The process in which antigen-activated dendritic cells acquire the specialized features of a mature conventional dendritic cell. Mature conventional dendritic cells upregulate the surface expression of MHC molecules, chemokine receptors and adhesion molecules, and increase the number of dendrites (cytoplasmic protrusions) in preparation for migration to lymphoid organs where they present antigen to T cells. [ GOC:BHF http://www.rndsystems.com/mini_review_detail_objectname_MR02_DendriticCellMat.aspx http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15845453 ]