Thank you everyone, much appreciated.
After posting last night I thought about reproducing the same issue on my laptop (MacBook Pro) as I run the same software (PS CC 2014, ACR 8.6, DNG Converter 8.6) and workflow as on my main Mac.
And yes, the problem is definitely reproducible.
Then had a lightbulb moment by downloading & trying an earlier version of DNG converter (v8.5)
Voila! Lo & behold the problem is gone. 8.5 is king
So I’m with you ssprengal, it appears DNG 8.6 is somewhat buggy when it comes to transferring/recognizing customised settings in the way I normally do it.
(ie drag drop CR2 + Sidecars onto DNG Converter)
FYI, when editing CR2 files direct in the ACR 8.6 dialogue window I can convert to DNG with settings intact....but for me that workflow holds up ACR for eding on other work
FYI_2
Usual editing workflow goes like this:-
- Edit CR2 files direct in ACR 8.6
- Save files as Jpegs, Tiff etc or whatever client needs
- Hide or quit ACR
- Go to folder where CR2 & sidecar files are.
- Select all, drag drop onto DNG converter
- Press convert
I run this workflow only so it frees up ACR for further editing (say on a different job)
Some jobs run into hundreds of final images, so efficiency is key.
ACR works while the DNG converter is working (on other files) in the background.