HDR Protocol ?

[TimothyKim]

I have some past HDR images from merging identical images at different shutters. However, I can't seem to open the past composite back into Camera Raw. Any suggestions?

 

[Steve]

What's the file extension.
If it's a merged image it;s no longer a RAW image.
If it's a TIFF or a JPG it can be opened in bridge but it needs to be enabled.

In Bridge go to Edit|Camera Raw Preferences and enable those file types.

Or are we talking about something else?

 

[Tom Mann]

To ask Steve's question in a different way, by any chance, did you save your HDR file in one of the 32 bit per channel HDR formats (eg, *.HDR, *.EXR, etc., ) or did you, in your HDR program, apply the final efx and convert it to a normal image like a JPG, TIF, or even a PSD file?

Tom M

 

[TimothyKim]

This may be sub-optimal technique, but I always import into PShop. So all of may HDR's are PSD's. The original files I use are always Nikon's NEF format. Thx for your help!

 

[TimothyKim]

I was unaware of other available saving file extension formats, so all are my HDR's are saved as PSD's which I thought was the favored format for ultimate flexibility in other image Pshop functionalities.

 

[Steve]

There's nothing wrong with saving it as a PSD but you can't open a PSD in ACR
You need to Save As and select Tiff.
You also need to discard the layers to open in ACR

 

[MikeMc]

If you saved the original images as layers in your PSD, AND the original images were originally opened in ACR then you can re open the individual layers in ACR .

That said why do you want to use ACR for post processing ? Tom Mann has got me using ACR before I open it up in PS, I rarely go back after to change, BUT my images are shot in RAW with a Pentax, so everything flows through ACR

 

[Steve]

If you saved the original images as layers in your PSD, AND the original images were originally opened in ACR then you can re open the individual layers in ACR .

That said why do you want to use ACR for post processing ? Tom Mann has got me using ACR before I open it up in PS, I rarely go back after to change, BUT my images are shot in RAW with a Pentax, so everything flows through ACR

I've only done a few HDR's mostly out of curiosity but HDR's bypasses ACR at least when done through Bridge (if I remember correctly).
As to reopening a single layer in ACR I think you need to be using PSCC.
I'm using PSCS6 and I don't see that option.

 

[Tom Mann]

Another question, Tim: Are you using Photoshop's built-in HDR tools, or are you using some third-party program that specializes in HDR work, eg, Photomatix?

Tom M