Can't use Camera Raw in LightRoom 4

Below is a long dialogue that I just had with the Technical Support via Chat on access to Camera Raw directly from LightRoom 4.  The end result is that it cannot be done.  LightRoom 4 has its own section of the "Develop" and if you try to "change in: PhotoShop 6" RAW image will bypass Camera Raw and open directly in PhotoShop.»  Something that I was surprised and frustrated by.  I thought for sure I was missing somehting.

I do not recommend buying LightRoom other than a way to "organize" our images.  I just use Bridgne and am able to open a Raw Canon "CR2" file directly in Camera Raw, and then after my settings directly in PhotoShop.  LightRoom has no layers, paths and channels, and a host of other wonderful adjustment / manipulation capabilities not found in LightRoom.

So, if you're like me and you want to use Camera Raw before moving to PhotoShop then LightRoom won't succeed you.  I spent a lot of time thinking I must be missing something and then I contacted the Support by Chat and we went through change in %AppData%, which only leads to losing me all my preferences in PhotoShop!  A total waste of technician time and mine.

I share the bottom of chat with you only to show you the ridiculous amount of time lost when the answer remains the same: YOU cannot ACCESS CAMERA RAW DIRECTLY ON LIGHTROOM 4

Thank you for choosing Adobe. A representative will be with you shortly. Your estimated wait time is 0 minute (s) and 3 second (s) or more because there is 1 client (s) online in front of you.

You are chatting with 'Gabby' now

Nicole: Hello. Welcome to the Adobe Support.

Nicole: Hi Fred!

Fred: Hi there my friend. I try to use Lightroom 4, but frankly, am not happy with the way it handles RAW files.

Fred: I can't open a RAW of Canon ".cr2" file directly in Camera Raw from LightRoom.

Nicole: I received your request. I would like to please a moment to check your account and review the details of your request.

Fred: Thank you. Also, I went through all the information I can find in the Menu "help" while up. Can't find a thing on LightRoom 4. I don't have this problem with Lightroom 3

Fred: The RAW file that it references is "DNG".

Nicole: I understand that you are unable to get a glimpse of cr2 raw images in Lightroom 4, I'm correct?

Fred: No, I can listen to samples, but when I want to open the only choice that I gave is CS6. I can't open it in Camera Raw and he makes things a completely different and inappropriate to NIK Software plug.

Nicole: Thank you for the confirmation.

Fred: I know that I can change that in the 'preferences' in Lightroom 4 but I can not find Camera Raw to select choice.

Nicole: I'll be happy to help you with this.

Nicole: can I have the serial number of the product please?

Fred: I just checked again and it is set to a plugin from NIK Software as an external software to open the file.

Fred: Yes, I would like to get it for you.

Fred: Lightroom version: 4.1 [829322] OS: Windows 7 Business Edition Version: 6.1 architecture application [7601]: x 64 system architecture: x 64 physical processor count: 2 CPU speed: 2.1 GHz built-in memory: 8123,8 MB real memory for Lightroom: 8123,8 MB of real memory used by Lightroom: Mo 1687,3 (20.7%) Virtual Memory used by Lightroom: MB 1657,0 cache memory size: System 1194,5 MB DPI setting: 96 DPI desktop composition enabled: yes display: 1) folder Application 1360 x 768: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.1 library path: C:\Users\FT\Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom 4 Catalog.lrcat settings folder: C:\Users\FT\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom adapter #1 : seller: device 8086: subsystem 2a 42: 145110cf revision: 7 video memory: 32 AudioDeviceIOBlockSize: 1024 AudioDeviceName: speakers (2 - USB Audio) AudioDeviceNumberOfChannels: AudioDeviceSampleRate 2: Build 44100: 6.0x552 Direct2DEnabled: false GL_ALPHA_BITS: 8 GL_BLUE_BITS: 8 GL_GREEN_BITS: 8 GL_MAX_3D_TEXTURE_SIZE: GL_MAX_TEXTURE_SIZE 128: 4096 GL_MAX_TEXTURE_UNITS: 8 GL_MAX_VIEWPORT_DIMS: GL_RED_BITS 4096,4096 : GL_RENDERER 8: Mobile Intel (r) 4 Series Express Chipset Family GL_SHADING_LANGUAGE_VERSION: 1,20 - Intel version 8.15.10.1883 GL_VENDOR: Intel GL_VERSION: 2.1.0 - Build 8.15.10.1883 OGLEnabled: true OGLPresent: true GL_EXTENSIONS: GL_EXT_blend_minmax GL_EXT_blend_subtract GL_EXT_blend_color GL_EXT_abgr GL_EXT_clip_volume_hint GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array GL_SGIS_texture_edge_clamp GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap GL_EXT_draw_range_elements GL_SGIS_texture_lod GL_ GL_EXT_texture3D EXT_rescale_normal GL_EXT_packed_pixels GL_EXT_separate_specular_color GL_ARB_multitexture GL_EXT_texture_env_combine GL_EXT_bgra GL_EXT_blend_func_separate GL_EXT_secondary_color GL_EXT_fog_coord GL_EXT_texture_env_add GL_ARB_texture_cube_map GL_ARB_transpose_matrix GL_ARB_texture_env_add GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays GL_NV_blend_square GL_ARB_texture_compression GL_3DFX_texture_compression_FXT1 GL_EXT_ texture_filter_anisotropic GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp GL_ARB_point_parameters GL_ARB_texture_ env_combine GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3 GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc GL_ARB_shadow GL_ARB_window_pos GL_EXT_shadow_funcs GL_EXT_stencil_wrap GL_EXT_texture_rectangle GL_EXT_stencil_two_side GL_ATI_separate_stencil GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias GL_ARB_ GL_ARB_fragment_program GL_ARB_vertex_program occlusion_query GL_ARB_fragment_shader GL_ARB_shader_objects GL_ARB_shading_language_100 GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two GL_ARB_vertex_shader GL_NV_texgen_reflection GL_ARB_point_sprite GL_EXT_blend_equation_separate GL_ARB_depth_texture GL_ARB_texture_rectangle GL_ARB_draw_buffers GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object GL_WIN_swap_hint GL_ARB_color_buffer_float GL_ARB_half_float_pixel GL_ARB_ GL_EXT_texture_sRGB GL_EXT_framebuffer_object texture_float GL_NV_conditional_render GL_EXT_texture_swizzle

