lescornwell
Level 3 (502 points)
Photos for Mac

Q: How to import only JPG (i.e., leave RAW on camera)

I'm a Canon 7D photographer, shooting in JPG+CR2 (Canon RAW). My previous workflow with iPhoto (now replaced by Photos) was:

1. Connect camera to iMac through USB --> iPhoto launched automatically;

2. In the import window, where I could see each file (i.e. both JPG and RAW), select only the JPGs and import;

3. After import --> delete selected files from camera;

4. Launch Adobe Bridge CS6 and select Get Photos from Camera --> all RAW files were imported to an external HD. (I process them with Photoshop);

5. Reformat the memory card in the camera.

 

Looks like I cannot follow the same workflow with Photos. Reason: I do not see the CR2-files side-by-side with the JPGs.

By accident, I imported both file types into Photos, and then was unable to export only the RAW-files. In the end, I retrieved the imported RAW-files from the Photos Library and then removed them entirely from the library. Photos did crash afterwards, meaning this is not the way to go.

 

Question: how can I get only the JPG-files into Photos? My current workaround is to use Adobe Bridge, Get all files from camera, then put the file types into separate folders (RAW ƒ and JPG ƒ) and finally import only the JPGs. But there might be a better way...

Thanks in advance for any good suggestion.

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.4), iPad2, iPhone 4s (iOS 8.4)

Posted on Jul 10, 2015 4:17 AM

by léonie,Solvedanswer
léonie léonie
Level 10 (105,806 points)
iCloud
A:

Photos does not support selective import.  If you shoot RAW&JPEG pairs it will import both versions and stack them.

Looks like I cannot follow the same workflow with Photos. Reason: I do not see the CR2-files side-by-side with the JPGs.

No, they are stacked and you can only toggle between the two versions as original file.

 

By accident, I imported both file types into Photos, and then was unable to export only the RAW-files. In the end, I retrieved the imported RAW-files from the Photos Library and then removed them entirely from the library. Photos did crash afterwards, meaning this is not the way to go.

For the photos you already imported, export both versions, sort them by file type in the Finder and delete the versions you do not want.  Then reimport only the versions you want.

 

In future,  copy the versions you want (RAW or JPEG)  from the camera card to a folder in the Finder and import from there.

With Photos it will be easier not to shoot RAW&JPEG.

Posted on Jul 10, 2015 4:20 AM

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lescornwell

Q: How to import only JPG (i.e., leave RAW on camera)

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  • Helpful answers

  • by léonie,Solvedanswer

    léonie léonie Jul 10, 2015 4:20 AM in response to lescornwell
    Level 10 (105,806 points)
    iCloud
    Jul 10, 2015 4:20 AM in response to lescornwell

    Photos does not support selective import.  If you shoot RAW&JPEG pairs it will import both versions and stack them.

    Looks like I cannot follow the same workflow with Photos. Reason: I do not see the CR2-files side-by-side with the JPGs.

    No, they are stacked and you can only toggle between the two versions as original file.

     

    By accident, I imported both file types into Photos, and then was unable to export only the RAW-files. In the end, I retrieved the imported RAW-files from the Photos Library and then removed them entirely from the library. Photos did crash afterwards, meaning this is not the way to go.

    For the photos you already imported, export both versions, sort them by file type in the Finder and delete the versions you do not want.  Then reimport only the versions you want.

     

    In future,  copy the versions you want (RAW or JPEG)  from the camera card to a folder in the Finder and import from there.

    With Photos it will be easier not to shoot RAW&JPEG.

  • by lescornwell,

    lescornwell lescornwell Jul 10, 2015 4:27 AM in response to léonie
    Level 3 (502 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 10, 2015 4:27 AM in response to léonie

    Thank you. Your reply helped me. Looks like I will have to change my workflow then, i.e.: use Adobe Bridge/Get Photos from Camera to transfer all files to my external HD. Then group by file type and import only the JPGs into Photos.

    I use Photos mainly for quick review, slideshows, ordering of cards and albums, but have never been impressed by its editing possibilities. For the latter, I used to rely on Aperture, but now on ACR (Adobe Camera Raw) or Lightroom, for RAW development, followed by Photoshop for finetuning and finishing.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Jul 10, 2015 4:30 AM in response to lescornwell
    Level 10 (105,806 points)
    iCloud
    Jul 10, 2015 4:30 AM in response to lescornwell
    For the latter, I used to rely on Aperture,

    For the time being you could still use Aperture to import selectively RAW or JPEG.  Aperture 3.6 is still working well in Yosemite, and it looks like it will also work in El Capitan.

  • by lescornwell,

    lescornwell lescornwell Jul 10, 2015 4:47 AM in response to léonie
    Level 3 (502 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jul 10, 2015 4:47 AM in response to léonie

    Thanks, Léonie. Indeed: Aperture is still working and as a matter of fact: I am still using it. But as I received a mail from Apple telling me it would not be further developed (and its development had already slowed down considerably, compared to, say, Lightroom), I was already looking for a decent replacement. Lightroom might be the way, but then, I am not pleased with Adobe's subscription-formula. Luckily, there are alternatives, DxO Optics Pro, for instance.