Manually Install Adobe Camera RAW (ACR)---Nicer to Look at

[Glenn 8675309]

Last updated on April 6th, 2024 :  Also Applies to Elements Organizer, Premiere Elements

The following is a workaround to update Camera Raw within Elements. It is recommended to wait for Camera Raw updates within the product for issue fixes. 

If you haven't been able to update the Camera Raw plug-in for Elements, follow these steps, Primarilly because your new camera needs a newer version of ACR to support RAW files:

Download and install the latest Camera Raw version from https://helpx.adobe.com/camera-raw/kb/camera-raw-plug-in-installer.html

Quit all Adobe applications.

On macOS, double-click the .dmg file to mount it.

On Windows double-click the downloaded .zip file to unzip it.
(Windows might unzip the file for you.)

On macOS, double-click the .pkg file to start the installer. 

On Windows, double-click the resulting .exe file to start the installer.

Follow the on-screen instructions.

 Once installed successfully, close the installer window.

 
Navigate to the following folder:
On macOS: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Plug-ins/CC/File Formats

On Windows: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\CC\File Formats

Copy the Camera Raw plug-in (just the .8bi file) from the CC > File Formats folder that is mentioned in the above step.

Navigate to the following folder: 

On macOS: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Plug-ins/Elements<Version Number>/File Formats

On Windows: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\Elements<Version Number>\File Formats

Replace the existing Camera Raw plugin in Elements<Version Number> folder with the plug-in that you copied earlier.

Prior to PSE 2024 PSE used a version numbering system that made the actual version number “2 OFF” from the Product name.  FOR EXAMPLE:  pse 2021 was version 19:  pse 2022 was version 20, and pse 2023 was version 21.  THERE IS NO VERSION 22 OR 23.

BEGINNING WITH PSE 2024 THE INSTALLED FILES MATCH UP WITH THE PRODUCT NAME.   Version 24 is PSE 2024.   I expect PSE 2025 to be version 25.

Below is where I manually installed version 16.0 of ACR on my windows computer after using the above instructions on my computer- yours should be in the same location if you used the default settings when installing the program

Depending upon how many versions of PSE you have installed the contents of this view may be, probably will be, different for you.  This is just the view on my computer.

You will notice I have a directory called “CC”- That is where the latest version of ACR is installed.   As of this document date (April 6th 2024) The latest version of ACR version 16.2.1.1767.

As of FEB 8th 2025 it is up to ACR 17.1

[Glenn 8675309]

No need to worry about the dates.  Adobe dates can be confusing:   Your  PSE version number is actually based upon the date that version was finalized.   Two weeks from that date finalization is when  the version gets pushed out.  

ACR is somewhat the same.   In windows you have date modoified, and date created- two big differences.   

What's important is what version of ACR you see wehn you open and image, jpg, png, dont matter.


ALL edits using ACR in PSE are non destructive- meaning, you are really working on a copy of the orignal raw file, which remains unchanged. 

[amyvegte]

I have PSE2022 and recently got a Canon R6. I am unable to upload my raw files even after following the instructions above and rebooting Elements. When I'm in Elements Editor and navigate to the file to open, it shows in the drop down that .CR3 is supported, however I'm still getting this message -  "Could not complete your request because it is not the right kind of document."

[Greg_S.]

@amyvegte even Mark ii of your camera only requires ACR version 15.  What version of Camera Raw did you install?  Go to the Editor's Help>About Plug-in>Camera Raw menu and a splash screen will appear with the installed camera raw version.   If you installed the latest version (ACR 17.2), it may not work with Elements 2022.  I haven't tested that, but I do have ACR 16.x installed in Elements 2022.

Since you only need ACR 15, you can download it from this link on Archive.org.  You can install it and follow Glenn's instructions to place the plug-in into Elements 2022.

Added: It may take a while for the download link to appear.  Archive.org can sometimes be very slow.

