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rchersh
rchersh
Participating Frequently
February 26, 2021
Question

Open .dng with Photoshop and not Camera Raw

  • February 26, 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 6928 views

In windows, I have photoshop set as the default app to open .dng files

 

I want to open some .dng files in photoshop and use its 'file info' to view all the metadata.

But my .dng files open in camera raw instead, and I have to go through another step to open in photoshop.

I don't understand why this has to be a two step process, to open a .dng file in photoshop. Why are these opening up in ACR first? Any way to change this?

 

thanks for any help or insight.

4 replies

Jeff Arola
Community Expert
Jeff ArolaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 27, 2021

You can also hold down the Shift key and press open in the photoshop Open dialog to skip the acr interface when opening a dng or any camera raw file into photoshop.

    rchersh
    rchershAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 28, 2021

    Thank you for the suggestion, but no joy. If I try to open a .dng (with windows default app for .dng set to photoshop) and hold down the shift key, I do get a dialog box asking "skip loading optional and third party plugins?" But, either choice still results in the .dng opening in Adobe Camera Raw.

     

    Photoshop appears to be hard-wired to open a .dng in ACR. Oddly, I can open an unmodified .dng from Lightroom directly into Photoshop--by right-click and either 'edit in PS' or 'open as smart object in PS'. I just wish I could otherwise open a .dng directly into Photoshop without the initial open in ACR .

    Chuck Uebele
    Community Expert
    Chuck UebeleCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 28, 2021

    Use Bridge to open the files with the shift key, as Jeff mentioned. You also don't have to keep holding down the shift key, after you select open.

    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 26, 2021

    You can open via scripting and skip the Camera RAW inerface. Your Camera RAW preferences will determine color space, bit-depth res, etc.

     Try this:

     

    var f = File.openDialog("Open File");
if(f != null){ 
    open(File(f));
}

     

     

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 27, 2021

    RAW has no color space, Its not an RGB image its a mosaic image.

    JJMack
    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 27, 2021

    I know. The Camera RAW application preferences determine the opened file’s color space. I think the OP wants to open a RAW file without the Camera RAW application interfering—the open() JS will do that and apply the current CR prefs and the XMP settings on the open.

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 26, 2021

    You would use Bridge its a good for editing Meta Data. Photoshop does not support RAW files it has a Plug-in that does.

    JJMack
    Bojan Živković11378569
    Community Expert
    Bojan Živković11378569Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 26, 2021

    You can not open raw files directly in Photoshop, raw files must go through  ACR.

     

    Do you have Adiobe Bridge installed? You can see metadata using Bridge, no need to open file in Photoshop.

    rchersh
    rchershAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 26, 2021

    Thank you. Bridge does have the same 'file info' functionality as Photoshop, and I'd be happy if I could open a .dng file directly in Bridge and use Bridge to view the metadata.

     

    Problem is, windows doesn't recognize Bridge as a program; so I can't set Bridge as the default program to open a .dng file. 

     

    For more background: I'm using a Duplicate Photo Finder to identify duplicate files so I can clean house. The duplicate photo finder makes some metadata available, but I sometimes need to make a more comprehensive examination to determine which file to keep. So, with Photoshop as default program to open the .dng file, I can click to open and get access to comprehensive 'file info'--but it's an annoying two-step process. Open in ACR, then open in Photoshop. I can't set Bridge as a default program to open a .dng; so it doesn't seem to offer a better solution.

     

    But thanks for the new insight I did get on Bridge!

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 26, 2021

    If your Duplicate Photo Finder to identify duplicate files only by checking file names I would state it not a good application to use.  Duplicate file happen when user keep original and process images in separate locations. When camera gets reset, user name errors, user create several sizes. A duplicate file name do not mean that the files are duplicates.  The application name is Duplicate Photo Finder  It should only be checking Image File formats and should be checking content as will as name. 

     

    duplicate photo finder   Seems to have options and a way to view dupes for verification before deleting around $80.00.

    JJMack
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