How to stop DNG files being locked on download?

[Cap'n Fishy]

I am used to using Canon RAW files in Adobe Bridge/ACR/Photoshop. Never had an issue with them being locked and made read-only on download to my PC. I recently bought a wee Ricoh GRIV to give me a truly pocket-sized camera I can pull out for wide shots when I have the big lenses on for wildlife photography. The Ricoh RAW files are automaticaly generated as DNG files. When I download them to the PC, Bridge opens them in a read-only state. So, I have to do a Ctrl-A, right-click, unlock all to be able to do anything with them - even just to label them for further processing. It's not a biggy, but I would like them just to download without being rendered read-only. I mean, who would ever want to shoot a RAW file and then not make changes to it???

Looking through Adobe 'Preferences' and Googlng the topic has not helped.

Anyone know what to do to sort this out?

 

[Capn Jack]

Assuming this is Windows, it may be a security thing. I have the same problem downloading files from lab equipment in this building that my employer manufactures. It may not be an Adobe issue.
I'm sorry, but I can only give vague suggestions now-
- Check Windows security settings
-Check how your antivirus works: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...ead-only-3ab4b792-da50-4b38-8628-14c64e1f1d15 and maybe change setting there.

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

Assuming this is Windows, it may be a security thing. I have the same problem downloading files from lab equipment in this building that my employer manufactures. It may not be an Adobe issue.
I'm sorry, but I can only give vague suggestions now-
- Check Windows security settings
-Check how your antivirus works: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...ead-only-3ab4b792-da50-4b38-8628-14c64e1f1d15 and maybe change setting there.

Thanks for the reply. It is Windows 11. The thing is, I can download a Canon CR2 RAW and a Ricoh DNG RAW to the same folder. And when the folder is opened in Bridge, the CR2 is unlocked while the DNG is locked. I can't help but think there is a check box somewhere in Adobe that needs checked... or unchecked...?

 

[Archibald]

I marvel at folks who use Adobe Bridge. It's something I never do, not explicitly anyway, and don't really understand the purpose of using Bridge as a stand-alone app.

As a test, I imported a .DNG file into Lightroom C. It went fine, and I was able to edit the image and the file name.

Then I sent the same file to Photoshop. That causes Bridge to open the file. Bridge has to convert the raw file into a raster, because Ps is a raster editor. I was able to move the sliders around no problem. Then I clicked Open and the converted file was opened in Ps.

There was no indication in Bridge that the file was locked. I don't think it is Bridge's job to edit file names or to edit the raw file. It edits the image that is in its memory, but not the file. Raw files are sacrosanct and don't get edited.

If you can still work with Canon raws but not the Ricoh raws, then it is something with the latter.

 

[Capn Jack]

Thanks for the reply. It is Windows 11. The thing is, I can download a Canon CR2 RAW and a Ricoh DNG RAW to the same folder. And when the folder is opened in Bridge, the CR2 is unlocked while the DNG is locked. I can't help but think there is a check box somewhere in Adobe that needs checked... or unchecked...?

I don't think it is Adobe (although I could be wrong). Going back to my lab equipment example, PDF files are closed off, while text files from the same instrument are downloaded with no issues. I still think it is a security or antivirus thing in your case. I have to manually allow the PDF files to be read. What's annoying is if I download a PDF off the real web, I don't have to go through any rigmarole. Our IT department set it up so malware can't spread between computers here. Allowing unmodified PDF downloads from the web limits the damage to a single machine. I'm one of only a few people here that transfer files internally in this fashion. As @Archibald said, it probably isn't Bridge- I read the files are locked after download from the camera, suggesting something in the operating system, or something working with the operating system such as antivirus, is locking the files. DNG files were recently implicated in some phone attacks (google Land Fall DNG).

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

I marvel at folks who use Adobe Bridge. It's something I never do, not explicitly anyway, and don't really understand the purpose of using Bridge as a stand-alone app.

As a test, I imported a .DNG file into Lightroom C. It went fine, and I was able to edit the image and the file name.

Then I sent the same file to Photoshop. That causes Bridge to open the file. Bridge has to convert the raw file into a raster, because Ps is a raster editor. I was able to move the sliders around no problem. Then I clicked Open and the converted file was opened in Ps.

There was no indication in Bridge that the file was locked. I don't think it is Bridge's job to edit file names or to edit the raw file. It edits the image that is in its memory, but not the file. Raw files are sacrosanct and don't get edited.

If you can still work with Canon raws but not the Ricoh raws, then it is something with the latter.

I've been using Windows Explorer/Bridge/ACR/Ps as my workflow since the days before Lightroom. When Lightroom came out, I tried it, but didn't like it - my brain simply worked in harmony with the old team. Old dog, new trick, sort of stuff. As you say, Bridge doesn't do anything to the file. When I click on it in Bridge to open it, it opens in ACR, and I take it from there.

This is what I get in Bridge if I download a CR3 from Canon and a DNG from Ricoh...



Canon CR3 file not locked. Ricoh DNG locked. Both are set to save changes in a sidecar file.

