Problem Saving HDR Files After Editing in ACR

Report · Nov 21, 2023

My issue:

I saved an HDR file in jpeg after working on it in the latest Adobe Camera Raw in Bridge as of 2023, I then opened that jpeg on my Mac desktop but I didn't see the HDR edits, I also uploaded the image to Google Drive and don't see the HDR edits. I open that same HDR file in Bridge Camera Raw and I see the edited HDR settings. My conclusion is that it's Adobe Bridge Camera Raw can view the HDR settings but those settings can't be viewed otherwise. I can't find a way to capture the image how Adobe Camera Raw previews the file.

ChatGPT response below but I still have the same issue:

Based on your description, it seems that the HDR edits you are making in Adobe Camera Raw within Bridge are not being correctly reflected when the file is saved as a JPEG and then viewed outside Adobe software. This issue can arise due to several factors:

Non-Destructive Editing in Adobe Camera Raw: Adobe Camera Raw performs non-destructive editing, meaning the changes you make are not directly applied to the image but rather saved as a set of instructions. When you view the image in Camera Raw, these instructions are applied on-the-fly to display the edited image. However, when you export the image, especially to a format like JPEG, these edits need to be explicitly applied during the export process.
Export Settings: Ensure that when you are exporting or saving the image from Adobe Camera Raw, all the HDR adjustments and edits are being applied. Sometimes, export settings may not include all the adjustments by default.
Color Space and HDR Compatibility: JPEG is a more limited format compared to the working space in Adobe Camera Raw. It may not fully support the wide color gamut or the dynamic range of your HDR edits. This can lead to a noticeable difference in how the image looks in Camera Raw versus a standard image viewer or when uploaded to a service like Google Drive.
Viewing Software Limitations: The software you use to view the JPEG on your Mac or on Google Drive may not be capable of displaying the full dynamic range or color space of the HDR image, leading to a less vibrant or detailed appearance compared to what you see in Camera Raw.
Monitor Calibration: Ensure that your monitor is calibrated. Sometimes, the way an image is displayed can vary significantly based on the monitor's settings and calibration.
Screenshot Limitations: Taking a screenshot might not accurately capture the dynamic range and color depth displayed by Adobe software.

To resolve this issue, consider the following steps:

Correct Export Process: Make sure you're using the correct process to export images from Adobe Camera Raw. Use the 'Save Image' or 'Export' option and ensure all the necessary settings are applied.
Color Space Considerations: When exporting, choose a color space that is more suitable for HDR images, like Adobe RGB, if your viewing environment supports it.
Alternative Formats: For preserving HDR qualities, consider using a format like TIFF or even JPEG 2000, which might handle HDR data better than standard JPEG.
HDR-Compatible Viewers: Use an image viewer that is known to support HDR and wide color gamuts. This might give you a closer representation of what you see in Camera Raw.
Consult Adobe Support or Community: If you continue to face issues, consider reaching out to Adobe support or engaging with the Adobe user community for specific advice related to Camera Raw and Bridge.

Any other ideas anyone?

Report · Nov 21, 2023

JPEG cannot store HDR data. Use a format such as AVIF that does support HDR.

Report · Nov 21, 2023

Here's one solution I found. After editing the raw image in ACR and applying the HDR option. Save the file as a JPEG XL. Once you do that, open that saved JPEG XL file in Photoshop, then click on image, adjustments, and then HDR toning. Adjust the HDR toning to your liking to bring back the appearance it had in ACR. After you finish that, save the image as a TIFF and that's it.

Let me know if you have other solutions. Thanks.