robertneger

I am using an old version of Photoshop CS4 and when I try to open RAW files from a Coolpix Nikon- file type NRW will not recognize the document. My guess is that Photoshop software is too old to recognized the type of NRW file.
Do I need to buy a new Photoshop program? or is there any software that will let me alter/print with my old version of photoshop and these type of NRW documents?
Just returning to photography.
Bob Neger in sunning SF, Happy Thanksgiving

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

There are many many new cameras coming out every year. There are probably 500 new cameras and 50 new RAW formats since your CS4 was issued. So it is so far out of touch with today's reality, there's no chance it can recognize your NRW in it's present state.

You can do one of several things.

1) Check with Adobe to see if all the new formats can be added to your CS4 with an update or several updates. I'm not very hopeful about that one though. Several CS5.x versions were issued, CS6.x versions were issued, and then they're into Photoshop CC now, which I'll talk about below.

2) Use the software that came with your Coolpix to convert the files to something else that is compatible. .DNG was the very first RAW file format when it originated and some cameras actually still use it too. It is industry-wide readable by every software. If your camera's limited-ability free software can convert to it, then CS4 will read it. Essentially that's just shaving off all the proprietary stuff in the NRW file that pertains to the camera itself and leaving the photo data only. This is a good choice if you want to stick with your CS4 and spend zero.

3) Use the software that came with your Coolpix to do some of your editing if you like and then convert the NRW to a no-loss TIFF file. The original .DNG file format is a cousin of TIFF and was based on TIFF as its core by designers. While editing a TIFF is destructive to the original file, if you create layers, etc. they will force the new file to be saved as a .PSD native to CS4 and all other Photoshop versions. A reasonable option, but you are working outside of the RAW world of non-destructive edits being stored in a "sidecar" folder. A lot of things you do to the file are reversible but not everything.

4) Forget CS4 and join the new (a couple years old actually) Photoshop CC and Lightroom CC subscription package at $9.99 a month (for both). CC means Creative Cloud. You do download the software to your drive but you are essentially leasing it, not buying it. The software works from your drive just like a purchased version but if Adobe can't check on it every 30 days or less to verify you are still with them, or you don't make your monthly payment, the software becomes unusable within the next 30 days. I personally set up auto-pay at the first of the month with PayPal. All updates and new cameras are added to the software by Adobe in the background as soon as they're released any time you're online and the software is idle (my PC runs 24/7 so I've never seen an update in progress). No charge and you're always up to date. Bugs are found and fixed behind your back. No charge. The way you edit can be, if you allow it, monitored by Adobe so they can improve the products. Photoshop CC is light years easier to use than old versions and has many impressive artificial intelligence new tools that are very good enhancements. Some don't like the idea of paying monthly forever until you don't need Photoshop anymore and then not owning anything. Yet they'll lease a car for 36 months and not own anything at the end. I was paying to update my software before going with this. $9.99 a month is $120 a year. My other software update was $80 a year. So which is better a clone software or the King of the Hill for a $40 difference. If I get to the point where I let my Photoshop subscription expire, I'll be too old and blind to use editing software anyway so I won't care if I own it!

5) If you're not really using all the features of Photoshop heavily and can live with less functionality, check out the latest Photoshop Elements. Back in the day, it was just Adobe Elements and it came free with new PCs but they chose to overhaul it and make it more like Photoshop then call it part of the Photoshop family by changing the name. It's an acceptable editing package although it has limitations that I can't list because I've never used it personally. I don't believe it will use Photoshop plug-ins. It sells for less than $125 most everywhere, especially on Amazon.

6) Buy Corel Paintshop Pro X8 which is a Photoshop clone that does so quite well. It's $59 to $79 everywhere, including from them. Your Coolpix is likely in their database of camera file formats. As it gets closer to the time they're going to release X9 it's feasible that a brand new camera will not be compatible with X8 but will be with X9. At that point an X9 upgrade $ from X8 would be required.

7) Buy and use the latest Lightroom available everywhere. If you like Adobe Bridge you won't like Lightroom's cataloging system. I hate it. Many people are confused completely by it. Hundreds write in to UHH begging for help with it. Lightroom is essentially the same as Photoshop's ACR module with all the sliders for correction and basic editing BUT you can't move into the layer-based editing of Photoshop because it isn't layer based. Yet in your case, you could import your NRW files, use LR to edit as though you were using ACR, save files as DNG and uses your CS4 for layer editing functions. Kind of going around the bush to achieve your goal but feasible.

So there. Hope that helps you find a work around.

tsilva Loc: Arizona

Upgrade

robertneger

Thanks you very much. I will be acting on your recommendations. Bob

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Yes, upgrade from CS4 to CS6.x is another option I forgot.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Go here buy your very own copy of Photoshop CC for £30 British money less than $50.

www.wizzlinks.com

All working with full install instructions and no monthly payment nonsense.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It would be cheaper to buy a camera of the same vintage as CS4. I'm sure you can find one on ebay. I wonder how NRW and NEF compare.

Capn_Dave

Or you could download the Adobe DNG converter. That will allow your old version of Photoshop.

It's available here:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=5919

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

Really,wow I have CS4 & would love to purchase CS6 but it would cost more for us living in the US!Does anyone know what the cost is to upgrade?

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Go to the site contact them and they will sell you CS6 for less than CC even

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

I am going to check it out thanks!

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Without knowing which Coolpix camera, it's hard to say exactly. If you are okay using that older copy of Photoshop... i.e. it does all you need it to do...

First thing is you should check that you have the last/latest version of Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) available for CS4 installed. You can find out on the Adobe website or on one of the Wikis, what the last version is.

Next consult the Adobe website to see if that version of ACR can handle your camera. If it's a newer model camera than the older software can handle, you have several choices:

- Upgrade to a newer version of Photoshop and ACR.
- Buy a different, more current software to convert the images into a usable format, and perhaps do some image editing at the same time... Adobe Lightroom or Elements could be used, for example.
- Use the camera manufacturer's provided software to convert RAW files to a format CS4 can work with.
- Download and install Adobe's free DNG converter, which will change the RAW format to DNG, which in turn can be worked in CS4.



Be careful! I'm extremely suspicious of any website that offers software way, way below the usual pricing. They are offering Photoshop "2015 CC" for £30... but it doesn't say it's a licensed, stand-alone copy. I suspect that's just the subscription software, which you can get for $10 in the U.S., with Lightroom CC included, then pay $10 a month for it as long as you use it.

They also offer "2014 CC, non-subsctiption", which is weird. The non-subsctription, stand-alone, licensed version of Photohop is "CS6"... not "CC". They do offer that... but how they are able to offer it for £30, I don't know. The best price I've seen on a full version is $340 (you cannot upgrade from CS4 to CS6, so would need a full version).

Anyway, maybe those pricing are for real. Maybe it's not. I see a lot of other software there at unusually low price, too.

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

I know I am thinking the same thing!!!!!!!

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

What needs to be updated is the Adobe Camera Raw plug-in, not the entire Photoshop software. All ACR does is read and convert the raw file data to Photoshop image format. Once it opens one can convert to DNG which is Adobe raw file format.

Marilyng Loc: Lorain,Oh.

I use topaz filters & I am afraid in time when Topaz creates new filters it won't support CS3.I would just love a new version of Ps because it has a lot of new features in it that aren't in my CS3.