Adobe Photoshop Elements could not be launched

[tony427]

In Lightroom 6 I have clicked on “open as layers in Photoshop”. Photoshop Elements 14 opens OK, however without the files. Then after a few moments a message appears in Lightroom “The files could not be edited because Adobe Photoshop Elements could not be launched” It clearly launches but without the files. Can anyone help with this please?

[Sahil.Chawla]

Moved to Photoshop Elements​

[MichelBParis]

tony427 wrote:

In Lightroom 6 I have clicked on “open as layers in Photoshop”. Photoshop Elements 14 opens OK, however without the files. Then after a few moments a message appears in Lightroom “The files could not be edited because Adobe Photoshop Elements could not be launched” It clearly launches but without the files. Can anyone help with this please?

Remember that Elements does not support layers in 16 bits mode.

Are you sure your Lightroom parameters are set to open in 8-bits?

[tony427]

Thanks guys

Have changed the bit mode to 8 in Lr as suggested by Michel and checked that it is defaulting to open in Elements as per 99jon’s link. However, as before Elements launches without any problem at all, but as before there are no files.

Any further help would be really appreciated, as I am climbing up the walls with this one!

[99jon]

I think the problem is “Open As Layers” as mentioned by R Kelly.

It’s designed really for Photoshop not Elements

Select thumbnails in LR Library and press Ctrl+E (windows) or  Cmd+E (mac)

Then choose Edit with Lightroom Adjustments and click OK

You can drag and drop each file from the photo bin onto the main image showing in the Editor window and that will create separate layers.

[99jon]

Adding to what Michel said. Ensure during your set-up, to select the application and not an alias (shortcut) especially if using Mac OS. The Editor App is in Support Files. Go to this link.

PSE14 As External Editor

[tony427]

Thanks guys

Have changed the bit mode to 8 in Lr as suggested by Michel and checked that it is defaulting to open in Elements as per 99jon’s link. However, as before Elements launches without any problem at all, but as before there are no files.

Any further help would be really appreciated, as I am climbing up the walls with this one!

[Jeff Arola]

As far as i can tell or know, the only function on the Lightroom Photo>Edit In menu that actually works with any consistency with photoshop elements is the Edit in Adobe Photoshop Elements Editor. Meaning one can only open single images, more than one yes, but not as layers, photomerge, hdr or smart objects.

Most of the menu items on the Photo>Edit In menu are meant for photoshop, not photoshop elements.

In order to open images as layers in photoshop elements from Lightroom, one needs a third party plugin for Lightroom called Elemental.

https://www.photographers-toolbox.com/products/mdawson/tpgelemental/

[tony427]

Thanks, I have just got around to attempting to install the plug-in Elemental that R_Kelly provided the link for. Unfortunately I am now encountering difficulties getting Lightroom to recognise this plug-in. Having unzipped this file and then adding the folder in Lightroom Plug-in Manager, I get an error message “An error occurred while attempting to load this plug-in”

Can anyone offer any assistance please?

[Jeff Arola]

What operating system are you using?

[Jeff Arola]

You don't add the folder, but the plugin itself to the Lightroom Plug-in Manager.

[tony427]

Thanks, I think the problem was that Elemental was in the wrong directory. However, this is now OK and it now appears in the Lightroom Plug-in Manager.

I have once again tried to “Open as Layers in Photoshop” and I am still getting the same message.  “The files could not be edited because Adobe Photoshop Elements could not be launched”.  IT LAUNCHES ELEMENTS OK BUT WITHOUT THE FILES! Should I just give up?

[Jeff Arola · Accepted solution]

Elemental menu items are under File>Plug-In Extras in Lightroom.

https://www.photographers-toolbox.com/products/mdawson/tpgelemental/index.php?sec=quickguide

[tony427]

Thanks, that works, you’re a star. I’m finding this a bit of a steep learning curve. I have now managed to open as layers in Elements, however only 2 of the five identical images opened (on two attempts) so it would appear that I am still missing something. Unfortunately I have now used up my 2 trial sessions of Elemental. The only way I can progress now is to make a donation in the hope that I can get this to work. Any idea what a fair contribution would be?

Another problem is that I was trying to recreate the steps in a You Tube tutorial “Amazing Trick to Shoot Stunning Night Photos Without a Tripod” by Serge Ramelli. I decided to work with the two layers that did open. However, the next step; “edit/auto align layers” was not displayed in Elements. Do you think that I have bitten off more than I can chew and I should give up now and save wasting any more of people’s time? 

[Jeff Arola]

Unfortunately, since that video is geared toward photoshop users, a lot of the commands that are used in the video are not present in photoshop elements.

You can try in Photoshop Elements 14 Photomerge Exposure in Guided mode.

Guided mode - Photomerge Edits in Photoshop Elements

[tony427]

Thanks for your help, I will try that.