Convert File Format

Use this function to batch-convert picture files to another format. This function creates a new copy in the original location and in your choice of format.

A typical example is conversion of photos that you have scanned in in TIFF format into JPEG files for use on the Web. If your pictures are stored in JPEG format and you wish to do a large number of edits on them, and it is impractical to make these changes using the Batch Filter or during a single Editor session, then it can be a good idea to convert them to TIFF before the changes. The TIFF format is very useful when you are going to edit pictures, because you can save and re-save pictures to TIFF without any loss of quality, and you can use a higher color depth than in JPEG.

The Edit | Convert File command [Ctrl+Shift+F] is only available from the Browser. Convert File can also be used as part of the Batch Filter (Ctrl+Q) function.
When it is used in the Batch Filter, it is automatically assigned as the last step, ensuring that the changes made are not written to the original file, but only to the newly created one.

Two previews are shown in the left part of the conversion window; they present the original and the file being newly created based on your chosen settings. Controls for the visual comparison of the two photos are above these previews. These include controls for e.g. zooming in/out, showing a histogram and blowout (overexposed spots), or size information for the original and the new file.

The right portion of the conversion window has a “Format” box; use this to set your desired file format. Depending on the format chosen, further settings are shown beneath the menu (color depth, quality, compression, transparency preservation, sampling, etc.)

For the JPEG, HDP, and TIFF formats, the Image information option sets whether all picture information, EXIF information only, EXIF information only minus the EXIF thumbnail (preview), or no picture information will be saved. If you use any setting other than “All” here, the picture and its assigned color profile will automatically be converted to sRGB.

If the picture is open in the Editor, you can save it in any of format that you could convert it to. To do so, use File | Save As… [Ctrl+Shift+S]. In this window, you can both choose a format and give the file a new name and move it to a new path (folder).