RAW photos have amazing quality, but sometimes, we need to convert these files to JPEG or other formats for easier sharing. Fortunately, there are at least 5 simple methods to do that! Let’s explore each of them.

In This Article:

5 Methods To Convert RAW Files To JPEG

Method 1. Convert RAW Files on Mac

The built-in Preview app makes this method quite a breeze! Let us tell you how to do it.

Step 1. Open the RAW photo in Preview:

Right-click the RAW file, then choose Open With -> Preview.

Step 2. Export the image as a JPEG:

In Preview, click File in the menu bar.
Select Export from the dropdown menu.
In the window that pops up, select JPEG from the Format options.
Click Save.

This process keeps your original RAW file while still creating a new JPEG version!

Method 2. Convert RAW Files on Windows

Are you a Windows user? In that case, you can easily convert RAW to JPEG on Windows via the Photos app. Simply follow these basic steps:

Step 1. Open your RAW photo in Photos:

Right-click the RAW file, then select Open With -> Photos.

Step 2. Save the image as a JPEG:

In Photos, go to its top menu and click Save As
Choose JPEG from the format options.
Select the location to save the new file and click Save.

Method 3. Convert RAW Files on iPhone

From what we have researched so far, iPhone users can convert Apple’s ProRAW formats to JPEG directly on their device:

Step 1. Open the image in Photos:

Tap the RAW photo to open it.

Step 2. Save the image as a JPEG:

Tap Share in the bottom corner (left side)
Scroll down and select Save to Files.
Choose a folder on your phone or in iCloud Drive.
Tap Save.

Method 4. Convert RAW Files in Photoshop

Another powerful tool for converting RAW files to other formats is Photoshop!

Step 1. Open Photoshop and your RAW file:

Start Photoshop
Open the RAW file by selecting File -> Open.

Step 2. Export the image as a JPEG:

Click File -> Export -> Export As.
In the Export window, choose JPEG from the Format dropdown menu.
Adjust other settings as needed and click Export.

Method 5. Convert RAW Files in Lightroom

Most people only think of Lightroom as a tool for basic photo edits. But do you know that you can also use it to convert RAW files? Let us show you how:

Step 1. Open Lightroom & import your RAW file:

Select File -> Import Photos and Video.

Step 2. Export the image as a JPEG:

Select the RAW files in the library.
Click File -> Export.
In the Export window, choose the destination and set the format to JPEG under File Settings.
Click Export.

8 Free Online Converters To Transform RAW To JPEG

Although the 5 methods above are pretty straightforward, we understand that not everyone has these devices or apps available. In that case, you can turn to an even simpler method: online tools!

Just upload your original files to these websites, let them convert the photos to JPEG, and then download the final/converted versions. It’s that easy.

Of course, remember that while this alternative is time-saving, your image quality might not be as optimized as the methods discussed earlier. If you still want to give it a try, here are some popular online tools you can use:

Is JPEG or RAW Format Better?

Although both RAW and JPEG are two primary image file types used in digital photography, there’s a huge difference between them!

RAW files have superior image quality since they capture all the data recorded by your camera’s sensor. JPEG files, on the other hand, undergo compression, which helps reduce file size but also discards some image information.

Hence, RAW is ideal for professional photographers or projects requiring maximum editing control and the highest image quality. Meanwhile, the JPEG file format works best for casual photography, sharing images online, or when file size is a primary concern.

Below is a more detailed breakdown of these two output formats:

Feature	RAW Mode	JPEG Mode
Image Quality	Highest possible quality	Good quality, but with some information loss
File Size	Large file size	Smaller file size
Color Depth	12-14 bits per color channel	8 bits per color channel
Dynamic Range	Wide dynamic range, details in shadows and highlights	Limited dynamic range, less detail
White Balance	Adjustable after capture	Limited adjustment
Noise	More control over noise reduction	Less control over noise reduction

Conclusion

We hope this guide has clarified any confusion about converting RAW images to JPEG! The file conversion is so simple that we don’t think you would have any questions — but if you still do, feel free to contact us