Unable to open

[Optikal iLLusion]

I havent been able to open RAW files in PSE8 since i purchased it. I tried updating the Plugin and it still says it cant open it. Any ideas why??

[Doug Pardee]

What kind of camera are the Raw files from?

[OsmosisStudios]

Depending on the age of the camera, you may not be able to open RAW files with your version of PS. Newer bodies require updates to the RAW converter in PS.

[mrteacherdude]

I'm thinking the most likely reason is what OsmosisStudios suggested. See if there is an updated RAW converter for PSE 8. Otherwise, you can just use the software (Digital Photo Professional) that came with your camera. Until fairly recently, that is the only software I have used to process the RAW files from my cameras.

[inkista]

Try using the Adobe DNG converter, and seeing if that works.

Newer cameras have RAW formats that only the current version of Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) can suss out. And Adobe typically only lets the current version of their apps use the latest version of ACR, so you're "forced" to upgrade your application whenever you buy a new camera.

Realizing, however, that forced upgrades can piss off a client base, they also allow the latest version of the (free) DNG converter to use the latest version of ACR, and any version of DNG can be opened by any version of Photoshop/Lightroom whathaveyou.

Convert your RAW files to DNG, and you should be able to open them with an older version of PSE.