Which version of Camera Raw

[Pascale22252386xt58]

Is Camera Raw Version 14.0 the one included in the current delivery of Elements 2022? 

[Walter_H · Accepted solution]

@Pascale22252386xt58, NO. PSE 2022 ships with Camera Raw 13.3. But, you can follow these instructions to update PSE 2022 to ACR 14.1.

[Glenn 8675309]

Really no reaso nto bother with it unless you a camera that needs it to be supported. 

[Pascale22252386xt58]

Hi Glenn, I was more looking for those new masking features that appeared in 14.0 (New and enhanced features | October 2021 release of Adobe Camera Raw) but i'd rather wait for the update to become available in Elements. Hopefully it will be a question of weeks. I dont feel like fiddling around with system files ... Thanks anyhow Walter!

[Glenn 8675309]

Nope- that's only in ACR found in the full version pf photoshop- I got it and it's only $10.84 a month. 

[MichelBParis]

Nope- that's only in ACR found in the full version pf photoshop- I got it and it's only $10.84 a month. 

By @Glenn 8675309

More details for this difference in that old faq:

https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/multi/camera-raw-differences-photoshop-photoshop.html

You may wonder why such a difference; the most obvious answers is that : There must be some difference in features between the 'consumer - perpetual license' and the pro 'subscription product'.

There is another basic reason. What is needed for Elements users is be able to use raw formats; this requires a 'converter' function. So, the conversion is present in the ACR Elements version.

This conversion requires fundamental choices in global edits. Those are also present. Apart from those fundamental edits (present in the 'basic' tab), nearly all other PS ACR features can be achieved from the normal pixel editor in Elements, including saving and up to detail and layers editing which are already much more powerful in the pixel editor than in the new PS ACR functions. In other words, the new PS ACR and LR masking functions are trying to get closer to the abilities of any pixel editor and to make the use of Photoshop or PSE marginal.

The reason those new functions are only very recently added to ACR and LR is that the ACR plugin and LR tools are by nature necessary for raw files which require a 'parametric' editing; that's not easy to achieve. You don't save 'rendered' copies, you still keep the original raw unchanged, you only save the 'editing recipe'.

That's why you can't expect Adobe to implement the full PS ACR functions in PSE ACR: You can already take advantage of a decent converter for best quality and process further in a pixel editor which can do much, much more than the new PS ACR functions.

For some reasons, some PSE users like me also have a subscription. Those can use the full new ACR functions even if they don't have LR or PS installed. They only need to have the full ACR they are entitled to and the free Bridge in the free Desktop Creative Cloud app.

On the other hand, the PSE ACR version offers a number of other decisive advanges than pure raw conversion:

- conversion + editing of batches of raw or non raw files

- saving 'recipes'

- using the many new 'profiles' for creative projects

- parametric editing to a certain extent.

[Greg_S.]

@Pascale22252386xt58, Elements Camera Raw is not a fully featured application.  It does not have the masking feature (or any of the other features) that appear in the article that you linked.  Nor is it likely to ever have those features.  Those are only available in Photoshop CC and Lightroom.

[Pascale22252386xt58]

That's a bad news! To be noticed that after 2 hours chatting with Adobe support staff yesterday, nobody has been able to give me any indication of that sort. Hence my initial question on that forum. Thank you Greg