Convert anything, at global scale.
200+ formats and automation APIs that feels instant.
CONVERT
From
To
Drop files or choose a source
Upload multiple files at once, mix formats, and fine-tune every conversion with format-aware settings.
Max 2GB per file · Drag & drop ready · Mixed file types welcome
DNG at a glance
DNG
DNG emerged when professional photo workflows were already fragmented across many undocumented vendor raw formats. Adobe positioned it as a common archival and interchange option rather than just another camera-native format.
PFM Raw at a glance
PFM Raw
PFM persists from the era when HDR imaging, rendering research, and tone-mapping workflows needed straightforward file carriers for floating-point image data long before mainstream consumer HDR delivery formats matured.
Format comparison
| Feature | DNG | PFM Raw |
|---|---|---|
| File type | Image | Image |
| Extensions |
|
|
| MIME type |
|
|
| Created year | 2004 | 1998 |
| Inventor | Adobe | PBRT / Paul Debevec community |
| Status | active | active |
| Transparency | Not supported | Not supported |
| Animation | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary use cases |
|
|
| Layer support | Not supported | Not supported |
| Vector scaling | Not supported | Not supported |
| Camera raw data | Supported | Not supported |
| HDR support | Not supported | Supported |
| Streaming ready | Not supported | Not supported |
When to use each format
When to use DNG
- Your source file is already in DNG.
- Preserve source expectations before exporting to PFM Raw.
- DNG is commonly used in image workflows.
When to use PFM Raw
- Your target workflow expects PFM Raw.
- Improve delivery compatibility with PFM Raw.
- PFM Raw is commonly used in image workflows.
FAQs
Why convert DNG to PFM Raw?
Convert to PFM raw when HDR rendering, tone-mapping, or scientific-imaging workflows need floating-point pixel values to survive intact between tools.
It is especially useful as an intermediate format for graphics research, physically based rendering, and analytical image-processing pipelines that operate on scene-referred data.
What changes when converting DNG to PFM Raw?
This conversion changes how the format behaves in downstream tools and delivery environments.
Moving to PFM Raw removes camera raw data. Moving to PFM Raw adds HDR content.
What should I review after converting DNG to PFM Raw?
Validate output quality on representative files and confirm the target format behaves correctly in the destination workflow.