Participating Frequently

Question

Why do my raw images only open as jpeg versions in photoshop?

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
September 14, 2023
4 replies
3453 views

I was done editing the raw version of a photo when I wanted to open the next photo. This new photo was also in raw, but it didn't open as a raw, instead it opend as the jpeg version of that photo. I tried opening it a few more times, but it still only opend as a jpeg version and yet the file name in photoshop was CR3. Next I tried opening other photo's yet the same happend once again. I also tried opening raw files on my laptop to look if it had anything to do with my computer, instead of photoshop itself, but yet again the same thing happend.

The problem can not be the files themself, because if I open them on my computer (so not in photoshop) they open as a raw.

Does anyone know what I can do to get photoshop to open my raw files as raw files again? ( I already tried to google the problem but couldn't find my specific problem or a solution)

Windows

E

Emily_Mendoza0271

Participant

The same thing happens to me, is there any solution?

D Fosse

Community Expert

@Emily_Mendoza0271

You need to be specific. What exactly happens? The original post here was very unclear, which is why it is still unresolved.

G

gee_9347

Participant

Hello did you ever manage to get a solution to this problem. I am in the same situation

Claire H.

Community Manager

Hi @gee_9347, Thanks for reaching out and welcome to the Photoshop forums! To better help you with this issue, we would like a few more details. Can you send your system info, a screen recording of your issue if possible, and a numbered list of the exact steps needed to replicate the issue? You can find your system info by going to Help > System Info, copying and pasting it into a text file, and attaching it here. Thanks! ^CH

D Fosse

Community Expert

If it really is a raw file, it will open in the Adobe Camera Raw module. Photoshop cannot open raw files directly. If the Camera Raw module does not open, it's not a raw file. So please show us a screenshot of where it opens.

D

defaultkmagzuvl7ru8Author

Participating Frequently

Hey, it does open in camera raw module, but the photo just doesn't look like the actual raw photo. Instead it looks like the jpg version from my camera . I shoot in raw + jpeg.

J E L

Community Expert

Okay, this is a different issue. As @D Fosse suggested, can you show us screenshots of what you are seeing?

J E L

Community Expert

Hi @defaultkmagzuvl7ru8, try this if you haven't already. Navigate to a folder where your CR3 files are located. Right click on any file and select “Open with” and then choose Photoshop and check “Always use this app to open .CR3 files.” That should automatically launch Camera Raw for all those files from here on out. Here's a screenshot from my system with some .CR2 files. Let us know how it goes!

D

defaultkmagzuvl7ru8Author

Participating Frequently

Hi, thanks for answering. Unfortunately, I already tried that and it opend the photos as a jpeg.

D Fosse

Community Expert

Yes I'm using the latest version and have already unistalled and installed photoshop multiple times to look if it goes back to normal but sadly with no luck.

There is nothing wrong here. You're shooting raw + jpeg in camera. So some are CR3 and some are jpeg. All normal there.

First of all, you can scrap those screenshots from Windows Photos right away. They don't mean anything. Windows Photos does not open raw files. It displays the jpeg preview embedded in the file. To be absolutely clear: you cannot open raw files outside ACR > Photoshop. It is not possible.

Second, there is no such thing as an "original" raw file. I think this is where you misunderstand. A raw file always needs to be processed in a raw processor to produce an image. Every raw processor will produce different results, because they are different processing engines.

The camera has a built-in raw processor, which processes the raw file automatically and produces a jpeg. It is not "original"! It is just the camera manufacturer's idea of what the file should look like. It has been processed automatically and you cannot influence the result - but it's still an interpretation, it is no more correct than any other interpretation.

ACR has never been intended to match the camera output. That's not how raw processing works. The major difference is that with ACR, you have full control over the result. You have a large number of controls that let you produce the image you want, not what the camera manufacturer wants.

There is no need to reinstall or reset preferences. This works correctly and as intended.

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