Open RAW files: in Photoshop, CS3

RAW image files store all the data in a photo, compared to JPEG file format, which is what is used when a photo is stored on a memory card. When RAW photos are developed using Adobe Photoshop, it provides amazing details in the photo. However opening RAW photos in Photoshop CS3 can prove difficult and you'll need to download a plug-in to do so. We'll take you through this procedure below.

To open RAW files on Photoshop CS3, first you must download the Adobe Camera Raw Plug-In 4.6 here

To install with Adobe Creative Suite 3 or Photoshop CS3:

• Exit Photoshop CS3.
• Open My Computer.
• Double-click Local Disk (C:).
• Navigate to: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Plug-Ins\CS3\File Formats
• Move the existing Camera Raw.8bi plug-in to another location (for example, a new folder on your desktop). Be sure to keep this version in case you need to revert back.
• Copy the Camera Raw plug-in, Camera Raw.8bi, from the download into the same folder as in step 4.
• Launch Photoshop CS3 or Adobe Bridge.

Note: If generic camera thumbnails appear in Adobe Bridge, follow these steps:

• Check to make sure the plug-in was installed in the correct directory in step 4 above.
• Start Bridge.
• Choose Tools > Cache > Purge Central Cache.

Now you can open the .CR2 Raw files in Adobe Photoshop CS3.