Captain’s Blog, 240523.1 – When Photoshop (or Adobe Camera Raw) Won’t Start

This is a reminder to myself as much as anything, because it happened yet again tonight. Here’s the scenario:

  • You have photos in Adobe Bridge. Typically these are raw (unprocessed) photos rather than jpgs.
  • You open them by double clicking on them, which launches (or is SUPPOSED to launch) Adobe Camera Raw (ACR).
  • You have the option of making changes in ACR. (Though I rarely do since I prefer to make dynamic changes via layers and masks, but you can and some people prefer it.)
  • When you’re done, you load the image into Photoshop for final processing.

Except here’s what happens instead:

  • You double click on an image.
  • Photoshop, or more precisely a dead, ghostly image of it, loads in the background, but
  • ACR does not open at all.

Instead of Camera Raw opening, the ghost of Photoshop is as dead as a brick. So what do you do?

  • Kill Photoshop using Task Manager or PowerShell. (If you don’t know how, reboot your computer.)
  • Shut down Bridge if you have it open.
  • Open Photoshop by itself.
  • HOLD DOWN THE [Ctrl] KEY, and go to Edit => Preferences => Camera Raw… (right at the bottom).
  • You will see a dialog asking whether you want to reset Camera Raw preferences. Confirm that you wish to do so.
  • Shut down Photoshop.
  • Open Bridge.
  • You’re back in business.

You’re welcome…

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