I need to download and install ACR plugin on a M1 Mac (Sonoma) running legacy PS CC 2017

[catfriend]

Hi there, I've just replaced my old Macbook Air for a Macbook Pro 2021 running Sonoma and transferred data via Migration Assistant, howerver a casualty seems to be Photoshop CC 2017 (version 14 , x64) and specifically the ACR plugin. Can anyone tell me where I can download the plugin and where to install it in the Library? I remember it was in one of the Library levels under Application Support but I've forgotten and can't find the exact path. 

Actually it could be an issue with setting in my updated version of PhotoMechanic, when I  try and open images to edit from PhotoMechanic in Photoshop nothing happens, but still the above information will be helpful.

Best

Simon

[Jeff Arola]

The location for the ACR plugin is

Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Plug-Ins/CC/File Formats

You can try one of the camera raw installers from here:

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

[catfriend]

Hi Jeff, thanks so much for your replies. Those are installers and not the plugin itself or am I missing something? I remember downloading the plugin and physically having to drop it into the file formats folder so how will an installer help without the plugin? Or is that installer something fancy that does it all for you and installs a universal plugin in the right place based on what version of CC it detects?

[Jeff Arola]

The camera raw installers install the camera raw plugin into

Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Plug-Ins/CC/File Formats

There are installers only for camera raw plugins 16.1 and 14.5

I would try 16.1 first.

Does photoshop 2017 run at all?

Rather than trying to get photoshop 2017 to run on an operating system that has deprecated much of the code that photoshop 2017 depended on to run properly, you might just update to a compatible photoshop version such as the latest 2024.

[catfriend]

Hi Jeff, 2017 runs but crashes a lot and has no Camera Raw functionality. I think given I'm up against deadlines I will have to agree with you and try the 2024 version. 

Thanks for all your help

[Conrad_C]

Technically, you could just manually drop just the plug-in into the right folder. But practically, it isn’t that simple. If you inspect its macOS installer package, a Camera Raw update also includes the latest profiles (for cameras and lenses), the latest presets and other settings files, the latest AI models, and more. If you want the plug-in to work right, all of those components should be consistent with the plug-in version that’s installed, and they all need to be installed at the exact path locations where the plug-in expects to find them.

Also, given the way macOS has tightened security and permissions in recent versions to help block malware, it is also possible that one of the functions of the installer is to set all permissions properly for all components that are installed. But I’m not certain about this part.

[catfriend]

Thank you Conrad, that all makes sense, and finally I came to mine and bought the latest version!

Simon

[Jeff Arola]

If photoshop 2017 won't run, you can get the latest 2024 version by following the directions on this page

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/using/download-install-new-computer.html