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DDS at a glance
DDS
DDS grew out of Microsoft's graphics API and game-development ecosystem, which is why it feels more like an engine or texture-delivery format than a conventional consumer image file.
ARI at a glance
ARI
Digital photography fragmented into many manufacturer-specific raw formats because camera makers optimized for their own sensors, metadata, and software ecosystems rather than for one shared public raw standard.
Format comparison
| Feature | DDS | ARI |
|---|---|---|
| File type | Image | Image |
| Extensions |
|
|
| MIME type |
|
|
| Compression / quality | depends | raw |
| File size characteristics | medium | large |
| Compatibility | broad | limited |
| Editability | moderate | high |
| Created year | 1999 | 2010 |
| Inventor | Microsoft / DirectX ecosystem | ARRI (Arnold & Richter) |
| Status | proprietary | proprietary |
| Transparency | Not supported | Not supported |
| Animation | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary use cases |
|
|
| Common software |
|
|
| Archival suitability | moderate | strong |
| Metadata handling | moderate | rich |
| Delivery profile | strong | limited |
| Workflow fit | delivery | source |
| Layer support | Not supported | Not supported |
| Vector scaling | Not supported | Not supported |
| Camera raw data | Not supported | Supported |
| HDR support | Not supported | Not supported |
| Streaming ready | Not supported | Not supported |
When to use each format
When to use DDS
- capture ingest
- editing
- web or print delivery
- Suited to GPU and game-texture workflows.
When to use ARI
- capture ingest
- editing
- web or print delivery
- Preserve capture-stage image data for later interpretation.
FAQs
Why convert DDS to ARI?
Choose ARI as target when maintaining compatibility with ARRI-originated raw image workflows or preserving frame data for grading and finishing.
What changes when converting DDS to ARI?
Convert to ARI when maintaining compatibility with ARRI-originated raw image workflows or preserving frame data for grading and finishing. It is appropriate for professional capture archives and controlled post-production pipelines.
What should I review after converting DDS to ARI?
After conversion, review these destination checks: Open converted output in LibRaw and verify behavior on real samples; Compare output against the expected raw quality profile; Many are vendor-specific and poorly documented publicly.
How can I keep quality stable in DDS to ARI conversion?
Run representative samples, keep settings deterministic, and monitor these risks: Compatibility often depends on decoder support in tools such as LibRaw, Adobe Camera Raw, or vendor software; Many are vendor-specific and poorly documented publicly; Validate destination compatibility before large-batch conversion.