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This article will show you how to Open Images Using Camera RAW in Photoshop. When working with Adobe Photoshop, it is very helpful to learn how to open an image using the Camera Raw format. After importing an image for editing, you might come to the conclusion that the image’s exposure or color parameters require some adjustment on your part. You will naturally want to open the image in Photoshop’s Camera Raw software, which has the same studio features as Adobe Lightroom but does not have the additional workflow tools that Lightroom does. This will save you time loading it up in Adobe Lightroom.
By default, Adobe Photoshop does not open JPEG files directly into the JPEG format; however, it does open RAW files directly into the Camera Raw format. You may be scratching your head after loading in a JPEG or other image file, wondering how to load the image into Camera Raw, but don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. You could have accidentally closed the initial Camera Raw window, in which case you will need to reopen it. The good news is that opening an image in Photoshop’s Camera Raw module is incredibly simple, just as you would hope from one of the most powerful applications for editing photographs. This is the method how to Open Images Using Camera RAW in Photoshop.
What is Camera RAW?
Camera RAW is a file format that stores the unprocessed data that is obtained from the sensor of a digital camera. Because it is a lossless format, any data that is contained within the image will remain intact even after it is converted to another format. Camera RAW files are typically much larger than JPEG or TIFF files, but they offer more flexibility when editing and processing images. JPEG and TIFF files are much more compressed than RAW files.
The white balance, exposure, and colour profile are all stored in the camera’s RAW files, which contain all of the information that was captured by the camera’s sensor. With the help of this data, it will be possible to make modifications to the image without compromising its quality. You can adjust the exposure, for instance, to make the image brighter or darker, or you can change the white balance to correct for a colour cast. Both of these adjustments are possible.
RAW image editors, such as Adobe Photoshop Camera RAW and Lightroom, are typically utilised for the editing process when working with camera RAW files. Using these editors, you are able to make changes to the image without having those changes reflected in the original RAW file. Because of this, you are free to experiment with a variety of settings without risking any harm to the image.
How to Open Images Using Camera RAW in Photoshop

- Open Photoshop and go to File > Open.
- In the Open dialog box, select the image you want to open.
- If the image is a RAW file, Photoshop will automatically open it in Camera RAW.
- If the image is a JPEG or TIFF file, you can open it in Camera RAW by going to Filter > Camera Raw Filter.
- Once the image is open in Camera RAW, you can make various adjustments to it using the tools and controls in the Camera RAW dialog box.
- To save the image, click the Done button in the bottom-right corner of the Camera RAW dialog box.
- In the Save Image dialog box, select the location where you want to save the image and enter a filename for the image.
- Click the Save button.
Benefits of using Camera RAW
- Higher Image Quality: Camera RAW files store more color and tonal information than JPEGs, allowing for better image quality. This is especially important when you need to make significant edits to an image, as you can preserve details and avoid loss of quality.
- Non-Destructive Editing: When you work with Camera RAW files, your edits are non-destructive. This means you can make adjustments without permanently altering the original image. You can always revert to the original state or modify your edits at any time.
- Greater Exposure Control: RAW files provide more flexibility in adjusting exposure, highlights, shadows, and overall tonal range. You can recover details from overexposed or underexposed areas in your photos with ease.
- White Balance Adjustment: Camera RAW allows you to fine-tune white balance after the fact. This is particularly useful when you want to correct color casts or achieve a specific creative look.
- Fine-Tuned Color Correction: You have more control over color adjustments, making it easier to correct color shifts or achieve precise color grading in your images.
Comparing Camera RAW to Other Image Editing Methods
Aspect | Camera RAW | Other Image Editing Methods |
---|---|---|
File Format Support | RAW, DNG, JPEG, TIFF, PSD | JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PSD, BMP, etc. |
Non-Destructive Editing | Yes | Depends on the software |
Adjustments Control | Extensive, precise control | Variable, may be limited |
Exposure Control | Excellent | Varies depending on software |
White Balance Control | Precise | Available, but may be limited |
Noise Reduction | Excellent | Available, but may be limited |
Lens Correction | Comprehensive | Limited, if available |
Sharpening | Precise | Available, but may be limited |
Retouching Tools | Basic | Extensive in dedicated software |
Workflow | Professional photographers | General image editing |
Questions and Answers
Choose Open As from the File menu in Photoshop if you’re using Windows. You can find the JPEG or TIFF image you’re looking for by searching through the folders on your computer. Click on the file that piques your interest, then select Camera Raw from the pop-up menu located to the bottom right of the screen, and finally, click the Open button. Choose Open from the File menu in Photoshop if you’re using a Mac.
In a workflow that combines Camera Raw and Photoshop, the initial processing work is done in Camera Raw. This includes adjusting the overall white balance, exposure, contrast, and colour saturation, as well as adding some initial sharpening, reducing noise, and other similar tasks. In a broad sense, you can consider the work that we do in Camera Raw to be global edits.
You can improve raw photos taken with a wide variety of cameras by using Adobe Camera Raw, and then import those photos into other Adobe applications for further editing. Applications such as Photoshop, Lightroom Classic, Lightroom, Photoshop Elements, After Effects, and Bridge are among those that are supported.