PhotoshopElements

Open and process camera raw files

  1. Choose File > Open.
  2. Browse to select one or more camera raw files, and click Open.

    The histogram in the Camera Raw dialog box shows the tonal range of the image at the current settings. As you make settings adjustments, the histogram automatically updates.

  3. (Optional) Adjust the image view using the controls, such as the Zoom tool, and options, such as Shadows and Highlights, which reveal clipping in the preview area. (See Camera raw controls.)
    Note: Selecting Preview displays a preview of the image with the settings changes you make. Deselecting Preview displays the camera raw image at the original settings of the current tab combined with the settings in the hidden tabs.
  4. To rotate the image 90° counterclockwise or 90° clockwise, click the Rotate Image buttons  .
  5. To apply the settings used in the previous camera raw image or the default settings for your camera, choose an option from the Settings menu. Using the same options is useful, for example, if you want to quickly process images with similar lighting conditions. (See Set custom camera settings.)
  6. (Optional) Set options to adjust the white balance. (See White balance controls for camera raw.)
    You can monitor the RGB values of pixels in your image as you adjust them in the Camera Raw dialog box. Position the Zoom tool, Hand tool, White Balance tool, or Crop tool over the preview image to display the RGB values directly beneath the pointer.
  7. Make tonal adjustments using the Exposure, Shadow, Brightness, Contrast, and Saturation sliders. (See Tonal and image adjustments in camera raw files.)

    To undo your manual adjustments and make the adjustments automatically, select Auto. To restore all options to their initial settings, press Option and click Reset.

    Note: By default, Auto is always selected. To change this default, deselect one or more Auto options, click the triangle to the right of the Settings menu, and choose Save New Camera Raw Defaults.
  8. Do one of the following:
    • To open a copy of the camera raw image file (with the camera raw settings applied) in Photoshop Elements, click Open. You can edit the image and save it in a Photoshop Elements-supported format. The original camera raw file remains unaltered.

    • To save the adjustments to a DNG file, click Save Image. (See Save changes to camera raw images.)

    • To cancel the adjustments and close the dialog box, click Cancel.

      Note: The Digital Negative (DNG) format is Adobe’s proposed standard format for camera raw files. DNG files are useful for archiving camera raw images because they contain the raw camera sensor data and data specifying how the image should look. Camera raw image settings can be stored in DNG files instead of in sidecar XMP files or the camera raw database.