Cannot Use Camera Raw out of LightRoom 4

Question

Below is a lengthy dialogue that I just had with Tech Support via Chat regarding accessing Camera Raw directly out of LightRoom 4.  The end result is that it can't be done.  LightRoom 4 has it's own "Develop" section and if you try to "Edit in: PhotoShop 6" the RAW image will bypass Camera Raw and open directly into PhotoShop.  Something that I was surprised at and frustrated by.  I thought for sure I was missing somehting.
I do not recommend buying LightRoom other than a means of "organizing" our images.  I simply use Bridgne and am able to open a Canon "CR2" Raw file directly into Camera Raw and then after making my adjustments directly into PhotoShop.  LightRoom lacks Layers, Paths and Channels and a host of other wonderful adjustment / manipulation capabilites not found in LightRoom.
So, if you are like me and want to use Camera Raw prior to going to PhotoShop then LightRoom will not get you there.  I spent a tremendous amount of time researching it thinking I must be missing something and then I contacted Support via Chat and we went through changing %AppData%, which only resulted in me losing all my PhotoShop Preferences!  A total waste of the Technician's time and mine.
I share the below chat with you only to show you the ludicrous amount of time wasted when the answer remains the same:  YOU CANNOT ACCESS CAMERA RAW DIRECTLY OUT OF LIGHTROOM 4
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You are now chatting with 'Soumyadeep'
Soumyadeep: Hello. Welcome to Adobe Technical Support.
Soumyadeep: Hi Fred!
Fred: Hi there my friend. I am trying to use Lightroom 4, but frankly am not happy with the way it handles RAW files.
Fred: I cannot open a Canon ".cr2" RAW file directly into Camera Raw from LightRoom.
Soumyadeep: I have received your query. Please allow me a moment to verify your account and to review the details of your request.
Fred: Thanks. I have also gone through all of the information I can find in the "Help Menu" looking up everything. Can't find a thing on LightRoom 4. I did not have this problem with Lightroom 3.
Fred: The RAW file that it references is "DNG".
Soumyadeep: I understand that you are unable to preview cr2 raw images in Lightroom 4, am I correct?
Fred: No, I can preview it, but when i want to open it the only choice I am given is CS6. I cannot open it into Camera Raw and it actually choses a completely different and inappropriate plug in from NIK Software.
Soumyadeep: Thank you for confirming.
Fred: I know I can change that in the "Prefernces" in Lightroom 4 but I can't find Camera Raw to select as the choice.
Soumyadeep: I will be glad to assist you with this.
Soumyadeep: May I have the serial number of the product please?
Fred: I just checked again and it is set to a NIK Software plugin as an external software to open the file.
Fred: Yes, let me get it for you.
Fred: Lightroom version: 4.1 [829322] Operating system: Windows 7 Business Edition Version: 6.1 [7601] Application architecture: x64 System architecture: x64 Physical processor count: 2 Processor speed: 2.1 GHz Built-in memory: 8123.8 MB Real memory available to Lightroom: 8123.8 MB Real memory used by Lightroom: 1687.3 MB (20.7%) Virtual memory used by Lightroom: 1657.0 MB Memory cache size: 1194.5 MB System DPI setting: 96 DPI Desktop composition enabled: Yes Displays: 1) 1360x768 Application folder: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.1 Library Path: C:\Users\FT\Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom 4 Catalog.lrcat Settings Folder: C:\Users\FT\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom Adapter #1: Vendor : 8086 Device : 2a42 Subsystem : 145110cf Revision : 7 Video Memory : 32 AudioDeviceIOBlockSize: 1024 AudioDeviceName: Speakers (2- USB Audio) AudioDeviceNumberOfChannels: 2 AudioDeviceSampleRate: 44100 Build: 6.0x552 Direct2DEnabled: false GL_ALPHA_BITS: 8 GL_BLUE_BITS: 8 GL_GREEN_BITS: 8 GL_MAX_3D_TEXTURE_SIZE: 128 GL_MAX_TEXTURE_SIZE: 4096 GL_MAX_TEXTURE_UNITS: 8 GL_MAX_VIEWPORT_DIMS: 4096,4096 GL_RED_BITS: 8 GL_RENDERER: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family GL_SHADING_LANGUAGE_VERSION: 1.20 - Intel Build 8.15.10.1883 GL_VENDOR: Intel