I’ve been trying to use Photoshop to post-process my EXR renders just like I’d do with DNG files. You know better than me the difficulties of this, since Adobe Camera Raw does not support 32 EXR files. My current workaround is to check the “Use adobe Camera Raw to convert documents from 32 bit to 16/8 bit” option in Photoshop preferences. This way, every time I load a 32 bit EXR render in Photoshop and change from 32 bit to 8 bit, Photoshop will launch ACR in order to tonemap the image.
However, after messing around with this method for a while, I’ve started to question myself wheatear this is really working or not since it doesn’t really feel like editing a real RAW image. I mean, am I really being able to access the whole dynamic range of the EXR using this workaround? If you have already tried this method, I’d love to hear your thoughts about it.
Yeah, I guess I’ll have to accept that Photoshop/ACR is not meant to be used for 32bit EXR editing. I really like the simplicity of ACR but maybe it’s time to try something different like the options you guys mentioned.
also - if the only goal you are after is the ability to access full hdr of a render in post you might consider converting it from linear to any log color first. this would be 16 bit document in PS and all the tools would be available.
