Elements 2023 cannot retrieve RAW (CR3) files from my Canon R6

[Jerry _B]

So, just had Elements 2023 installed on my Windows 10 PC. Just like Elements 2021, it tells me that

the RAW CR3 files are not in a format recognized by Elements.  Jpeg files can be retrieved without any problem.  Adobe support centre has looked at this a couple of times, and have yet to find a solution. Any ideas out there?

[Jeff Arola]

By default photoshop elements 2023 doesn't ship with the camera raw plugin, so in the photoshop elements 2023 editor you need to go to Help>Install Camera Raw.

[Jerry _B]

Tried that already. Didn't work. Just downloaded and installed Adobe Camera
Raw 12.4. And finished installing through help. Still not working.

[Jerry _B]

Checked what the ACR plugin version is under help. I'm actually at 14.4.

[Matt21763688qxxf]

Did you ever get a solution? I am having the same issue with my R6 Mk2 as well 😞 

Elements 2023 as well. 

[Jeff Arola]

Do you have an EOS R6 or  EOS R6 Mark II?

[Jerry _B]

EOS Mark 2

[Jeff Arola · Accepted solution]

That would explain your trouble since the EOS R6 Mark II needs at least camera raw 15, which you can get and install by following the directions on this page:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop-elements/kb/camera-raw-update-not-available.html

[Jerry _B]

You are a STAR! Thank you. Too bad Adobe Support doesn't seem to know
this yet.
I have tried the process described but I am foiled at the last step.
Computer tells me
the program can't be deleted/replaced because it is in use. Which is untrue
as far as I
can see. But I'll figure it out.

Thanks again!

Jerry Bruch

[Personal information removed by moderator.]

[WSC33]

Hello,

I have Elements 19.0.0.0 and I installed both of the raw installers (14.5 & 16.2) and neither works.  I still can't see an image on my CR3 files from my Canon Mark II.  Both installations ran flawlessly.  What am i missing?

[Jeff Arola]

WSC33,

What operating system are you using?

Which specific Canon Mark II do you have?

[WSC33]

Hey Jeff,

I have Windows 10, 32GB memory, tons of storage, Dell XPS computer.

My camera is a Canon EOS R6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera.

Thanks for your help.  I'm eager to move on with my new investment!

WSC33

[Jeff Arola]

WSC33,

1. Install the 16.2 camera raw plugin if that's not the one presently installed

2. Go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\CC and copy the File Formats folder

3. Go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\Elements 19 and move the File Formats folder

    to your desktop.

4. Paste the File Formats folder you copied in step 2 in place of the one you moved to your desktop in step 3

Start photoshop elements 2021 (version 19.0) and hopfully you'll have a working camera raw 16.2

that will open your Canon EOS R6 Mark II files.

[WSC33]

Great directions. The replacement folder even has the right date on it (when I downloaded it). Sadly, it failed. PSE still did not recognize the CR3 format. The camera raw.8bi has a 8/2/22 date on it. I did run both the 14.5 and 16.2 patches, if that makes a difference.

[WSC33]

I reran the 16.2 patch and repeated your steps.  The date of the 8bi file changed and PSE now recognizes the CR3.  thanks! 

But why did I need the copy step?  Why doesn't the patch work outright?

[WSC33]

Ok. Please, one more. When I load the CR3 file into PSE, many of the editing options are greyed out. Why is that?  I've never seen that before. And when I try to save it to a JPG format, preview screen is non-standard. The note beside the options in the save box says “Preview and file size are only available for 8 bit images….” What does this mean? Is PSE not really compatible with the new format?  (See attachment)

Thanks for your help and patience.

[Jeff Arola]

WSCC3,

In the camera raw 16.2 window change the Depth at the bottom of the window to 8 Bits/Channel

[WSC33]

Ah, I see.  What do I lose in dropping the bit depth down to 8?  I'm assuming I have to upgrade my PSE to the current version to have it work with 16 bit?  And jpg's don't save as anything but 8 bit, right?  So if I save my work to a jpg, there's no advantage to moving to 16 bit?

[Jeff Arola]

For the most part unless you do extensive photo restoration or retouching, you won't see much difference if any between using 8 Bis/Channel and 16 Bits/Channel. Camera raw always uses

16 Bits/Channel for processing regardless of the Depth setting and it's only in the Photoshop

Elements Editor where 8 vs 16 Bits/Channel comes into play.

In reality all photoshop elements versions are limited to what can be done in 16 Bits/Channel, so really no need to worry about upgrading to a newer version.

Yes JPEGs can only be 8 Bits/Channel.

[Jeff Arola]

The patch is meant for Photoshop and not Photoshop Elements, but since the camera raw plugin

is the same, copying the plugin into the photoshop elements file formats folder works.

Glad you got it working.

[kathleen_4147]

OMG @Jeff Arola you are the REAL hero!!! I have downloaded the camera raw file soooooo many times and nothing was working but these instructions worked.

THANK YOU!!!!

[Jerry _B]

Hi Jeff, Maybe you'll be able to help with something new.  Everytime I try PhotoMerge (exposure, Guided) Elements fails.

I'm using Elements 2023, version 21.  Windows 10 desktop.  Thought it might be a lack of computer memory. If I look at my Settings, it shows 551 GB free.  Should be lots, right? But if I look under System Info in Photoshop, it shows only 2.4 GB free, so now I'm confused as to whether I have enough memory or not?

[Jeff Arola]

Jerry_B,

The System Info is listing the 2.4 gb of memory (ram) available to the Organizer.

Your second screenshot show how much space is used on your drive as well as the free space on your drive of 551 GB, which is different from the amount of Memory (Ram) your computer has.

As far as the PhotoMerge (exposure, Guided) goes, do you get any error message?

You could try quiting all other programs before trying PhotoMerge (exposure, Guided).

[Jerry _B]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, there is always an error message,
" Elements has encountered a problem and needs to shut down" kind of
message.
No other programs are running at the same time.
2.3G should be plenty free memory, shouldn't it?

Jerry Bruch
jerrybruch1958@gmail.com
Cell: 587-429-4473

[Jeff Arola]

I would try a reset of the Photoshop Elements 2023 Editor preferences by going to Edit>Preferences>General, clicking on Reset Preferences on next launch, then restarting the Photoshop Elements 2023 Editor.