If I click on the DNG, it opens in ACR - because all RAW files are read-only. I can delete it. In fact, about the only thing I want to do to them that I am unable to when locked is apply a label.

All I need to do to remove the lock is right click and unlock it. So, I don't know why it is even bothering to put a lock on it?

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

I don't think it is Adobe (although I could be wrong). Going back to my lab equipment example, PDF files are closed off, while text files from the same instrument are downloaded with no issues. I still think it is a security or antivirus thing in your case. I have to manually allow the PDF files to be read. What's annoying is if I download a PDF off the real web, I don't have to go through any rigmarole. Our IT department set it up so malware can't spread between computers here. Allowing unmodified PDF downloads from the web limits the damage to a single machine. I'm one of only a few people here that transfer files internally in this fashion. As @Archibald said, it probably isn't Bridge- I read the files are locked after download from the camera, suggesting something in the operating system, or something working with the operating system such as antivirus, is locking the files. DNG files were recently implicated in some phone attacks (google Land Fall DNG).

If it was something outside - in Windows say - why treat CR3 RAWs and DNG RAWs differently?

 

[paddler4]

I don't use Bridge, but I don't think this is either Windows or Adobe. I have had no problems with DNG files. I just opened bridge and opened a DNG file. It opened fine in bridge. I didn't see any indication of read-only. Where would I look? A short time later, Photoshop launched and bridge opened the image in ACR within Photoshop. It was editable without my doing anything.

My guess is that there is something specific with your Richoh settings.

 

[Capn Jack]

If it was something outside - in Windows say - why treat CR3 RAWs and DNG RAWs differently?

For the same reason our security treats .txt and .pdf differently- one has a possibility of being a threat and the other one isn't. RAW and DNG have different file formats, and DNG have been used as trojans. Please do the google search I suggested about DNGs. Look at your antivirus and other security settings.

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

I don't use Bridge, but I don't think this is either Windows or Adobe. I have had no problems with DNG files. I just opened bridge and opened a DNG file. It opened fine in bridge. I didn't see any indication of read-only. Where would I look? A short time later, Photoshop launched and bridge opened the image in ACR within Photoshop. It was editable without my doing anything.

My guess is that there is something specific with your Richoh settings.

I did wonder about the camera being the source and I looked through the settings, but couldn't see any suspects.

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

For the same reason our security treats .txt and .pdf differently- one has a possibility of being a threat and the other one isn't. RAW and DNG have different file formats, and DNG have been used as trojans. Please do the google search I suggested about DNGs. Look at your antivirus and other security settings.

Thanks. I will take a look. Worst case scenario - I just bulk unlock them all when I download.

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

For the same reason our security treats .txt and .pdf differently- one has a possibility of being a threat and the other one isn't. RAW and DNG have different file formats, and DNG have been used as trojans. Please do the google search I suggested about DNGs. Look at your antivirus and other security settings.

Thamks again for your input. You are correct that they are coming in as read-only...



Providing they have not been made read-only by the camera, I will try to find out how to untick them at the Windows stage.

 

[Capn Jack]

Providing they have not been made read-only by the camera, I will try to find out how to untick them at the Windows stage.

The camera has a micro SD card as well as internal memory? If so, can you read a microSD card? Saving the images to the card and opening them on your computer without an import process will show if the camera is setting a Read-only flag.

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

The camera has a micro SD card as well as internal memory? If so, can you read a microSD card? Saving the images to the card and opening them on your computer without an import process will show if the camera is setting a Read-only flag.

OK, some progress...

When I take the micro SD card out with the photos on it and put it in a card reader they are not read only. If I leave the micro SD card in the camera and connect it by USB to the PC and go to the folder, the files are read only. This is while still in the camera - before download.

Here is the same file, downloaded to the PC twice. Once from the external card reader, and once directly from the card while still in the camera...



I'm sure there is a 3rd way - by wireless connectivity. I'll see what that gives.

Is Windows trusting the card reader, but not trusting the camera? Or is the camera applying the read-only when it is plugged into the PC?

If it is a choice betwen taking the card out to download, versus doing a bulk unlock on the files after download direct from the camera, it is easer to do by the second method! The card is a SanDisk Extreme. That is short for Extremely Fiddly!

 

[paddler4]

So indeed it is something to do with the camera, not Adobe or Windows.

As someone who has always downloaded via card readers for many years, I think the choice for me would be clear.

I find it more convenient to use a card reader., and I'd rather not give that much use to the socket on the camera. I move the files to wherever I want them using a good file manager (Directory Opus). Then I sync the receiving folders in Lightroom,

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

So indeed it is something to do with the camera, not Adobe or Windows.

Probably. I just wondered whether Windows was reacting differently to the card reader and the direct link to the camera???

As someone who has always downloaded via card readers for many years, I think the choice for me would be clear.