[amyvegte]

I was running 14.1 but thanks to your archive.org link I was able to get this installed (after having to give myself admin priveledges) and can now upload the .raw files from my Canon L6. I am having a new issue in the editor, however. I am getting a pop up that says, "Could not perform the requested action because Photoshop Elements provides only limted support for files with 16 bit color depth. Do you want to convert the image to 8 bit?" I'm getting this pop up with any edit I try to make. Whether I convert to 8 bit or not, my edits are not taking place. When I click the 'undo' button, it does undo the action taken, although no change was made. If I do not click to convert the depth, I get a nonfunctional icon that appears where the functional icon would normally appear. Any idea on what might have happened with the Plug-In being installed?

[amyvegte]

@Greg_S. I mentioned that I needed to give myself admin priveledges to be able to install Camera Raw version 15. Do you recommend I set my security priveledges back (they were at 'read' and 'read & execute') or is it recommended or okay to 'allow all' under Properties | Security? 

[Greg_S.]

As you have seen, Elements cannot perform many functions when you open a raw file with 16 bit depth.  (Many menu items are simply greyed out.)  It seems that the latest versions of ACR default to 16 bit depth files.  However you can change this at the bottom of the ACR Editor.  Once you make this change, it should remain sticky and all future raw files will be opened in 8 bit depth until you change it again.

You can determine whether a file is 8 or 16 bit because that information will appear in the title tab of the file as (RGB/8 or 16). 

I don't know why the conversion to 8 bit is not working for you after you receive the message and presumably OK the conversion.  If the file has not converted to 8 bit, you can make the change manually under the Image>Mode menu by clicking on the 8 Bits/Channel item.  (It will only be active if the open file is 16 bits.)  Once the conversion to 8 bit has been made, you should be able to perform all edits.

[amyvegte]

Thank you Greg, I was able to find the setting as you explained. I am able to make changes in the quick edit without getting the pop-up, however, I am still having to acknowledge the pop-up with any additional filters or edits done in guided or or expert. Am I missing a step?

Also, is there a way to batch files after import from 16 to 8 bit?

[Greg_S.]

@amyvegte I don't think you are missing anything.  I haven't looked at all of them, but it makes sense that Quick Edits can be performed on 16 bit files.

As for your question about batch converting files from 16 bit to 8 bit, I'm not exactly sure what you are asking.  When you edit a raw file in the ACR, the original file never changes.  So, if it was a 16 bit file to begin with, it will always remain a 16 bit file.  Once you edit your file in the regular PSE Editor, you will save it to a different format.  Jpegs do not support 16 bit color, but .psd files do and I just tested that Elements can save .psd files in 16 bit.

So, if you want to send a batch of raw files from the Organizer to the ACR, if you make sure that the ACR is set to 8 bit and then open the raw files in the regular editor, they will come over as 8 bit.  If you then (edit and) save the files as jpegs or .psd files, they will be saved as 8 bit files and can be reopened in the Editor again as 8 bit files for further editing. 

Also note that if you open multiple files in the ACR, you have to select all of them in the ACR filmstrip before clicking the Open button in order for the batch operation to work.

Hope this answers your question.

[amyvegte]

I'm following you, yes - thank you. That worked and I was able to get a batch of .raw files in editor all changed from 16 bit to 8 bit without having to do one at a time. 

[Greg_S.]

@harish_ as Glenn says, the Microsoft version is different than the Adobe version and I believe one of the differences is in the location of the camera raw plug-in file.  ISTR that Microsoft hides the folder where ACR is stored.  You may want to try showing hidden files and folders in Windows Explorer options and then searching for the plug-in file named Camera Raw.8bi.

If you find it, you can try replacing it with the updated version.  But I have no idea whether this will work for you.

[Greg_S.]

@amyvegte I think you are sufficiently computer savvy that I wouldn't worry about changing it back.

[amyvegte]

@Greg_S. ok, thanks!