Converting RAW to JPEG

[helton]

Hi everyone-
I have WIN XP, PSE6 and photograph using RAW. After making adjustments in the RAW area I send all photos to the Editor to convert to High Quality JPEG using the "process multiple files" and it takes A LONG TIME!!! I have a fast computer with good memory but it takes about 1-2 minutes to process each photo and when I do about 200 photos at a time, we are talking hours!!:( Does anyone know if there is a way to skip the Editor area and just convert to JPEG from the RAW screen?

[Juergen D]

If I understand your work flow correctly, you never hand the RAW image off to the Editor and do not perform any further editing. However, even without that extra editing, you could open the image in the Editor and than save it as a JPEG as you go. That would be an extra step, but will certainly not take 2 minutes.

One other option is to bring the RAW images into the Organizer and then use the Export function for the conversion. I am not sure how long that would take per picture, since it also has to go through the step that applies the adjustments to final JPEG.

Juergen

[mrod]

A couple weeks back, a guy named Michael Tapes did a guest entry on Scott Kelby's blog (www.scottkelby.com (http://www.scottkelby.com)). In his post, he talks all about RAW, JPG, and, the best part, he posts a link to a free utility that sounds like it will do what you are looking for. I personally haven't used it, but in the days since the post, it's gotten rave reviews.

Here's the link to the full post, and there's a link to the utility towards the end.

http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2008/archives/2027#more-2027

Mike

[Juergen D]

That utility extracts JPEGs from RAWs that are unadjusted. At least that is what I assume from story line. Note that Helton has adjusted his RAW files and thereby created a side car file, which contains the respective information. The RAW file itself should be unaltered. I think that the extraction uses the original file and ignores the side car file. One reason why it is faster.

I may be wrong but I would be careful using that utility in Helton's work flow.

Juergen

[helton]

I'm not sure I explained myself correctly--This is my work flow: I start out in editor and open my raw files. It then opens the raw files and I make my necessary corrections such as vibrance, exposure, etc. I then "open images" to the editor. I don't make any other adjustments in editor but only want to convert to JPEP, so I use "process multiple files". No change has been made to RAW file. The changes (made in the RAW section of PSE) only apply to the newly created high quality JPEG. Is this the correct work flow to convert raw to jpeg?

[Juergen D]

That work flow is how I understood it. There is basically nothing wrong with the method of conversion. But, since you were having a problem with the length of time it took, I suggested to save each image in JPEG format as you go.

You are not really opening the image in the Editor, but in the RAW converter. When done with it, you should select Open Image, which invokes the regular Editor. You can make further edits there, or just save in any format, JPEG being one of them, as long as you are in 8 bit/channel mode.

Once you have processed all images, no further conversion, batch or otherwise, will be required.

Juergen

[mrod]

True. Sorry, I misunderstood what you were trying to do. Thanks, both, for clarifying.

Mike

[helton]

I love this forum!! Questions are answered so promptly. Thanks guys.