Many photographers work in RAW-format files from their digital cameras and are frustrated by the many versions out there—varying not just from manufacturer to manufacturer but also from camera to camera. But Adobe is trying to solve that problem with its Digital Negative Specification.

Adobe Systems Inc. in September 2004 introduced DNG, a public format for RAW digital camera files, along with a free software tool, Adobe DNG Converter, which translates many of the RAW photo formats (images before any in-camera processing) used today into the new DNG file format.

Adobe is also letting any manufacturer that wants to use the format in its cameras, printers and software applications do that for free without any limitations in the hopes of encouraging them to accept it as the standard.

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The Digital Negative Specification is being posted to the Adobe Web site, and is free of any legal restrictions or royalties, enabling integration of the DNG file format into digital cameras, printers and software products. DNG format is also supported in Adobe Photoshop CS as part of an updated Camera Raw Plug-in, also now available. Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 also supports DNG files.

"Our next steps will be to get a more formal software development kit from a software and hardware standpoint out there, hopefully later this year," Connor said. "And we'll continue our education efforts and talking to manufacturers."

Fraser thinks only time will tell if this will succeed. "Few are supporting it right now, and Nikon and Canon will be the most resistant. It's really up to the market."