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dmitch57
dmitch57
Participating Frequently
July 22, 2019
Question

Photoshop Elements 2019 opens HEIC files in Raw editor

  • July 22, 2019
  • 2 replies
  • 4993 views

I just bought Photoshop Elements 2019 because I want to be able to edit HEIC files (shot on an iPhone 7). The program does support HEIC files, sort of: it always opens HEIC files in the RAW editor, not in the main workspace. It doesn't matter how I open the file - File > Open..., drag the file in Finder onto the Elements Editor's app icon: always, RAW editor. All other file formats - JPEG, TIFF, etc. work as they always have (I've been using PS Elements for a decade or more), opening in the main workspace. It's only HEIC files that have this problem.

I'm hoping for a workaround, a setting, something....I just want to be able to edit HEIC files the same way I edit everything else. That's why I bought it. If I can't do this, I"d say I just wasted my money.

Thanks.

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    2 replies

    99jon
    99jon
    Genius
    July 23, 2019

    It is possible to open a batch of HEIC. Start from expert mode and from the menu choose:

    File >> Open in Camera Raw

    You can then select all and apply the same slider settings. The open image button changes to Open Images. Clicking that will send all of the photos into the regular editor. See image below.

    dmitch57
    dmitch57Author
    Participating Frequently
    July 23, 2019

    Yep, that's a good workaround. Thanks!

    Unfortunately now that I've gotten this far, I see that PS Elements 2019 cannot *write* an HEIC File. Ah well.

    Thanks again.

    99jon
    99jon
    Genius
    July 23, 2019

    Elements will always leave a HEIC file untouched. It stores the raw edits in a side car; the same as editing in the Apple photos app which produces a (.AAE sidecar) file. That’s the only way you can revert to original by leaving the HEIC file untouched. Obviously Elements can’t read an Apple sidecar file and any pixel editing must be saved as jpeg, PSD etc.

    MichelBParis
    MichelBParis
    Legend
    July 22, 2019

    dmitch57  wrote

    I'm hoping for a workaround, a setting, something....I just want to be able to edit HEIC files the same way I edit everything else. That's why I bought it. If I can't do this, I"d say I just wasted my money.

    If you can't do this, maybe you wasted your money.

    Or maybe not.

    First, there is are many compelling reasons why other advanced users insist on opening jpegs, tiffs, pse and png files in the ACR module of Elements. Much better quality, faster workflow, batch editing, parametric editing saving edits settings...

    Then, I really don't see the point of bothering with yet a new and niche format like HEIC. I'd really would like to learn what is so important for you in this format. The best format I can imagine is the raw format, and the best tool to manage raw files in the same way as jpegs, tiffs, pdd and png is the ACR plugin. Same tools for all. It seems that is important for you?

    dmitch57
    dmitch57Author
    Participating Frequently
    July 22, 2019
    Then, I really don't see the point of bothering with yet a new and niche format like HEIC. I'd really would like to learn what is so important for you in this format

    HEIC is the default format for new iOS devices. It's the preferred format in the Apple ecosystem. It's no longer a niche format. :-)

    I just bought an iPhone 7. I took a bunch of photos. I dumped them to my Mac. I tried to edit them with PS Elements 14. It couldn't do it, because they are in HEIC format. So I bought Elements 2019. It can't really edit those photos either, not without dropping into an older format. Adobe claims that Elements 2019 supports HEIC, that's why I bought it.

    I can (and have) switched my iPhone to use JPEG. But, HEIC is a better format, and I'd like to use it, but PS Elements appears to not quite be ready for it. This surprised me.

      MichelBParis
      MichelBParis
      Legend
      July 22, 2019

      dmitch57  wrote

      Then, I really don't see the point of bothering with yet a new and niche format like HEIC. I'd really would like to learn what is so important for you in this format

      HEIC is the default format for new iOS devices. It's the preferred format in the Apple ecosystem.

      I do know. Even if it's the preferred format in the Apple ecosystem, which I doubt, it's still a niche format in the photography field.

      Do you really think that more than 1% of the billions of photos shot everyday are in HEIC?

      However, my question still stand: what advantages do you expect from this format? I have read about them, they do exist, but are they decisive? None of my friends or familiy members do use it. And yes, even if Macs and iPhones are far behind Win and Android in this part of the world, a number of those friends are using them. I must say that if they offered to send me HEIC files, I'd recommend them to be more 'standard' if they want to be shared.

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