Installation Guide

Get MergeRAW up and running in just a few minutes

Automatic Installation (macOS)

  1. Download the macOS installer (MergeRAW-version.pkg) and double-click it to open the macOS Installer.
  2. Follow the wizard — Introduction, Read Me, then Install. Click Continue, then Install.
  3. Enter your password when prompted; the plugin installs into the system-wide Lightroom modules folder.
  4. If macOS blocks the package, right-click (or Control-click) the .pkg and choose Open.
  5. Restart Lightroom Classic when the installer finishes.

Manual Installation (macOS)

Copy the mergeraw.lrplugin folder to your Lightroom Plugin Directory:

For only the current user:

~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Modules

For all users:

/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Modules

(may require password)

How to access the Library folder:

  1. In Finder, use the Go → Go to Folder... menu
  2. Copy and paste one of the paths above
  3. Click Go
  4. Copy the mergeraw.lrplugin folder into the Modules folder

Automatic Installation (Windows)

  1. Download the Windows installer (MergeRAW-version-Setup.exe) and run it.
  2. If Windows shows a “Windows protected your PC” SmartScreen prompt, click More info → Run anyway.
  3. Follow the setup wizard and approve the administrator prompt. It installs the plugin into your Lightroom Classic folder; you can confirm or change that folder on the wizard's directory screen.
  4. Restart Lightroom Classic.

Manual Installation (Windows)

Alternatively, copy the mergeraw.lrplugin folder into your Lightroom Classic installation folder:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Lightroom Classic

💡 Paste that path into the Windows Explorer address bar to open the folder.

After Installation

  1. Restart Lightroom Classic to load the new plugins
  2. Verify the plugin is installed by checking File → Plug-in Manager
    Plugin Manager
  3. The plugins will appear in the File → Plug-in Extras → Ryan's Raw Tools menu
    Plugin Extras menu
  4. You can also access them from the File → Export menu or by right-clicking on images
    Export menu with plugins

Look for these four plugins:

  • Merge Raw Files - Main plugin for pixel shift and frame averaging
  • Remove Built-In Profile - Remove mandatory lens profiles
  • Edit Raw in Photoshop - Round-trip editing while keeping raw flexibility
  • Fix IR PDAF Banding - Remove periodic row banding from infrared and full-spectrum cameras

Troubleshooting

If the plugins don't appear after restarting Lightroom:

  1. Verify the plugin folder is in the correct location
  2. Check that you copied the entire mergeraw.lrplugin folder, not just its contents
  3. Try installing to the user-specific folder instead of the system-wide folder
  4. On macOS, ensure the plugin folder has the .lrplugin extension
  5. Check Lightroom's Plugin Manager (File → Plug-in Manager) to see if the plugin is listed but disabled

Next Steps

1

Select Images

In Lightroom, select multiple raw files you want to merge (pixel shift sets or bracketed exposures).

2

Launch Plugin

Right-click on the selected images and choose Merge Raw Files from the context menu.

3

Choose Settings

Select your alignment mode (Pixel Shift, Standard, or Disabled) and blend mode (Normal, Deghosting, Median, etc.).

4

Merge!

Click OK and MergeRAW will create a new DNG file in your catalog.

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