I have a nikon d3400 and a photoshop elements 10. My photoshp doesnt want to seem to open the nef files

[sherryt4445963]

How do I get photoshop elements 10 to open nef files or do i need another elements or photoshop?

[Michael J. Hoffman]

Hi Sherry,

You'I've posted in the non-technical Lounge, but I've moved this post to the Photoshop Elements forum.

Photoshop Elements 10, released back in 2011, supports up to camera raw version 6.7.

However, the Nikon D3400, released late in 2016, is not supported until camera raw version 9.7.

In order to support your camera's NEF files, you will have one of three choices:

1. Upgrade to Photoshop Elements 15, which supports camera raw version 9.x.

2. Use the free Adobe DNG converter to convert the NEF files to DNG (keeping them in raw format).

3. Use the software provided with your camera to convert the NEF files to JPG or TIF.

The Adobe DNG converter can be found here:

Adobe - Adobe Camera Raw and DNG Converter : For Windows

Adobe - Adobe Camera Raw and DNG Converter : For Macintosh

Mike

[sherryt4445963]

Id rather keep the files as raw due to wanting to get into photography in a more professional manner and want to be able to due more edits.

[MichelBParis]

sherryt4445963  wrote

Id rather keep the files as raw due to wanting to get into photography in a more professional manner and want to be able to due more edits.

FAQ: Will Photoshop Elements work with my camera, or Why won't my raw files open?

Read this faq and especially explanations about raw files. Raw files are NOT image files, they are never changed, never edited. They are 'converted' into a new file in an image format. So, no risk for your originals, they are NEVER changed.

To do this 'conversion' process into an image format, you need to process the raw data of your D3400, which is totally specific. Each camera model has its own raw format. That's why Elements or any raw converter can't process raw files from newer cameras without an update as explained by Michael J. Hoffman.

[Michael J. Hoffman]

MichelBParis  wrote

Each camera model has its own raw format. That's why Elements or any raw converter can't process raw files from newer cameras without an update as explained by Michael J. Hoffman.

And to be clear, the free DNG converter (which is continuously updated to be compatible with new camera models) will convert the proprietary NEF raw format to an open DNG raw format - which can be read by older versions of PSE and other software like Photoshop and Lightroom - without losing the benefits of a raw workflow.

So the DNG converter offers you a full raw workflow, at the cost of the extra step of converting the files outside of PSE first.

I listed the options above in my original response in more or less the order that I would prioritize for myself. (1) Upgrade, (2) Convert to DNG, (3) Convert to other standard image format.

Mike