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Question

RAW processing removed from my Elements 2018

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
December 23, 2021
5 replies
587 views

How can I get my access to RAW processing on my Elements 2018, which has recently been removed by Adobe? It was working perfectly well for my Olympus OMD 10 mark 2. Now it is gone! It will not allow me to install an update. How can I get it back without having to spend a fortune?

Thanks,

Windows

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Greg_S.

Community Expert

Based on the information you have provided, my guess is that the Camera Raw plug-in was somehow corrupted. Because you reinstalled from DVD, you installed the original version of Elements 2018. You were then automatically prompted to update to a later release of that version. The reinstallation of the program has fixed the Camera Raw issue by installing the ACR 10.3 version.

For any other Elements 2018 users who are reading this thread, trying to update ACR to the latest version 14, using the link provided by Glenn, will not work. I doubt whether ACR version 13 will work either but I haven't confirmed that.

Greg_S.

Community Expert

@elizabethj24522967, clearly the computer gremlins have been playing with your machine. I am curious what version of ACR is now working for you. If you can successfully open a raw file, the version number appears in the top left of the ACR Editor. If you cannot see the version number, you must be in full screen view and can restore the window by clicking on the toggle button shown in my screenshot:

And are you sure that the update message you saw was was not something like the following which is a marketing message to upgrade versions of Elements?

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elizabethj24522967Author

Participating Frequently

Camera raw 10.3 is the version.

The update message was much more formal and didn't mention upgrades

After I saw the Elements 16 on the c drive file, I de-installed Elements and re-installed it, using my original CD of Elements 2018.

I then checked the C drive file and it still said 16, but your explanation came soon after. I also checked if I could access the raw processing, but it still wasn't happening. I closed Elements.

Nothing showed till about an hour later when there was a big notice on my screen with all the red Adobe graphics telling me there was an update to download.

Yesterday Adobe said there was no update possible and that my version was out of date and un-supported.

It is a mystery to me, but it seems to be resolved for the time being.

I appreciate the time you have given in trying to help, Greg. Thanks once again.

Greg_S.

Community Expert

I don't think you should be messing around with any Camera Raw.8bi files until we find out more about your problem.

First, do you have a new camera besides the Olympus OMD 10 Mark 2? That camera requires Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) version 9.x. Elements 2018 is installed with ACR 10 and will open the raw files from that camera. However, if you have a newer camera, it may require a later version of ACR that Elements 2018 doesn't support.

Elements 2018 has not had an available update in 2 or 3 years. So, I am not sure what you mean when you say it will not allow you to install an update. If you are in fact trying to update the ACR because of a new camera, we need to know what model of camera and what version of ACR you were trying to install.

Otherwise, we need to know how you are trying to open the Olympus raw files and whether you are getting any error messages.

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elizabethj24522967Author

Participating Frequently

Hi Greg,

The only camera I am using is the same for the last year and was working fine on my Elements. It is only in the last month that I have been getting the message of needing to instal the update. I tried when it first came up and it wouldn't instal and as I was busy I left it till now to try to solve.

When I was starting up Elements the update notification would show. However now that I want to take a screen shot to show you, it won't show. I had said 'later' when it last showed.

I have my camera set to take a jpg image and a raw image at the same time. Usually from File, I open my picture folder and click on the raw image, which has a PC####.ORF file name. Normally that would take me to the processing page and when I was happy with my image I would open the file to the standard editing page, where the layers etc and file size adjustments etc is. Sorry I don't know what these individual pages are called. And then save my finished image.

At the moment all I can do is open the jpg images on that editing etc page. I cannot get to the raw histogram etc page. The screen shot is what shows when I click on my ORF file.

I am not a digital native, so trying to find 8bi files etc is not so easy for me.

Cheers

Glenn 8675309

Legend

Just follow my instructions and you will be fine. The message about updates Ignore it, it doesn't do anything anymore with your software.

Greg_S.

Community Expert

What do you mean when you say that access to raw processing has recently been removed by Adobe? There are no recent updates to install in Elements 2018. If you were previously able to process raw files from your Olympus camera, there should be no reason why you can't now. If that is the case, all I can suggest (without more information from you) is to try resetting the preferences file. Go to Edit>Preferences>General tab and click the Reset Preferences on next launch button. If that doesn't work, try uninstalling and reinstalling the program.

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elizabethj24522967Author

Participating Frequently

Hi Greg,

Thanks for your response. When I start up Elements 2018, it tells me there is an update, but when I try to install it, it goes to an error page and then tells me my serial number is either wrong or out of date. So I contacted Adobe and they said Elements 2018 was out of date and not supported anymore and they couldn't and wouldn't do anything, but told me to contact this forum. I didn't think I need support as everything had been working fine, until the update. I can still access the standard parts, but not the RAW. Although I am an amateur, I do like to have control over the final image results from RAW.

I have had a go at your first suggestion and it made no difference. So tomorrow I will try the re-install. But I am not to hopeful, from the way Adobe responded.

Thanks. Please let me know if you have any other ideas.

Regards,

Glenn 8675309

Legend

I'd try manually installing ACR, or whatever version you need for your camera.

1. Search your computer for all files with the 8bi file extension.
2. find one that's around 156 MB in size- copy it.
3. paste it here: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\Elements 18\File Formats (it gets pasted into the file formats folder.

4. restart PSE.

If needed (like you didn't have any 8bi files)

https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/kb/camera-raw-plug-in-installer.html

You can choose as early as ACR 10.5 using that link- doesn't have to be ACR 14.0--- choose the earliest one that supports your camera.

use the one needed, and install it- then do that search copy and paste thing I just described.