, we are OK.

These are among the reasons that DNG is part of the solution. It is TIFF-based, so it can evolve extra parameters. It includes XMP metadata, with the above advantages. And both are publicly documented, with various tools and utilities for coders to use.

If, in decades to come, we need a significantly different format, for reasons I can't guess at the moment, there will be plenty of motivation to be able to convert DNG to that format. But far less motivation to convert today's proprietar raw formats, however well documented they are.

The current state is unmanageable. Switching to DNG will make it manageable.

Barry Pearson – Wed, 2005/11/23 – 7:53am