Converting CRW to RAW for use in Photoshop 7

I've searched through posts that discuss CRW to RAW conversion and have not found a clear answer to what is probably a simple question. I'm trying to learn to use exposure bracketing with my G3. I take the shots and get the CRW files using Zoombrowser. From various articles and web sites on merging these bracketed files I see that I need to change the files from CRW files to RAW files for merging in Photoshop 7. Here lies the problem -- I do not see any way in the software to convert the CRW file to RAW (.RAW extension) and Photoshop will not load the CRW files.

Zoombrowser lets me convert CRW to Exif-JPEG, Exif-TIFF(8 bit), and TIFF(16 bit). I must be missing something (other than a few critical brain cells). Can anyone help me with this first step in the process?

.CRW IS RAW

The CRW file that your camera creates is the RAW file...

The problem is that Photoshop 7 does not work with RAW files on it's own.

Adobe had sold a RAW plug in (Adobe Camera Raw) for PS7 that would allow RAW functionality,. but they have discontinued it

It also require the ACR plugin to be "hacked" to work with the 10D...

For full RAW support,. one needs to upgrade to PhotoshopCS (8)

Thanks CyberDyneSystems - but the odd thing is that Photoshop 7 has the option to load Raw(*.RAW) files in the File, Open Dialog . I tried to rename the file to a .RAW extension but that did not work (I didn't expect it would but was worth a try). PS said that it did not recognize the format.

Hi Blyle.

As cyberdynesystem Said CRW is RAW, Canon Raw, is different from PS Raw, Differrent from Nikon Raw.They are different from its other.

All you need to do is convert your CRW files into TIF files (or JPG if you are so inclined). Then you can work on them like any other image file.

Adobe Camera RAW 2.1

You can make Adobe Camera RAW 2.1 to work in photoshop 7.0 or Paint Shop Pro with this fix:


Patch:

http://colblair.nm.ru/​acr.htm

Plug-in:

http://www.adobe.com …ads/detail.jsp?​ftpID=2433

If this works this will help a few people out for sure,.

But the download is n executasble hosted on a raussion server

Pretty ominous...

Not sure I want to be the guinea pig on this one ..

And technically,. as a "hack" that alters Adobe source code,. it may be illegal..

... but they do allow downloading of the RAW plugin thing for free...

CyberDyneSystems wrote:
Not sure I want to be the guinea pig on this one ..

Whoops Looks like I am the guinea pig and all seems OK at the moment, I will let you all know if I find any problems.
All I need now is a plugin that lets me veiw my RAW images in Windows Explorer

Assuming you're using XP, you can view thumbnails of CRW files in explorer. There are two methods:

1. This will show thumbnails for .THM files. Copy the following text to a .reg file. Then double-click the .reg file to import it into the registry.
---start copying after this line---
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.th​m]
"PerceivedType"="image​"
@="jpegfile"
"Content Type"="image/jpeg"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.th​m\OpenWithProgids]
"jpegfile"=hex(0):
---end copying above this line----

2. This was originally posted here. The link to download the dll no longer works, so I put a copy on my site here. Download the file and extract crw_thumbnailer.dll. Copy this file to any location on your computer (just remember where you put it). I would suggest c:\windows\system32.

Now open a command prompt and type regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\cr​w_thumbnailer.dll and hit enter. You should get a message that the dll was successfully registered. The change takes effect immediately, so you should be able to see the thumbnails if you open a folder of CRW files.

Thanks Tony, that's helpful.

more RAW fix

I used the fix posted by soros with Photoshop 7.0, sometimes the CWR files have failed to open but after a second attempt they would open fine, I guess that this backs up CDS concerns. I may of carried on using the fix but I have now upgraded to Photoshop CS, so I will have to pass on the guinea pig roll.

Also, Thanks to tonymac; I have wondered for sometime weather it was possible to view RAW files in windows explorer and have not come across a solution before. much appreciated.