Changing Raw files to JPEG

You can do this on export or share. You don't really need to in the app. If you've imported RAW+JPEG with RAW in front, then you can just switch to the JPEG under Photos or contextual menu.

You really don't need to worry about it. It's best to think of the RAW file like an old film negative. While aperture shows the RAW file as master (if you've imported that way), what you're seeing on the screen is already a JPG. Just as you can't really 'see' an image in negative, you cannot see an image in RAW. It has to be 'developed' (converted to JPG or other) before you can see it. The advantage we have with digital is that Aperture does this 'development' for us, automatically.

The advantage of having the RAW negative over just a JPG is that the RAW file will allow a lot more adjustment.

In practice, just import the RAW file and work with it as you wish. When you export for whatever reason, you'll get the choice of format at the time, as the previous post says.

Arnold,

The easiest way to put it is that if you shoot 10 pictures in RAW and then upload that batch, you've got yourself 10 .CR2 files (extension for RAW). If you now want JPEG files, you've got to export your 10 pictures somewhere, say a new folder on your desktop. Then you have to re-import these 10 JPEGs. If your goal is to downsize your library, you'll now have to delete the 10 original RAW files. This means sacrificing the benefits of shooting in RAW in the first place so make sure you're content with your JPEGs.

I had tons of images shot in RAW that were clogging up my HD space when in reality a downsized jpeg version would do just fine so I purchased an Apple script to do the job automatically for me, it's the best $2 I've ever spent.

You just select the RAW image or group of images inside Aperture and then chose what size jpeg you would like from them all and then hit go. All your RAW images are automatically exported and re-imported as jpegs saving masses of HD space. The RAW files are then sent to the Rejected folder in Aperture so it's up to you to delete them.

http://www.apertureexpert.com/applescripts/

I'm gonna try that Applescript, gowen69 - thanks. I think (?) it's what I want
1. Import the RAW file
2. Do Adjustments till I like the JPEG version I see
3. Then get rid of the RAW Master, to save file space, so Library works smooth.

Importing first RAW file today.

Am I missing something obvious (and not for the first time), but if you want a lossy workflow then why are you using an application specifically designed for a lossless workflow? Wouldn't it be just more straightforward to use an app designed to work the way you want?

Regards

TD

For me personaly I keep RAW files for the shots I want to edit/manipulate etc. I guess everyone who shoots RAW ends up with tons of images that really don't need to be in RAW format clogging up space.

4 and 5 star shots stay in RAW in my library, the rest get converted (after editing) to jpeg and the RAW's are deleted.

Dear Terrance, Although I think gowen69 made the major point clear enough, having lived in your country for five years prompts me to say more.

To help locate what 'you may be missing,' I'll try to be brilliantly clear: 1. I like to shoot in RAW because I get distinctly - much better pics. I've now discovered that Aperture makes this into a JPEG much, much better than my camera does, so I appreciate that.

2. But 95% of my photos are going on my web pages or by email - so all I want is a good quality JPEG. After I get that I don't want a 20Mb RAW file clogging up my library; I want to delete it.

2a. For pictures I think I might want to print, I have another workflow.

2b.In rare cases I may keep a RAW or two.

3. As far as my purchase decision (Your comment about "Why, omg, why would someone buy lossless, vs. lossy) any implication that I (or others) may have made a "wrong," purchase decision is unnecessary and trite.

In fact I know lots of people have more than one program for photography, or for writing, etc. - because one might have a specific advantage or feature they like but other ones also have some advantage or desirable value. This might be one answer to 'what you're missing.'

I enjoy, also, the challenge of getting software to do what I want it to do. Like the $1.99 Apple Script for 'Convert Master File Format,' now so easily does one of the things I wanted done in Aperture.

Note, btw, : Apparently many other folks want to do this-- get rid of their RAW files when finished working with them, since someone wrote such an AppleScript and is even making money selling it on the web. That's a fine idea now, isn't it?

For an extra $1.99 I got, as you 'straightforwardly,' suggested -- the app to work the way I want.

