Converting RAW to Jpeg images in large groups

[TAS32253]

Hi Folks!
I have returned from vacation and have a large number (hundreds) of RAW photos that I don't need to retain in RAW and am satisfied to work on them in Jpeg. I have been converting each file into a Jpeg format by opening each file and then doing a "save as". That is a time consuming process with you are dealing with hundeds of shots. Is there a faster way to convertlarge groups of files to Jpegs? As a side note, in the future I'll probably stop shooting RAW - I just don't seem to be getting the benefit of the addional data captured in the file during editing and they are consuming a mountain of hard drive space.
I shoot a Nikon D80 and I'm using PS5 and have access to PS7 if that makes any difference.
Thanks in advance for you help!
Terry

[Not4wood]

Well, first of all on our last vacation this past summer I had shot 1700 images and all in Raw.

Converting to jpg is my very last step. Once I open the image I edit it a bit and then when I hit OK it jumps to CS2 and I edit and save as in psd format. I work in there with all of the layers until I think this image is acceptable then keep saving it in this psd format. Once I think its finished I will save it once again in the psd to confirm I have this updated copy. I then flatten everything and make sure I can change and save in the jpg format so I can publish it on the net, send it out in email and of course so I can save it on CD as a backup.

You can batch open and make changes in ACR for those images that are similiar. How many, if an image is slightly different needs of course you will have to go in and make those corrections seperately.

[Chuck S.]

Terry, look under File>Process Multiple Files (or something similar - I don't remember exactly how it's titled in PSE5). I believe you'll be able to batch convert your RAW images to JPEG in that dialog. However, as Mark indicated, you may want to go back and process some of the RAW images separately. For that reason, I would save and store the RAW images on external HD, CD, or DVD - they're your digital negatives.

Hope that helps.

[TAS32253]

Thanks - that was helpful!
Terry

[meenakshi]

Hi Folks!
I have returned from vacation and have a large number (hundreds) of RAW photos that I don't need to retain in RAW and am satisfied to work on them in Jpeg. I have been converting each file into a Jpeg format by opening each file and then doing a "save as". That is a time consuming process with you are dealing with hundeds of shots. Is there a faster way to convertlarge groups of files to Jpegs? As a side note, in the future I'll probably stop shooting RAW - I just don't seem to be getting the benefit of the addional data captured in the file during editing and they are consuming a mountain of hard drive space.
I shoot a Nikon D80 and I'm using PS5 and have access to PS7 if that makes any difference.
Thanks in advance for you help!
Terry
Hi Terry,
I have been using contenta converter to convert RAW images to JPEG and it works fine for me, it handles batch processing very well.

[dj_paige]

All of which brings up the question ... why shoot in RAW and then bulk convert to .jpg?

Doesn't make sense to me. Seems like you get all the disadvantages of RAW (larger file size, which takes longer to write to your memory card and to your computer; plus time to convert to .jpg) and none of the advantages (can produce higher picture quality after editing).

[ricklepage]

All of which brings up the question ... why shoot in RAW and then bulk convert to .jpg?

Doesn't make sense to me. Seems like you get all the disadvantages of RAW (larger file size, which takes longer to write to your memory card and to your computer; plus time to convert to .jpg) and none of the advantages (can produce higher picture quality after editing).

If you have the space, wouldn't it be better to be safe than sorry? I don't edit the majority of my photos, by any stretch, and most that do get edited get some basic adjustments that probably would be fine if they were JPG. However, I have plenty of photos that could use more extensive editing, and that latitude I have with Raw is nothing short of amazing. With JPG, you can only push things so far before the image starts breaking down.

I completely understand it if (a) you're just shooting vacation pics or something where you really only want snapshots, and won't get too upset if they're not properly exposed; or (b) don't have the space or the processing power to really work with Raw images.

Rick

[lescclark]

Hi

I'm reasonably new to elements but am (love!) bulk processing RAW images using the (ACR ?) editor. I tend to hit "Done" when finished which saves the RAW image changes (I think!). Last night i wanted to burn a CD of JPEG images for a friend. I created an album in organiser and dropped the RAW images in. This is where I had to start experimenting. Burn to CD doesn't convert to JPEG. I can open the images in the ACR and then open all images into the Editor in order to use the Process Multiple Files function. My pc doesn't like opening multiple images in Editor - it also takes forever.

I ended up exporting to a spare folder (from the organiser), converting to JPEG along the way !! I then imported the JPEG images and burnt the CD. I don't particularly want to keep the JPEGs & just delete them.

It works but seems like a long way round -I guess I could use the Process multiple files function in a similar way by importing from a folder, doesn't seem any faster though. Any suggestions

[dj_paige]

What you did (edit Raw, then export to .jpg) is probably the easiest and most efficient way of doing this.

[ljameso1]

I use process multiple photos from a folder route. Here's a time saving tip. Start it just before going to bed. It will be done when you get up and time will seem to have flown:D an alternative is to do some housework while running but that's always a last resort:eek:

[Jim M]

I'm a Mac guy, but it ought to be the same. In Elements, under the "File" menu select "Process Multiple Files." In the dialog box choose whatever you want, but the menu item you definitely want is "File Type" with a check box for "Convert Files to." Click it and select from the drop down menu. Click "OK."

Then, if you need to tweak any images, you can open the original raw files individually, do whatever you want to do with them, then save them to the folder with all the other JPEGs you have produced, replacing the not so good one with the improved version you have just made.

I no longer do this. I use Canon's DPP for raw conversion because I end up doing something to about every image I shoot and I shoot 200 to over 1,000 images a week during the summer. I don't know if Nikon has a similar application, but it allows me to make fairly quick exposure adjustments, then walk away (or cruise the net) while it churns out the images to JPEGs. It will produce TIFFs or PSDs as well.

There is nothing wrong with shooting in JPEG as long as you can nail the picture the first time around. Unfortunately, I am usually in a tricky light situation that requires too much tweaking to get usable images.