Fred: Just for a second. No serial number is given in the information system.

Nicole: I'm sorry to inform you that the serial number will be not available in your system.

Nicole: Fred, I find the serial number in your Adobe account.

Fred: Lightroom version: 4.1 [829322] OS: Windows 7 Business Edition Version: 6.1 architecture application [7601]: x 64 system architecture: x 64 physical processor count: 2 CPU speed: 2.1 GHz built-in memory: 8123,8 MB real memory for Lightroom: 8123,8 MB of real memory used by Lightroom: Mo 1687,3 (20.7%) Virtual Memory used by Lightroom: MB 1657,0 cache memory size: System 1194,5 MB DPI setting: 96 DPI desktop composition enabled: yes display: 1) folder Application 1360 x 768: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.1 library path: C:\Users\FT\Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom 4 Catalog.lrcat settings folder: C:\Users\FT\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom adapter #1 : seller: device 8086: subsystem 2a 42: 145110cf revision: 7 video memory: 32 AudioDeviceIOBlockSize: 1024 AudioDeviceName: speakers (2 - USB Audio) AudioDeviceNumberOfChannels: AudioDeviceSampleRate 2: Build 44100: 6.0x552 Direct2DEnabled: false GL_ALPHA_BITS: 8 GL_BLUE_BITS: 8 GL_GREEN_BITS: 8 GL_MAX_3D_TEXTURE_SIZE: GL_MAX_TEXTURE_SIZE 128: 4096 GL_MAX_TEXTURE_UNITS: 8 GL_MAX_VIEWPORT_DIMS: GL_RED_BITS 4096,4096 : GL_RENDERER 8: Mobile Intel (r) 4 Series Express Chipset Family GL_SHADING_LANGUAGE_VERSION: 1,20 - Intel version 8.15.10.1883 GL_VENDOR: Intel GL_VERSION: 2.1.0 - Build 8.15.10.1883 OGLEnabled: true OGLPresent: true GL_EXTENSIONS: GL_EXT_blend_minmax GL_EXT_blend_subtract GL_EXT_blend_color GL_EXT_abgr GL_EXT_clip_volume_hint GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array GL_SGIS_texture_edge_clamp GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap GL_EXT_draw_range_elements GL_SGIS_texture_lod GL_ GL_EXT_texture3D EXT_rescale_normal GL_EXT_packed_pixels GL_EXT_separate_specular_color GL_ARB_multitexture GL_EXT_texture_env_combine GL_EXT_bgra GL_EXT_blend_func_separate GL_EXT_secondary_color GL_EXT_fog_coord GL_EXT_texture_env_add GL_ARB_texture_cube_map GL_ARB_transpose_matrix GL_ARB_texture_env_add GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays GL_NV_blend_square GL_ARB_texture_compression GL_3DFX_texture_compression_FXT1 GL_EXT_ texture_filter_anisotropic GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp GL_ARB_point_parameters GL_ARB_texture_ env_combine GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3 GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc GL_ARB_shadow GL_ARB_window_pos GL_EXT_shadow_funcs GL_EXT_stencil_wrap GL_EXT_texture_rectangle GL_EXT_stencil_two_side GL_ATI_separate_stencil GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias GL_ARB_ GL_ARB_fragment_program GL_ARB_vertex_program occlusion_query GL_ARB_fragment_shader GL_ARB_shader_objects GL_ARB_shading_language_100 GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two GL_ARB_vertex_shader GL_NV_texgen_reflection GL_ARB_point_sprite GL_EXT_blend_equation_separate GL_ARB_depth_texture GL_ARB_texture_rectangle GL_ARB_draw_buffers GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object GL_WIN_swap_hint GL_ARB_color_buffer_float GL_ARB_half_float_pixel GL_ARB_ GL_EXT_texture_sRGB GL_EXT_framebuffer_object texture_float GL_NV_conditional_render GL_EXT_texture_swizzle

