How do I batch convert JPG to PNG on Mac?

Hi,


I need some assistance with batch converting a large number of JPG images to PNG format on my Mac. I am particularly concerned about preserving the image quality during the conversion process. I understand that PNG is a lossless format, but I want to ensure that the conversion doesn't degrade the quality of my images. Can anyone recommend a reliable tool or method to batch convert jpg to png on Mac? I've tried using a few online converters, but they often limit the number of files I can convert at once and I'm worried about the potential risk of malware.


I would prefer a solution that I can use directly on my Mac without having to upload my files online. If possible, please provide step-by-step instructions or suggest any software that has worked well for you in similar situations.

Mac mini (M1, 2020)

Posted on Aug 5, 2024 3:19 AM

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Posted on Aug 5, 2024 5:21 AM

Preview does a great job because it retains the quality of the images since PNG is lossless. Plus, Preview is built into macOS, and it's pretty handy for quick conversions without needing any extra software.


How to batch convert jpg to png on Mac using Preview:


  • Open Finder and navigate to the folder containing your JPG files.
  • Select all the JPG files you want to convert (you can use Command + click to select multiple files)
  • Right-click and choose Open With > Preview
  • Once all the images are opened in Preview, go to File > Export Selected Images.
  • Choose your desired destination folder.
  • In the dialog that appears, click Options and select PNG from the format dropdown menu.
  • Click Choose. Preview will then convert all selected files to PNG format.
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Aug 5, 2024 5:21 AM in response to ttstackon

Preview does a great job because it retains the quality of the images since PNG is lossless. Plus, Preview is built into macOS, and it's pretty handy for quick conversions without needing any extra software.


How to batch convert jpg to png on Mac using Preview:


  • Open Finder and navigate to the folder containing your JPG files.
  • Select all the JPG files you want to convert (you can use Command + click to select multiple files)
  • Right-click and choose Open With > Preview
  • Once all the images are opened in Preview, go to File > Export Selected Images.
  • Choose your desired destination folder.
  • In the dialog that appears, click Options and select PNG from the format dropdown menu.
  • Click Choose. Preview will then convert all selected files to PNG format.
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Aug 5, 2024 4:04 AM in response to ttstackon

ttstackon wrote:

I understand that PNG is a lossless format, but I want to ensure that the conversion doesn't degrade the quality of my images.

No need to worry. Your PNG images will accurate reproduce the limited colour range of the JPEG images and all the JPEG image artifacts.

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Aug 5, 2024 5:26 AM in response to dialabrain

dialabrain wrote:

See: How to Batch Convert Images Using macOS Preview

That Preview.app batch convert option is buggy in Ventura and Sonoma. It exports files having the desired suffix (.png, .pdf etc) but often only the very 1st file is really the desired codec and the rest have really another codec (the last time I tried in Sonoma exporting as .pdf was really TIFF codec in the last exported files, and now in Ventura exporting as .png was really JPEG codec in the last exported files).


On the other hand, Finder's Quick Action batch > Convert Image > to PNG seems to work OK at least in Ventura.

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Aug 5, 2024 5:41 AM in response to ttstackon

If you're into dedicated apps, ImageMagick is one of the most powerful options. It's a command-line tool, but very handy for you to batch convert jpg to png on Mac. By the way, ImageMagick is super fast and flexible, plus it can handle pretty much any image conversion you throw at it. The command-line interface might be a bit daunting if you aren't used to it, but once you get the hang of it, it's a breeze!

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Aug 5, 2024 5:47 AM in response to ttstackon

ttstackon wrote:

I need some assistance with batch converting a large number of JPG images to PNG format on my Mac.

Something that should be mentioned. There is zero benefit in converting .jpgs to .pngs. There is no quality improvement and the resulting .png file size would be 2 to 8 times larger, depending on the image.

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Aug 5, 2024 6:38 AM in response to Yahyamo

As imagemagick is not provided as a downloadable, pre-built package, and it is a bone-yard of dependencies on other libraries, building it manually on macOS is a nightmare. Then, if one looks at building it in homebrew (and I have) one can see just how deep those dependencies go visually (without actually installing it):


brew deps --tree --installed imagemagick


And that tree continues to grow as new dependencies that are dependent on other dependencies expands. Powerful tool, but you pay for it in complexity and overhead.

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How do I batch convert JPG to PNG on Mac?

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