DNG vs ICO — Differences, File Size & When to Use Each

Q: What is an DNG file?

DNG (Digital Negative (RAW)) is an image format used to store raster graphics — a two-dimensional grid of pixels describing a picture. It is part of the raster &amp; vector images family and designed around a specific trade-off between file size, visual fidelity, and feature support (transparency, colour depth, compression type). Photographers, web designers, and content creators choose DNG when its particular strengths match the publishing target.

Q: How do I open an DNG file?

Most desktop photo viewers (Windows Photos, macOS Preview, GIMP, Photoshop, Affinity Photo) open DNG natively. On mobile, iOS Photos and Google Photos display DNG in the gallery when supported by the OS. If the format is rare or new, convert to JPG or PNG first — both are universally readable — using our DNG to JPG or DNG to PNG converter.

Q: How do I convert an DNG file to another format?

Upload the DNG to KaijuConverter and pick a target format (JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, TIFF, BMP, SVG, PDF). The conversion runs in the browser via ImageMagick and returns a download in seconds. No account or installation required; both input and output delete automatically within two hours.

Q: Is DNG better than JPG or PNG?

It depends on the task. JPG is the smallest file size for photographs; PNG is lossless with transparency; DNG has its own niche that may favour colour depth, animation, or encoding efficiency over one or both of those. For the final web publish, test all three and measure file size plus visible quality on real content.

Q: What is an ICO file?

ICO (Icon) is Microsoft&#039;s 1985 multi-resolution icon format, originally shipped with Windows 1.0. A single .ico file holds multiple sizes (16×16, 32×32, 48×48, 256×256) so the OS can pick the best one for the current display context. Since 1999, every website uses a favicon.ico to show its icon in browser tabs.

Q: How do I open an ICO file?

On Windows, ICO files open natively in File Explorer and Photos. On macOS, Preview handles basic display. For editing, use GIMP (free), Photoshop with a plugin, or dedicated icon editors like IcoFX.

DNG vs ICO

A detailed comparison of Digital Negative (RAW) and ICO Icon — file size, quality, compatibility, and which format to choose for your workflow.

Convert DNG → ICO

DNG

Digital Negative (RAW)

Raster & Vector Images

DNG is Adobe's open RAW image format designed as a universal standard for camera raw data. It preserves full sensor data and extensive metadata, making it ideal for non-destructive photo editing.

About DNG files

ICO

ICO Icon

Raster & Vector Images

ICO is the icon file format used for favicons and Windows application icons. A single ICO file can contain multiple image sizes and color depths for different display contexts.

About ICO files

Strengths Comparison

DNG Strengths

Open, documented standard (ISO 12234-2) — future-proof for archival.
Based on TIFF — broad tool support beyond Adobe.
Can embed the original proprietary raw as a safety copy.
Smaller than most proprietary raws thanks to lossless compression.
Stores every Adobe Camera Raw adjustment inline, so edits travel with the file.

ICO Strengths

Multi-resolution: one file, many sizes, OS picks the right one.
Universal favicon support in every browser since IE5.
Supports transparency (1-bit since 1985, full alpha since XP).
Tiny file size — an entire favicon pack typically fits in under 15 KB.
No licensing or patent concerns — fully in the public domain spec-wise.

Limitations

DNG Limitations

Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji still refuse to adopt it.
Some manufacturer-specific features (Fuji film simulations, Nikon Picture Control) are lost in conversion.
Slower workflow — RAW from camera must go through DNG Converter first.
Mobile ProRAW files are heavy (25-75 MB per shot on iPhone).

ICO Limitations

Cannot compress continuous-tone images efficiently — use PNG or WebP for photos.
Format is essentially frozen in 1999 — no HDR, no wide gamut, no modern features.
Maximum image dimension is 256×256 px (inside an ICO container).
Editing requires specialized tools — most image editors treat it as a curiosity.

Technical Specifications

Specification	DNG	ICO
MIME type	image/x-adobe-dng	image/vnd.microsoft.icon
Extension	.dng	—
Container	TIFF/EP (ISO 12234-2)	—
Standard	Adobe DNG Specification 1.6	—
Compression	Lossless JPEG, Lossy JPEG XL-like, Uncompressed	Uncompressed bitmap or embedded PNG (Vista+)
Max resolutions per file	—	65 535 images
Max single image size	—	256×256 px
Color depths	—	1, 4, 8, 24, 32 bits per pixel

Typical File Sizes

DNG

24 MP DNG (lossless compressed) 25-50 MB
Apple ProRAW 48 MP 50-75 MB
Medium-format DNG (50 MP) 60-100 MB

ICO

Classic favicon (16×16 only) < 2 KB
Multi-size favicon pack (16/32/48/256) 5-15 KB
Full Windows app icon set 20-100 KB

Ready to convert?

Convert between DNG and ICO online, free, and without installing anything. Encrypted upload, automatic deletion after 2 hours.

Convert DNG to ICO

Frequently Asked Questions

DNG (Digital Negative (RAW)) is an image format used to store raster graphics — a two-dimensional grid of pixels describing a picture. It is part of the raster & vector images family and designed around a specific trade-off between file size, visual fidelity, and feature support (transparency, colour depth, compression type). Photographers, web designers, and content creators choose DNG when its particular strengths match the publishing target.

ICO (Icon) is Microsoft's 1985 multi-resolution icon format, originally shipped with Windows 1.0. A single .ico file holds multiple sizes (16×16, 32×32, 48×48, 256×256) so the OS can pick the best one for the current display context. Since 1999, every website uses a favicon.ico to show its icon in browser tabs.

Most desktop photo viewers (Windows Photos, macOS Preview, GIMP, Photoshop, Affinity Photo) open DNG natively. On mobile, iOS Photos and Google Photos display DNG in the gallery when supported by the OS. If the format is rare or new, convert to JPG or PNG first — both are universally readable — using our DNG to JPG or DNG to PNG converter.

On Windows, ICO files open natively in File Explorer and Photos. On macOS, Preview handles basic display. For editing, use GIMP (free), Photoshop with a plugin, or dedicated icon editors like IcoFX.

Upload the DNG to KaijuConverter and pick a target format (JPG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, TIFF, BMP, SVG, PDF). The conversion runs in the browser via ImageMagick and returns a download in seconds. No account or installation required; both input and output delete automatically within two hours.

It depends on the task. JPG is the smallest file size for photographs; PNG is lossless with transparency; DNG has its own niche that may favour colour depth, animation, or encoding efficiency over one or both of those. For the final web publish, test all three and measure file size plus visible quality on real content.