Fred: OK, how can I easily bloody for you serial number?

Nicole: Fred, I find the serial number in your Adobe account.

Nicole: Once you connect to the Adobe account, click on 'My products' under the 'My products and services'.

Nicole: You can locate the serial number that you have saved.

Fred: OK, if you don't need now. He is not in a format that I can copy and paste.

Fred: 116040070815784336099081

Nicole: Since it was registered in your Adobe account, we can get the information from there.

Nicole: Thank you for the serial number.

Nicole: Fred, I wish to inform you that all believed change options, you will get in Lightroom Develop module.

Fred: I hope that I copied it correctly, it is presented so small.

Fred: OK, just a second.

Fred: So, I go to "Develop" it will open in Camera Raw 7.01?

Fred: Frankly, it's the reason why I was just using the bridge is due to the apparently lack of coherent link between 4 LightRoom and PhotoShop CS6.

Nicole: I would like to inform you that you won't have the plug-ins for Lightroom camera gross. Given that Lightroom will not require a camera raw converter.

Fred: At least I can open in Camera Raw and make the necessary adjustments and it will load in Photoshop.

Fred: OK, so why when open a 'RAW' out of LightRoom image to go directly to the CS6 bypassing Camera Raw?

Fred: Not allowing all the wonderful adaptation toos, particularly new in Camera Raw. I don't understand the disconnect.

Nicole: Fred, do I know what product you're talking like 'CS6'?

Fred: If I wanted to treat all of my images in LightRoom I would have not wasted my money on CS6. That makes sense?

Fred: PhotoShop CS6

Fred: Or PhotoShop 6 extended

Nicole: Thank you for the information.

Fred: Still, the question remains "why LightRoom 4 only recongize the DNG files and no other RAW file put in shape and not allow them to be opened in Camera Raw?"

Fred: I'm not in a position to process my images in LightRoom 4. So, I want to identify and sort them. I want to process of Canon RAW files in Camera Raw and then move to PhotoShop Extended 6

Fred: So what you tell me, is that I can't open a RAW file in LightRoom in Camera Raw. In simple terms.

Nicole: Fred, I can understand your concern. Lightroom will not require a camera raw converter.

Nicole: Can I have the name of the camera model you are talking about?

Fred: Two camera models: EOS 5 d Mark II and EOS 60 d

Nicole: Please so that I can check further and try to solve your problem.

Nicole: . Thanks for the information.

Fred: Both are listed as being supported by Adobe PhotoShop and Camera Raw. I found in my research.

Nicole: Okay.

Nicole: Please close all Adobe applications.

Fred: I just want to go to LightRoom 4 directly to Camera Raw 7.01 and then 6 of PhotoShop Extended. Seems pretty simple and logical to me. Here again, I am not Adobe.

Fred: All right, just a moment and I'll do it.

Nicole: Click Start.

Nicole: Fred, do I know what operating system you use?

Fred: I'm working on Windows 7 64 bit OS.

Fred: I closed all applications Adobe.

Nicole: Thank you for the information.

Nicole: Click Start.

Nicole: Just type %appdata%\microsoft\windows\sendto in the search box and press the Enter key.

Fred: Ok, Im pretty computer savy so just tell me where you're going.

Nicole: Double click on the folder Adobe.

Fred: Done

Nicole: In this folder, you will have a record CameraRaw. Please rename the folder as CameraRawold.

Fred: Done

Nicole: In this folder, you will have a folder Adobe Photoshop CS6. Please rename the file as Adobe Photoshop CS6old

Nicole: After you rename images, please close the page and try to open a raw file and let me know the exact result.

Fred: Done

Fred: Just a moment. I've renamed CameraRawold and Adobe6Old. I'll browse my external drive and click on a RAW file

Nicole: Okay.

Nicole: Let me know the status.

Fred: Is the PhotoShop Extended opening 6

Fred: can I change the properties of the file to open in another program, if that's where we're going.

Fred: He also created an error which stated that he acknowledged a graphic software that is not completely supported and PhotoShop won't open normally.

