Inverting col neg to positive in latest acr

Yes, that is my workflow. Frankly, I don't think the DNG file generated byVuescan offers any advantage over a 16 bit TIF file. At least that has been my experience. If the DNG file isn't coming from a true raw source in the first place my opinion is that the TIF file is just as good.

Vuescan does have the capability to create DNG files. But it also has the capability to convert negative images into positive during the scanning process. When I scan negatives I use that process using Vuescan, and it works very well. I wonder why the user didn't do that in this instance.

You can try this program. It looks interesting.  I haven't tried it yet, but thinking of doing so.

https://www.negativelabpro.com

Not sure how these scans have become DNG files, but it's possible that Vuescan can save DNG.

I always save my scans as 16-bit Tiff, and make sure that I have captured all the information in the negative - no clipped shadows, and no clipped highlights. This is as good as any raw file from a camera.

Although Vuescan may be able to save DNG files, they won't be raw files like those from a camera.

Also, in my experience, it's difficult to get good results inverting color negative scans in Vuescan.

I suggest that you open the DNG files in Photoshop from ACR without doing any editing, and save them as 16-bit Tiffs.

Then invert the image using the Color Negative preset on an adjustment layer, making sure that there is no clipping in shadows or highlights. It doesn't matter if the image lacks contrast, but try to get the colors as good as you can.

Now the image has to be flattened, otherwise you'll se a negative image in the ACR filter later.

Duplicate the Background layer, then convert the new layer to a smart object. (right click the layer to do this)

With the new layer selected, go to Filter > Camera raw filter. When you've finished editing, click OK.

The edits will be saved in the smart object, and you can go back to the ACR filter anytime by double-clicking Camera Raw Filter in the Layers panel.

If you use Lightroom Classic instead of ACR, this will be much easier.

You would then simply import the image in LRC after inverting in PS, with no need to flatten the image, and no need for a smart object.

There is an option in the ACR preferences to open all Tiffs in ACR, but I couldn't get it to work.

Since I use Lightroom, I only have limited experience with ACR.

Do the files come from a scanner, or from a digital camera?