Converting RAW to JPEG

I quite like the results I get working with RAW files in Photoshop Elements. They initially open up in Camera Raw, and I love the look I can get using the 'Recovery', 'Blacks', 'Fill Light' etc.

However, I need copies in JPEG format and I can't figure out how to convert them to, or save as, JPEG files. When I open the image in Camera RAW and then choose 'Save As', the options don't include JPEG, only PSD, PSE, RAW, TIFF.....

Help!

To Save As, you first need to convert them to 8 bit images. So, it sounds like your Camera Raw plub-in is set to open the images as 16 bit images. In the Camera Raw dialog you should see an indicator for 16 bits which you can select and change to 8 bits.

If that is not the problem, let us know!

tonylong wrote in post #12198630
To Save As, you first need to convert them to 8 bit images. So, it sounds like your Camera Raw plub-in is set to open the images as 16 bit images. In the Camera Raw dialog you should see an indicator for 16 bits which you can select and change to 8 bits.

If that is not the problem, let us know!

Yay! Thanks a lot. Now, why didn't I think of that?

Because it doesn't make any sense whatsoever to me........but it works. Again, thanks.

"To err is human, but to REALLY f**K up, you need a computer"

And your next challenge, brave Sir knight, is to tell me, once I've converted aforementioned RAW file into a JPEG, why it is that, when resized to fit within our esteemed forum's requirement of 1024x1024 maximum, the file is too big enough? Like four times too big enough.

If you rise to this challenge - and win - you SHALL have the fair maiden's hand. Which I have already removed and packed according to UPS requirements.

OK, it sounds as if you are saving them to your hard drive and then trying to upload them to POTN.

Well, BAD DUDE, YOU DASTARDLY SWAB!!

So, to do this you need to lower the jpeg quality down until your file size is at the largest 150Kb. This is typically a bit lower than Medium, but it depends on the image -- play around until you get there.

It will help if you cut out the Metadata info, so if that doesn't matter, choose that option.

If Elements has Save for Web, it makes all of this a one-step operation. In Save As I don't know about the Metadata thing, but definitely tweak the Quality setting until the file size fits. You can get a "one size fits all" setting, although it would have to be pretty low because different files will take more compression, some less.

Hmm, I'm not sure I want to answer this one.

Increase the amount of compression of the jpg by moving the slider to lower quality/higher compression.

Just send it by P.M.

It sounds like he is trying to both resize and compress to upload a picture to POTN. Simple, except then he needs to work through the little Attach thingy.

Just using 'Resize' in Photoshop (Elements) worked OK when I started with a JPEG. I'm only having problems with images that started out as RAW files, then converted to 8-bit JPEGs as per Tony's instructions.

Steve of Cornubia wrote in post #12198832
Just using 'Resize' in Photoshop (Elements) worked OK when I started with a JPEG. I'm only having problems with images that started out as RAW files, then converted to 8-bit JPEGs as per Tony's instructions.

Steve, I'm heading to sleep, I dearly hope, but please explain the problems!

tonylong wrote in post #12198843
Steve, I'm heading to sleep, I dearly hope, but please explain the problems!

OK, no worries. I'll keep trying.

Steve of Cornubia wrote in post #12198675
And your next challenge, brave Sir knight, is to tell me, once I've converted aforementioned RAW file into a JPEG, why it is that, when resized to fit within our esteemed forum's requirement of 1024x1024 maximum, the file is too big enough? Like four times too big enough.....

Steve --

A couple of solutions --

1. Host the image somewhere else and link to it. That way the 150k limit doesn't apply. Places such as SkyDrive, PicasaWeb, Flickr, (all free) and many others (some paid) will work for this.

2. Resize the image to about 1000 pixels on the long side, then do File > Save for Web in Photoshop Elements. Set it to JPG and then click this little button (see below) and do Optimize to File Size... then set to 150k or less. You'll have to decide whether the amount of compression using this option is acceptable or not.

-----

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

Yup, that worked. Weird or what? I only have to do all this when working with a JPEG derived from a RAW. When I start with a JPEG straight OOC, all I need to do is resize.

Well, thanks again.

Steve of Cornubia wrote in post #12202971
Yup, that worked. Weird or what? I only have to do all this when working with a JPEG derived from a RAW. When I start with a JPEG straight OOC, all I need to do is resize.

Well, thanks again.

Well, yes, Raw to jpeg requires about a level more of consideration, but it doesn't require much more work!