ACR fails to export AVIF HDR files

[Julian Vrieslander]

I was getting great results when editing Nikon D850 and iPhone raw files in ACR, exporting into AVIF HDR (with Display P3 profile). I used the "Convert and Save" button at the upper right corner of the ACR window.

But then I upgraded to the latest version of ACR (16.5.0.1953). Now, when I convert the same files, using the same settings, the AVIF versions only display as SDR, when viewed in Chrome, Photoshop, or GraphicConverter. Nothing else was changed - only the upgrade to ACR 16.5.

If I export to PNG or TIFF, the files display correctly in HDR. It is only AVIF files that are affected. When I examine their metadata, certain HDR records are missing, which were present in the AVIF files exported from ACR 16.4. All my ACR and Photoshop settings are as recommended for HDR output, in tutorials by Eric Chan, Greg Benz, and others.

I tried the usual remedies: rebooting, deleting ACR preference file, cache flush, etc. Is anyone else seeing this? If not, is it possible that my install of ACR 16.5 is corrupted? How should I fix this?

This testing was done on a 16" M1 Macbook Pro, running the latest version of Sonoma (14.6.1).

[Julian Vrieslander · Accepted solution]

Problem fixed - one or more files were corrupted in

~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw

After I removed that folder and allowed ACR to rebuild it, I am again obtaining HDR AVIF files.

[Julian Vrieslander]

Adobe Photoshop Version: 25.11.0 20240716.r.706 b326a7d arm64
Adobe Camera Raw Version: 16.5.0.1953 and 16.5.0.1954
16" M1 MacBook Pro, running macOS "Sonoma" 14.6.1

I was getting great results when editing Nikon D850 and iPhone raw files in ACR, exporting into AVIF HDR (with Display P3 profile). I used the "Convert and Save" button at the upper right corner of the ACR window. But, at some point in time, I noticed that the AVIF files were only displaying as SDR, when viewed in Chrome, Photoshop, or GraphicConverter.

When I exported to PNG, JXL, or TIFF, the files rendered correctly in HDR. It was only AVIF files that were affected. When I examined their metadata, certain HDR records were missing, which were present in the AVIF files exported previously. All my ACR and Photoshop settings are as recommended for HDR output, in tutorials by Eric Chan, Greg Benz, and others.

Eventually, I discovered that one or more files were apparently corrupted in the folder

~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw

If I removed that folder and allowed it to be rebuilt by ACR, the problem was solved: files saved as HDR AVIF rendered correctly in HDR. But then, I saved my settings in the Save Options dialog as a custom preset (see attachment). The same problem returned: HDR AVIF files rendered only as SDR. Removing and rebuilding the folder described above solved the problem again. So it appears that saving a preset may be creating corrupted file(s) in that folder.

[WBreden]

Die Versionen RAW 16.5.0.1964 und Sonoma 14.6.1 vertragen sich nicht. Erst als ich wieder die RAWVersion 16.1. geladen haben, waren die Störungen beseitigt und RAW lief wie gewohnt.

[elvinXCs]

I upvoted this because everything is also happening to me. (Except that I export HDR as REC 2020 instead of P3). My system information is as follows:

Adobe Photoshop Version: 25.11.0 20240716.r.706 b326a7d arm64
Adobe Camera Raw Version: 16.5.0.1953
M2 MacBook Air, running macOS Sonoma 14.6.1 (23G93)

I've been searching how to downgrade ACR, but still no luck 😞

(FYI: I also noticed that all photos I exported from ACR 16.3 have "Color profile": "Rec. ITU-R BT.2100 PQ", but all photos I exported from the latest ACR (16.5) will have "Color profile": "QuickTime 'nclc' Video (9,1,9)")

[silver-moon]

Adobe Bridge 14.1.2.300

Photoshop 25.12.0

Adobe Camera Raw 16.5 (in Bridge)

Same problem, except I'm using ACR in Bridge.

OP's solution of deleting the ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw folder also worked.

Additionally, sometimes, even opening a .JPG file in ACR in Bridge would see Bridge hang (it would keep increasing memory used till system runs out of memory, unless it is Forced Quit first). The fix to this is to use Finder to go to Bridge's cache folder (

~/Library/Caches/Adobe/Bridge/Cache/v36) and delete that folder manually. Then restart Bridge. 

[Shivani Somayajula]

Hi there, 

Reset Camera Raw preference can solve the issue: https://adobe.ly/3MRb2FS

I am moving this thread to an existing thread. 

Thanks, 

Shivani 

[silver-moon]

Hi Shivani,

Unfortunately that didn't work for me.

I tried:

1.  in Bridge > CMD + Camera Raw Preferences.

2. Confirm deletion of preferences.

3. Tried to export in AVIF again - same result - HDR was saved.

However, what DID work for me was:

1. In Finder, go to ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw

2. Then delete (or rename) the Defaults folder.

No need to delete the entire ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CameraRaw folder.

After that Exporting in AVIF worked like a charm again. Until the next time I have to do this again, that is.

[silver-moon]

typo above: In the first try, HDR *wasn't* saved.