Many other examples come to mind. I have the 'Magic Trackpad,' but it didn't do all the things I wanted; so I spent $6.99 to get a little program that dramatically increases the gestures the trackpad will recognize.

4. Finally, when anyone first purchases a product they might not, know all the in's and out's of how it works and what it does. The Aperture User Manual, for example, is 908 pages.

5, "Better to light a candle than curse the darkness."

Although I think gowen69 made the major point clear enough, having lived in your country for five years prompts me to say more.

I'm not sure why having lived in Ireland for five years prompts you to say more given that gowen69 made the point "clear enough". Care to explain that?

OK Terence, No problem. My points #3-#4-#5 were addendums to the most basic and obvious major point made by gowen69 (and could be inferred by the very existence of an AppleScript someone made to do the specific task I wanted to also).

I also was slightly 'miffed,' at a perception (or misperception) implying my Purchase Decision of Aperture was questionable. The focus of Apple Discussion is best, I think, sticking to the topic of making things work, resolving Apple computer/software problems. (Alas, I'm afraid we have now both strayed from this 'making things work/resolving computer problems' focus...but I thought your comments unnecessary and trite and wanted to point that out.)

Re: Living in Ireland? Well...gosh...it was such a positive experience and I saw and felt such an appreciation for human interaction: i.e. having a story to tell, a song to sing, or a dance to do, to engage people or ideas on the street, in a pub, at the green grocer, etc. -- a bit of the 'Irish craik' -- a willingness to engage, to 'get down to it,' to jump into a discussion full-tilt and not just brush off everything with clichés.

Now, while there didn't I get into a grand fiddle sponsored by the Irish National Celtic Tiger Re-engagement Enterprise and Development Association. It was full of eye-opening insights; and I noted some profound differences between my Irish cousins and myself, especially on the ideas of success and enterprise: Yanks pretty much unabashedly applaud and admire success....um,even if we have to fabricate such stories, myths or, gasp, 'American dreams.'

Thus, I was FULL OF ADMIRATION that some Dude, somewhere, noticed a way he could use his brains to make a simple -- downloadable -- product that would give some people a workflow they desired; and he was selling it, worldwide, at a more than reasonable price.

Your view of this was not the same as mine. You seemed to think a software program shouldn't be fiddled with? --- No Applescripts? ---No Automator actions? People should get what they get and like it the way it is? Or if they don't like it the way it is, tough luck, what type of e-d-i-o-t-s were they anyhow?

The $1.99 Applescript works brilliantly, btw. (And the RAW files can be retrieved and kept outside of any Aperture Library, if desired). Aperture also works brilliantly, imo. I got rid of 100Mbs of files in one day. I want the program to remain fast, not get clogged up. With over 7,000 pics from professional work and avocation (in a few different libraries) I didn't want this to be a problem.

OK Terence? No problem? This clear enough?

"Better to light a candle than curse the darkness."

Have a read of my post again. Note the item in parenthesis

Am I missing something obvious (and not for the first time)

The point of the parenthetical comment was to take any insult or harm from the query, and I hope it did. It's a genuine question. So, I apologise if you were miffed, it was not my intention to, er, miff, you 😉

Stick around these fora for a while you'll see plenty of folks who want to use Aperture to edit Master files directly, who want to use it as an External Editor for iPhoto, who want to do all sorts of things. There are solid reasons to ask the question.

But couple of things I don't understand: How you get from my post to this massive inference:

Your view of this was not the same as mine. You seemed to think a software program shouldn't be fiddled with? --- No Applescripts? ---No Automator actions? People should get what they get and like it the way it is? Or if they don't like it the way it is, tough luck, what type of e-d-i-o-t-s were they anyhow?

The second one is even more odd:

What has my race to do with it?

Arnold,

As others have said, to replace the RAW files int he Aperture library with JPEGs, you'll need to export the versions (as JPEGS), re-import them and then delete the RAWs.

If you just want the JPEGs to email, then you just need the export and not the subsequent import & delete steps.

However, if you are doing this to save space, then bear in mind that even with something like a 5D II and it's 20MB+ RAW files, 10,000 images will occupy about $10 of disk space. Is the saving on disk space worth your time?

Steve