GL_VERSION: 2.1.0 - Build 8.15.10.1883 OGLEnabled: true OGLPresent: true GL_EXTENSIONS: GL_EXT_blend_minmax GL_EXT_blend_subtract GL_EXT_blend_color GL_EXT_abgr GL_EXT_texture3D GL_EXT_clip_volume_hint GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array GL_SGIS_texture_edge_clamp GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap GL_EXT_draw_range_elements GL_SGIS_texture_lod GL_EXT_rescale_normal GL_EXT_packed_pixels GL_EXT_separate_specular_color GL_ARB_multitexture GL_EXT_texture_env_combine GL_EXT_bgra GL_EXT_blend_func_separate GL_EXT_secondary_color GL_EXT_fog_coord GL_EXT_texture_env_add GL_ARB_texture_cube_map GL_ARB_transpose_matrix GL_ARB_texture_env_add GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays GL_NV_blend_square GL_ARB_texture_compression GL_3DFX_texture_compression_FXT1 GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp GL_ARB_point_parameters GL_ARB_texture_env_combine GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3 GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc GL_ARB_shadow GL_ARB_window_pos GL_EXT_shadow_funcs GL_EXT_stencil_wrap GL_ARB_vertex_program GL_EXT_texture_rectangle GL_ARB_fragment_program GL_EXT_stencil_two_side GL_ATI_separate_stencil GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias GL_ARB_occlusion_query GL_ARB_fragment_shader GL_ARB_shader_objects GL_ARB_shading_language_100 GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two GL_ARB_vertex_shader GL_NV_texgen_reflection GL_ARB_point_sprite GL_EXT_blend_equation_separate GL_ARB_depth_texture GL_ARB_texture_rectangle GL_ARB_draw_buffers GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object GL_WIN_swap_hint GL_EXT_framebuffer_object GL_EXT_texture_sRGB GL_ARB_color_buffer_float GL_ARB_half_float_pixel GL_ARB_texture_float GL_NV_conditional_render GL_EXT_texture_swizzle
Fred: Just a second. No serial number is given in System Information.
Soumyadeep: I am sorry to inform you that the serial number will not be available in your system.
Soumyadeep: Fred, I have locate the serial number in your Adobe account.
Fred: Lightroom version: 4.1 [829322] Operating system: Windows 7 Business Edition Version: 6.1 [7601] Application architecture: x64 System architecture: x64 Physical processor count: 2 Processor speed: 2.1 GHz Built-in memory: 8123.8 MB Real memory available to Lightroom: 8123.8 MB Real memory used by Lightroom: 1687.3 MB (20.7%) Virtual memory used by Lightroom: 1657.0 MB Memory cache size: 1194.5 MB System DPI setting: 96 DPI Desktop composition enabled: Yes Displays: 1) 1360x768 Application folder: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4.1 Library Path: C:\Users\FT\Pictures\Lightroom\Lightroom 4 Catalog.lrcat Settings Folder: C:\Users\FT\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Lightroom Adapter #1: Vendor : 8086 Device : 2a42 Subsystem : 145110cf Revision : 7 Video Memory : 32 AudioDeviceIOBlockSize: 1024 AudioDeviceName: Speakers (2- USB Audio) AudioDeviceNumberOfChannels: 2 AudioDeviceSampleRate: 44100 Build: 6.0x552 Direct2DEnabled: false GL_ALPHA_BITS: 8 GL_BLUE_BITS: 8 GL_GREEN_BITS: 8 GL_MAX_3D_TEXTURE_SIZE: 128 GL_MAX_TEXTURE_SIZE: 4096 GL_MAX_TEXTURE_UNITS: 8 GL_MAX_VIEWPORT_DIMS: 4096,4096 GL_RED_BITS: 8 GL_RENDERER: Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family GL_SHADING_LANGUAGE_VERSION: 1.20 - Intel Build 8.15.10.1883 GL_VENDOR: Intel GL_VERSION: 2.1.0 - Build 8.15.10.1883 OGLEnabled: true OGLPresent: true GL_EXTENSIONS: GL_EXT_blend_minmax GL_EXT_blend_subtract GL_EXT_blend_color GL_EXT_abgr GL_EXT_texture3D GL_EXT_clip_volume_hint GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array GL_SGIS_texture_edge_clamp GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap GL_EXT_draw_range_elements GL_SGIS_texture_lod GL_EXT_rescale_normal GL_EXT_packed_pixels GL_EXT_separate_specular_color GL_ARB_multitexture GL_EXT_texture_env_combine GL_EXT_bgra GL_EXT_blend_func_separate GL_EXT_secondary_color GL_EXT_fog_coord GL_EXT_texture_env_add GL_ARB_texture_cube_map GL_ARB_transpose_matrix GL_ARB_texture_env_add GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays GL_NV_blend_square GL_ARB_texture_compression GL_3DFX_texture_compression_FXT1 GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp GL_ARB_point_parameters GL_ARB_texture_env_combine GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3 GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc GL_ARB_shadow GL_ARB_window_pos GL_EXT_shadow_funcs GL_EXT_stencil_wrap GL_ARB_vertex_program GL_EXT_texture_rectangle GL_ARB_fragment_program GL_EXT_stencil_two_side GL_ATI_separate_stencil GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias GL_ARB_occlusion_query GL_ARB_fragment_shader GL_ARB_shader_objects GL_ARB_shading_language_100 GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two GL_ARB_vertex_shader GL_NV_texgen_reflection GL_ARB_point_sprite GL_EXT_blend_equation_separate GL_ARB_depth_texture GL_ARB_texture_rectangle GL_ARB_draw_buffers GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object GL_WIN_swap_hint GL_EXT_framebuffer_object GL_EXT_texture_sRGB GL_ARB_color_buffer_float GL_ARB_half_float_pixel GL_ARB_texture_float GL_NV_conditional_render GL_EXT_texture_swizzle
Fred: OK, how can I easily get the bloody serial number for you?
Soumyadeep: Fred, I have locate the serial number in your Adobe account.
Soumyadeep: Once you login to the Adobe account, click on "My products" under the "My products and services".
Soumyadeep: There you can locate the serial number which you have registered.
Fred: OK, so you don't need it now. It isn't in a format that I can copy and paste.
Fred: 116040070815784336099081
Soumyadeep: Since it was registered in your Adobe account we can get the information from there.
Soumyadeep: Thank you for the serial number.
Soumyadeep: Fred, I would like to inform you that all the raw edit options you will get in Lightroom develop module.
Fred: I hope I copied it correctly it is presented so small.
Fred: OK, just a second.
Fred: So, I go to "Develop" it will open in Camera Raw 7.01?
Fred: Frankly, this is the reason that I have just been using Bridge is because of the seemingly lack of coherent connection between LightRoom 4 and PhotoShop CS6.
Soumyadeep: I would like to inform you that you will not have any separate camera raw plugins for Lightroom. Since Lightroom will not require a camera raw converter.
Fred: At least I can open into Camera Raw and make the necessary adjustments and it will load in to PhotoShop.
Fred: OK, then why when opening a "RAW" image out of LightRoom does it go directly to CS6 bypassing Camera Raw?
Fred: Not allowing all of the wonderful adjustment toos, particularly the new ones in Camera Raw. I just don't understand the disconnect.
Soumyadeep: Fred, may I know which product you are referring as  "CS6"?
Fred: If I had wanted to process all my images in LightRoom I would not have wasted my money on CS6. Does that make sense?
Fred: PhotoShop CS6
Fred: Or PhotoShop 6 Extended
Soumyadeep: Thank you for the information.
Fred: The question still remains "Why does LightRoom 4 only recongize DNG files and not other RAW file formats and not allow them to be opened into Camera Raw?"
Fred: I don't want to process my images in LightRoom 4. I want to catalog and sort them. I want to process the RAW files from Canon in Camera Raw and then move on to PhotoShop 6 Extended.
Fred: So, what you are telling me is that I can't open a RAW file in LightRoom into Camera Raw. Simply stated.
Soumyadeep: Fred, I can understand your concern. Lightroom will not require a camera raw converter.
Soumyadeep: May I have the name of the camera model you are referring?
Fred: Two camera models: EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 60D
Soumyadeep: Please so that I can check further and try to troubleshoot your issue.
Soumyadeep: .Thank you for the information.
Fred: Both are listed as supported by Adobe PhotoShop and Camera Raw. I found that in my research.
Soumyadeep: Okay.
Soumyadeep: Please close all the Adobe applications.
Fred: I simply want to go from LightRoom 4 directly to Camera Raw 7.01 and then onto PhotoShop 6 Extended. Seems pretty straight forward and logical to me. Then again I'm not Adobe.
Fred: OK, just a moment and I'll do that.
Soumyadeep: Click on Start.
Soumyadeep: Fred, may I know what operating system you are using?
Fred: I am working on Windows 7 64 bit operating system.