I find it more convenient to use a card reader., and I'd rather not give that much use to the socket on the camera. I move the files to wherever I want them using a good file manager (Directory Opus). Then I sync the receiving folders in Lightroom,

Indeed. I have used nothing but a card reader for transferring images for the entire 25 years of taking digital images. But all the others have been a CF or CF Express, or occasionally an SD card. And all have been simple to handle. The problems here are:

1) It is a micro SD card, which is fiddly to start with and needs inserted into an adaptor and then put in the card reader.
2) it fits into the camera in a very narrow space between the open battery compartment cover and the battery. It really is much easier to plug the camera into the PC.

I'm not blaming the camera, as everything about it is based on minimising size without compromising image quality, which is why I bought it. I should probably add that there is no need even to use a micro SD card in it, as it has 53 GB of internal memory. That will be more than enough for what I will be using it for. I just considered it would be better to have a card in it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

I guess I could try alternating between the 2 methods.

 

[Capn Jack]

OK, some progress...

When I take the micro SD card out with the photos on it and put it in a card reader they are not read only. If I leave the micro SD card in the camera and connect it by USB to the PC and go to the folder, the files are read only. This is while still in the camera - before download.

Here is the same file, downloaded to the PC twice. Once from the external card reader, and once directly from the card while still in the camera...

View attachment 188608

I'm sure there is a 3rd way - by wireless connectivity. I'll see what that gives.

Is Windows trusting the card reader, but not trusting the camera? Or is the camera applying the read-only when it is plugged into the PC?

If it is a choice betwen taking the card out to download, versus doing a bulk unlock on the files after download direct from the camera, it is easer to do by the second method! The card is a SanDisk Extreme. That is short for Extremely Fiddly!

I don't think it is the camera. The camera didn't place a read-only on the files in the card, and that was why I asked you to do the experiment. Essentially, I think some security (I don't know if it is Windows or antivirus) is making the files read-only. I think the camera is making a network over the USB port with your computer. Such networks are actually common as a way to connect with a standard protocol to a number of operating systems. Once something detects the network, it treats it as any other internet connection. The USB port is only the physical connection and one can run various internet protocols through it (TCP/IP, UDP, etc.) the same as over ethernet or Wi-Fi. It's also common for some "USB" products to have a virtualized serial port that acts like RS-232- USB can transfer data in a number of formats that one may not expect. You might contact Ricoh to see if they have any thoughts on the matter- you may get an answer that is better than that from SGOTI (some guy on the internet).

Are you using the same folder (directory) to download files?
See: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3977316/folder-read-only-issue

So indeed it is something to do with the camera, not Adobe or Windows.

Why do you draw that conclusion? The files aren't read-only off the card. Therefore, the camera isn't storing them in that fashion. An internet search for this camera doesn't support the hypothesis that the camera is altering the files during download. I have provided, admittedly anecdotal, evidence that the computer might be saving the files in this fashion.

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

I don't think it is the camera. The camera didn't place a read-only on the files in the card, and that was why I asked you to do the experiment. Essentially, I think some security (I don't know if it is Windows or antivirus) is making the files read-only. I think the camera is making a network over the USB port with your computer. Such networks are actually common as a way to connect with a standard protocol to a number of operating systems. Once something detects the network, it treats it as any other internet connection. The USB port is only the physical connection and one can run various internet protocols through it (TCP/IP, UDP, etc.) the same as over ethernet or Wi-Fi. It's also common for some "USB" products to have a virtualized serial port that acts like RS-232- USB can transfer data in a number of formats that one may not expect. You might contact Ricoh to see if they have any thoughts on the matter- you may get an answer that is better than that from SGOTI (some guy on the internet).

Are you using the same folder (directory) to download files?
See: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/3977316/folder-read-only-issue

Why do you draw that conclusion? The files aren't read-only off the card. Therefore, the camera isn't storing them in that fashion. An internet search for this camera doesn't support the hypothesis that the camera is altering the files during download. I have provided, admittedly anecdotal, evidence that the computer might be saving the files in this fashion.

Thanks for all your and everyone else's input. I think I will leave it to my own guy - who built my PC. I need to see him about another couple of things anyway. Meantime I can just unlock the files after download.

 

[Cap'n Fishy]

One other thing to check was to see if there was any difference between DNG and JPG files. I checked and there is no difference.

 

[Capn Jack]

Thanks for all your and everyone else's input. I think I will leave it to my own guy - who built my PC. I need to see him about another couple of things anyway. Meantime I can just unlock the files after download.

You are most welcome. That is a good idea that you have, as the guy who built your PC probably installed the antivirus or set the security settings.

One other thing to check was to see if there was any difference between DNG and JPG files. I checked and there is no difference.

I'm not understanding this statement. JPEG is a compressed, lossy, file format while DNG is uncompressed and lossless. So the files must be different. There are other differences between the file types but the description here is sufficient for our discussion. The images might look the same on your computer screen, but that is only because the file, after being opened, is converted to a format native to Windows.
I'm not Adobe, but I use the Windows Imaging component in (WIC) with C++ that encapsulates the Windows application interface (API)- this handles loading of a number of standardized image types such as JPG, DNG (actually a form of TIFF), TIFF, bitmaps (BMP), etc. There are other libraries that people might use as well for opening images but they do the same thing as WIC.