RAW files are the pure data collected by the camera sensors and there is NO in camera processing. Adobe Camera Raw is an editor for these file types** and allows total editing control by the user. Each camera manufacturer has their own RAW file extension, but all are handled the same way through Photoshop and Lightroom. Canon CR2 Nikon NEF Pentax PEF Fuji RAF Olympus ORF Sony SRF and many more. **JPG Files can also be edited within Adobe Camera Raw but have fewer editing options
A file selected with a Raw file type will default to open with ACR. JPG files can also be edited with ACR, but need to be opened differently than a RAW file. Method 1 Old School From within PS, click File> Open As Navigate to your JPG and make sure to have Camera Raw selected in the file type dropdown Double click on the file to load it into ACR within Photoshop Method 2 Non-Destructive Open your image in Photoshop. Right Click on it in the layers panel and convert it to a smart object Click Filter > Camera Raw Filter to open your image in ACR Once changes are complete click Open Image to go back to PS
Method 3: If you have the PS Creative Cloud version there is now a filter that will open Camera Raw. If you are using JPG, you can open the JPG in PhotoShop and then select the Camera Raw filter to do your edits. Please note that this filter does not retain your settings and such from the initial edit in ACR. This is an additional edit/layer.
White Balance
White Balance Tool This is an easy way and you can try a number of different white balances quickly. Here s how it works: Choose the White Balance tool from the toolbar (or press the letter I on your keyboard), and then click on something in your image that s supposed to be gray. By telling ACR, This area right here is supposed to be neutral gray, it removes any yellow, blue, or other tints so that area actually becomes gray, and that corrects all the colors in your image.
Setting Result Exposure Controls basic highlights Recovery Recovers highlight detail Fill Light Recovers shadow detail Blacks Controls shadow areas Brightness Controls basic midtones Contrast Applies basic S contrast curve Clarity Provides a midtone contrast boost with mild sharpening Vibrance Boosts low-saturated colors; protects skin tones Saturation Applies an across-the-board saturation boost
This control can also be used to convert picture to black and white/grayscale
Dehaze -Many outdoor scenes have some amount of haze due to atmospheric conditions. Dehaze is a new feature for removing/adding haze and fog from pictures. The user can control how much haze to remove by adjusting a new slider in the Effects panel in the Dehaze section. This feature can also be used in the other direction to increase the amount of haze. Simulate film grain - The Grain section of the Effects tab has controls for simulating film grain for a stylistic effect reminiscent of particular film stocks. You can also use the Grain effect to mask enlargement artifacts when making large prints. Together, the Size and Roughness controls determine the character of the grain. Check grain at varying zoom levels to ensure that the character appears as desired.
Save image will save the file as specified below. Does NOT create the xmp file with settings stored. Clicking the : Open Image button: Will open the image into Photoshop and stores the camera raw settings in a sidecar file with an.xmp extension Cancel Button: Saves nothing Done Button: Saves the changes and stores the camera raw settings in a sidecar file with an.xmp extension