Fred: I have closed all applications from Adobe.
Soumyadeep: Thank you for the information.
Soumyadeep: Click on Start.
Soumyadeep: Just type %Appdata% in the search box and hit the enter key.
Fred: Ok, Im pretty computer savy so just tell me where you want to go.
Soumyadeep: Double click on Adobe folder.
Fred: Done
Soumyadeep: In that folder you will have a folder CameraRaw. Please rename the folder as CameraRawold.
Fred: Done
Soumyadeep: In that folder you will have a folder Adobe Photoshop CS6. Please rename the folder as Adobe Photoshop CS6old
Soumyadeep: After renaming the images please close the page and try to open a raw file and let me know the exact result.
Fred: Done
Fred: Just a moment. I have renamed CameraRawold and Adobe6Old. i am going to navigate to my external drive and click on a RAW File
Soumyadeep: Okay.
Soumyadeep: Let me know the status.
Fred: It is opening PhotoShop 6 Extended.
Fred: I can change the properties of the file to open in another program if that is where we are going.
Fred: It also created an error that stated that it recognized graphic software that is not completely supported and PhotoShop is not opening normally.
Fred: Given a little more time it opened in Camera Raw.
Soumyadeep: Fred, once more step you need to perform as you got an error regarding graphic software.
Soumyadeep: Please try to work on the Camera Raw and let me know it is working fine or not.
Fred: And I lost my presets.
Fred: OK, where does this leave us?
Fred: With regards to LightRoom 4?
Soumyadeep: Fred, you wanted to open the raw images in Camera raw option instead of Photoshop CS6, right?
Fred: Camera Raw appears to be functiong fine.
Soumyadeep: Great!
Soumyadeep: Please close all the Adobe application.
Soumyadeep: Re launch Photoshop and type CNTRL+ K.
Soumyadeep: Let me know once you are done.
Fred: Checking the "CR2" files out of Canon the dafault to open is with PhotoShop 6
Fred: Ok, let me close all of them.
Fred: OK, closed sir.
Soumyadeep: Please navigate to Performance tab.
Fred: "Performance Tab" in what program?
Soumyadeep: Re launch Photoshop and type CNTRL+ K
Soumyadeep: A new window will pop up "Preference"
Fred: Just a second it is opening. Thanks for help.
Fred: I am now at the Prefernces box. Performance Tab
Soumyadeep: You are welcome.
Soumyadeep: Correct.
Fred: OK, I'm in Preferences
Soumyadeep: Please let me know Use Graphics Processor is checked or unchecked.
Fred: It is checked. I do know that on this machine that the graphics processor is not fully supported due to a lack of a separte video card.
Soumyadeep: Okay. Please do check once that the graphic drives are updated or not.
Soumyadeep: Fred, I hope now your are able to open the raw images in camera raw as you were referring?
Fred: Just a second. Driver software is up to date.
Fred: Let me open LightRoom 4 and see where it goes. Just a second.
Soumyadeep: Sure.
Fred: Lightroom is taking a long time to open now.
Fred: Now I'm getting the message that it is not responding.
Fred: OK, it finally opened. Just a second.
Soumyadeep: Okay.
Soumyadeep: Please let me know the result.
Fred: In light room when I select "Edit In PhotoShop 6" it is going directly to Photoshop 6 and not opening Camera Raw. Still.
Fred: So, my friend. We are still back to the original question and now I have to reload all of my preferences lost due to the change in AppData. LOL!
Fred: I guess I can organize all I ant in LightRoom and still use Bridge to edit and work on my images.
Fred: Sorry! Organize all I want and still edit out of Bridge.
Soumyadeep: Fred, I am sorry to inform you that when you will open the images from Lightroom it will not require the camera raw and also when you will try to open the images in other software from Lightroom it will directly open in that software. Since Lightroom itself works as a Came

Answer 1

Jim, thank you for an excellent responce.  I truthfully had researched the "Help" section on LightRoom and PhotoShop and found nothing that even remotely resembled your straight forward and easy to follow directions.  After upgrading to CS6 and LightRoom 4 I am delighted with all of the new features that Adobe created in PhotoShop.  I'm not sure that LightRoom 4 was as great an advancement as PhotoShop itself.
I am certainly going to give your solution a try and see how it works out for me.   I concur that I probably do not fully understand and appreciate the relationship between the two programs.  Today was my attempt of gaining a better insight to that relationship.  Thank you for your response!