The filename of a Camera Raw image is unavailable (dimmed) in the Open dialog box in Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. Or, when you try to open the image, the application returns one of the following errors:
- "Could not complete your request because it is not the right kind of document."
- "Could not complete your request because Photoshop does not recognize this type of file."
- "Cannot open [filename] because it is the wrong type of file."
- "The file is damaged or is a format that cannot be included."
- Instructions
- Solutions
- Solution 1: Install the latest version of the Camera Raw plug-in that is compatible with your Adobe application.
- Solution 2: Remove and reinstall Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
- Solution 3: Upgrade to the latest version of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
- Solution 4: Use Adobe DNG Converter 6.5 to convert your camera's raw files into DNG files.
- Solution 5: Check for Camera Raw updates that support your camera.
Follow the instructions below in order. When the instruction tells you to go to a specific solution, follow the link to do that solution.
1. Determine which version of the Camera Raw plug-in is installed with Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
The Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in lets you open raw images and edit them nondestructively. When you install Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, a version of the Camera Raw plug-in is automatically installed.
Adobe periodically releases new versions of the Camera Raw plug-in that add support for new digital camera models. The latest version of the Camera Raw plug-in is 8.1.
Begin by determining which version of the Camera Raw plug-in is installed with Photoshop or Photoshop Elements on your computer. Open Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and then do one of the following:
- Photoshop on Mac OS: Choose Photoshop > About Plug-In.
- Photoshop on Windows: Choose Help > About Plug-In.
- Photoshop Elements on Mac OS: Choose Photoshop Elements > About Plug-In.
- Photoshop Elements on Windows: Open the Photoshop Elements Editor and choose Help > About Plug-In.
Look for Camera Raw in the About Plug-In submenu. (The plug-ins are listed alphabetically.) Then do one of the following:
- If Camera Raw is not listed in the About Plug-In submenu, go to Solution 1.
- If Camera Raw is listed more than once, go to Solution 2.
- If Camera Raw is listed once, choose it. The version number is in the information window that opens. Click anywhere on the information window to close it, and then proceed to step 2.
2. Determine the minimum version of the Camera Raw plug-in required to enable support for your camera.
Look for your camera in Camera Raw plug-in | Supported cameras.
- If your camera is not listed in Supported cameras, go to Solution 5.
- If your camera is listed in Supported cameras, note the minimum version of the Camera Raw plug-in that the camera requires. Then, do one of the following:
- If your currently installed Camera Raw plug-in is the same as or later than the minimum version that you need, then go to Solution 2.
- If your currently installed Camera Raw plug-in is earlier than the minimum version that you need, then proceed to Step 3.
3. Determine whether your Adobe application is compatible with the Camera Raw plug-in version that you require.
Make sure that your Adobe application is compatible with the version of the Camera Raw plug-in that you require. For more information, see Camera Raw-compatible Adobe applications.
- If your Adobe application is compatible with the Camera Raw plug-in version, go to Solution 1.
- If your Adobe application is not compatible with the Camera Raw plug-in version, go to Solution 3.
Solution 1: Install the latest version of the Camera Raw plug-in that is compatible with your Adobe application.
Install the latest version of the Camera Raw plug-in that your version of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements is compatible with. (See Camera Raw-compatible Adobe applications, if necessary.) For example, if your version of Photoshop is compatible with Camera Raw versions through 4.6, then install version 4.6. Install the latest version even if you only need version 4.3 to enable support for your camera.
Note: Generally, each new version of the Camera Raw plug-in builds on the cameras that the previous version supports. For example, Camera Raw version 4.4 supports all of the cameras that version 4.3 supports, plus additional cameras. Version 4.3 supports all of the cameras that version 4.2 supports, plus additional cameras, and so on.
Installation instructions are included on Camera Raw download pages, which you can find at http://www.adobe.com/downloads/updates/.
With current-release products, you can update to the latest version of Camera Raw automatically through Adobe Updater or the Adobe Application Manager (CS5 and later). In Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, choose Help > Updates.
If you still cannot open photos from your camera, then proceed to Solution 2.
If Photoshop or Photoshop Elements is loading multiple instances of the Camera Raw plug-in, then these plug-ins conflict with each other. To resolve this problem, remove and then reinstall Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
Important: Before you uninstall the software, make sure that you have the installation media to reinstall it. Replacement media isn’t available for previous versions of Adobe software.
To remove Photoshop or Photoshop Elements on Mac OS:
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Do one of the following:
- If you have Photoshop CS3 or later or Photoshop Elements 6, double-click the uninstaller for your application or for your edition of Adobe Creative Suite in /Applications/Utilities/Adobe Installers. Then, follow the onscreen instructions to remove Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
- If you have an earlier version of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, drag the Adobe Photoshop [version] folder or the Adobe Photoshop Elements [version] folder to the Trash. (These folders are in the Applications folder.)
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Choose Start > Control Panel (or Start > Settings > Control Panel), and then do one of the following:
- Windows XP: Open Add Or Remove Programs.
- Windows Vista, Windows 7: Select Uninstall A Program from the Programs section of the Control Panel Home. Or, if you are in Classic view, open Programs And Features.
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Select your version of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements from the list of installed programs, and then click Change/Remove (Windows XP) or Uninstall (Windows Vista, Windows 7).
Note: If you have Photoshop installed as part of a suite, select your edition of Adobe Creative Suite from the list of installed programs.
After you have removed Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, reinstall the application using your original installation media. Then, try to open your raw image. If you cannot open a raw image, then repeat the Instructions above.
If your version of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements is not compatible with the Camera Raw plug-in version that you need, then consider upgrading to the latest version. The latest version of these applications always supports the latest version of the Camera Raw plug-in and the widest selection of cameras available.
If you do not want to upgrade, then see Solution 4 for instructions on using the Adobe DNG Converter with your version of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
You can purchase an upgrade from an Adobe-authorized reseller or from Adobe directly. For more information, see How to buy Adobe products.
If your version of Photoshop or Photoshop Elements is not compatible with the version of the Camera Raw plug-in required for your camera, then use the Adobe DNG Converter. Adobe DNG Converter is a free utility that converts camera raw files into Digital Negative (DNG) files without any loss of image data. Adobe developed DNG as a universal format for raw image files from digital cameras.
Adobe DNG Converter can convert the raw image files from the same cameras that the Camera Raw plug-in of the same version supports. To open the converted DNG files in Camera Raw in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements, you need Camera Raw 2.3 or later.
To install Adobe DNG Converter on Mac OS, double-click the DMG file you downloaded. Then double-click the Adobe DNG converter.pkg file and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
To install Adobe DNG Converter on Windows, double-click the DNGConverter_[version].exe file you downloaded and then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
Convert camera raw images to DNG:
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Do one of the following:
- On Mac OS, open the Adobe DNG Converter from the Applications folder.
- In a 32-bit edition of Windows, open the Adobe DNG Converter application from the C:\Program Files\Adobe\ folder.
- In a 64-bit edition of Windows, open the Adobe DNG Converter application from the C:\Program Files\Adobe\ folder. If you want to use the Adobe DNG Converter from the 32-bit version of Windows, open the Adobe DNG Converter application from the C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\ folder.
If your camera is not listed in Camera Raw plug-in | Supported cameras, then the Camera Raw plug-in doesn't support your camera. Check the page (or the Digital camera raw support page) periodically. You can find out if a new version of the Camera Raw plug-in has been released and whether it supports your camera.