Fred: A little more time it opened in Camera Raw.

Nicole: Fred, once more step you must realize that you got an error about graphics software.

Nicole: Please try to work on the Camera Raw and let me know it works very well or not.

Fred: And I have lost my presets.

Fred: OK, where does that leave us?

Fred: Regarding LightRoom 4?

Nicole: Fred, you wanted to open raw images in camera raw in option instead of Photoshop CS6, right?

Fred: Camera Raw seems to be well functiong.

Nicole: Great!

Nicole: Please close any Adobe application.

Nicole: Re launch Photoshop and type CTRL + K.

Nicole: Let me know once you're done.

Fred: Check "CR2" off the dafault Canon files to open is with PhotoShop 6

Fred: Ok, let me close them.

Fred: OK, closed sir.

Nicole: Please go to the performance tab.

Fred: 'Tab performance' in what program?

Nicole: Re launch Photoshop and type CTRL + K

Nicole: A new window will appear "Préférence"

Fred: Just for a second, it's opening. Thank you for help.

Fred: I am now in the preferences box. Performance tab

Nicole: You're welcome.

Nicole: Correct.

Fred: OK, I'm in the preferences

Nicole: Please let me know graphics processor use is checked or unchecked.

Fred: It is checked. I know that on this machine that the graphics processor is not fully supported due to lack of a separte video card

Nicole: Okay. Please check once readers of chart are updated or not.

Nicole: Fred, I hope that now you are able to open raw images in camera raw, you were talking about?

Fred: Just for a second. Driver software is up-to-date.

Fred: Let me open LightRoom 4 and see where it goes. Just a second.

Nicole: Sure.

Fred: Lightroom takes a long time to open now.

Fred: Now I get the message that it does not.

Fred: OK, it finally opened its doors. Just a second.

Nicole: Okay.

Nicole: Please let me know the result.

Fred: In the room light when I select "Edit in PhotoShop 6" it goes straight to Photoshop 6 and not opening not Camera Raw. Yet.

Fred: So, my friend. We are still in the initial question, and now I have to reload all my preferences lost due to the change in AppData. LOL!

Fred: I guess I can organize all I Ant in LightRoom and always use Bridge to edit and work on my images.

Fred: Sorry! Organize everything I want and still edit off bridge.

Nicole: Fred, I'm sorry to inform you that when you open images from Lightroom it will require not the raw camera and also when you try to open the images in other software from Lightroom it will open directly in this software. Since Lightroom itself works as a camera raw in develop module.

Nicole: However the other question, you had about open images in Camera raw when you try to open raw file is resolved, right?

Fred: What a waste of money from my point of view. You lose the use of all of the 'RAW' data manipulation that is less destructive in Camera RAW then go directly in PhotoShop Extended 6 and manipulate what you need to do and save as a TIFF format or other.

Fred: Waste of money Lightroom is

Fred: I could always open the file directly in Camera Raw in Windows Explorer or bridge. That was never a problem.

Fred: The problem is with LightRoom.

Fred: I don

Fred: I will not change my images in LightRoom.

Nicole: I apologise for the inconvenience. 

Nicole: Fred, I'm sorry to inform you that you are unable to open images in camera via Lightroom raw mode.

Fred: In LightRoom where are layers? The path? The channels? Where, if it please tell me why Adobe develop and sell LightRoom 4 or any product that has not benefited from the more sophisticated and refined choices given to you in Camera Raw and PhotoShop 6!

Fred: LightRoom is a waste of money, unless you want to use it for that, so organize your images. Total waste! I'm really ticked thereon.

Fred: It's a waste of my money, my time and effort to accomplish something that cannot be done from LightRoom.

Fred: Correct! It does not use Camera Raw in LightRoom 4. I simply don't understand why we lost all this time brought changes to AppData requiring now I go back and undo the changes or reload all my preferences for PhotoShop 6

Nicole: I apologize for the inconvenience.

Fred: Tell me. Am I correct or am I missing something here?

Fred: You've been very patient, very polite and searched on the question in depth than to have no result. You simply can not Camera Raw from LightRoom. End of discussion.

Fred: I appreciate your sincere effort on my behalf and realize this isn't your fault. So, thanks to a sincere effort help me.

Nicole: I'm sorry to inform you that Lightroom is a product where Camera raw will not require, it will preview the images as the ins plug in camera raw are under construction.

Nicole: You're welcome.

Fred: It would have saved you and me a lot of waste of time and effort to assert that you can't get Camera raw from LightRoom.

Nicole: Fred, it was really nice talking with you.

Nicole: Thank you contact Adobe. Good Bye.

Thank you for chatting with us. Please click on the 'Close' button in the top right of the chat window to tell us how we did today.

You are not currently connected to a representative of cat.