NOT SEEING NEW CAMERA RAW 17 FEATURES

[jamesw19477712]

I just installed all the new updates, i.e., for Camera Raw 17, Photoshop 2025, and Lightroom Classic.  But, I’m not able to see the new features in Camera Raw 17 (Denoise, Adobe Adaptive, Crop and Expand, etc) for files I’ve uploaded via Lightroom.  I’ve tried turning on Technology Preview in settings and restarting several times, but still no change.  I’ve also tried reinstalling both Photoshop and Camera Raw.

However, when I upload RAW files directly to Photoshop / Camera Raw, I’m then able to see all the new features in Camera Raw 17, but that’s not my workflow. 

What am I missing?   Would appreciate any help.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Are you attempting to use Camera Raw as a filter for the " files I’ve uploaded via Lightroom." or are you using the Camera Raw plugin on a Smart Object sent from Classic? 

[jamesw19477712]

I'm using Camera Raw as a filter

[jamesw19477712]

I've also tried opening as a smart object via LightRoom

[Conrad_C · Accepted solution]

I've also tried opening as a smart object via LightRoom

By @jamesw19477712

One important thing to check and make sure of here. When you want to edit the raw Smart Object using Camera Raw in Photoshop:

• Do it by double-clicking the Smart Object. (This is a shortcut for the command Layer > Smart Objects > Edit Contents.)
• Do not do it by choosing Filter > Camera Raw Filter. 

If you double-click (Edit Contents), you open the raw data in the Smart Object into Camera Raw, and that’s what you want, you see all applicable Camera Raw features.

If you apply the Camera Raw Filter, you’re applying it on top of the layer and not editing the raw file inside it, and so some Camera Raw features are not available. The Camera Raw filter is really intended to let you use Camera Raw features on Photoshop layers that are not camera raw data, like something you painted or a layer that started out as a non-raw image.

[jamesw19477712]

OK thanks  .. I'll try that

[jamesw19477712]

Hey ... that did it !!! ... that's the step I was missing.  When I double click on the smart object, it opens CR and I'm now seeing all the new features in CR  ... thanks so much ... I was ready to give up on trying to figure this out.

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

Those features are unavailable in CR as a Filter (just like Crop isn't). 

[jamesw19477712]

So what's your recommendation?

[Rikk Flohr: Photography]

If you want to use these 'preview' features, you will need to open the file natively in the CR Plugin—not send images from Lightroom. 

[jamesw19477712]

OK thanks .. so I guess, for now, these new features will not be useful for me in CR.  I use LR as a database manager for all my files.  I upload to LR and then I do all of my editing in Photoshop and CR  ..  and then I save back to LR.