Lightroom Tips & Tricks HomepageLightroom Tips & Tricks

Have Camera Will Travel | David Coleman Photography

  • Reviews & Tips
  • GoPro
  • Places
  • Photos
  • Importing
  • Library
  • Develop
  • Map
  • Exporting
  • Print
  • Plugins
  • Books

How to Convert RAW to JPG in Lightroom Classic

Trying to figure out how to convert RAW files to JPEG in Lightroom Classic? Here's how to do it.

lightroom convert raw to jpg 6 1068x623 - How to Convert RAW to JPG in Lightroom Classic

Categories: Exporting from Lightroom
Tags: Lightroom 3, Lightroom 4, Lightroom 5, Lightroom CC/6, Lightroom Classic
Last updated about 1 year ago // Originally published about 3 years ago

Trying to figure out how to convert RAW files to JPEG using Lightroom Classic? Maybe you’ve set the camera to RAW mode by mistake. Maybe someone else has sent you the files. Or maybe you’re just starting out with using RAW files.

Taking a RAW file and ending up with a JPEG (or JPG) is a simple thing to do in Lightroom Classic, but there’s something to wrap your head around first for it to make sense. It’s how Lightroom Classic works on a fundamental level.

What I mean by that is that Lightroom is a non-destructive editor. It tries to avoid changing the original file. It treats the original file a kind of master negative in the way that back in film days, the film or slides were the masters that were used to create derivative prints or copies.

So rather than convert the original RAW file into a JPEG file, the way that Lightroom tackles this kind of task is that you make another copy, this time in JPEG format.

So the RAW file stays present in the main catalog. If you want to convert it to JPEG, you’ll need to export it and choose JPEG as the output format. That will create a new JPEG version and keep the original RAW file untouched.

How to Export a RAW File as a JPG

There’s actually a few of different ways to do it in Lightroom Classic. You could, for instance, use the Print module. But using the Export function is by far the quickest and easiest, and it makes the most sense most of the time. It also simplifies it if you want to batch process the conversion of multiple images at once.

1. With the RAW file or files selected in the Library module, go to File > Export.

Lightroom convert raw to jpg 6

2. From the left side, go the Lightroom Presets. This isn’t technically required–you’re more than welcome to make your own preset or not use a preset–but since this full-size JPG preset is already built-in, we may as well take advantage of it to speed things up.

Click on the Burn Full-Sized JPEGs preset.

Lightroom convert raw to jpg 2

3. But there’s one important change to make. From the top menu where it says “Export To”, change that from CD/DVD to Hard Drive.

Lightroom convert raw to jpg 4

4. Choose whatever options you want for the Export Location, File Naming, File Settings, Image Sizing, and Output Sharpening panels.

If you want to stick closest to the “convert” idea, leave the image sizing option unchecked to create a JPG at the same size as the source.

Lightroom convert raw to jpg 4 copy

5. Hit the Export button at bottom right.

Lightroom convert raw to jpg 4 copy  1

6. Your files will now be processed and saved as JPGs in whatever location you set for the Export Location.

More Lightroom Tips & Tricks:

  • jpeg mini pro desktop screenshot 2 - Using JPEGmini Pro to Make Files Smaller when Exporting from Lightroom
    Using JPEGmini Pro to Make Files Smaller when Exporting from Lightroom
  • Lightroom Filter Virtual Copies 6 - How to Filter Virtual Copies or Master Files
    How to Filter Virtual Copies or Master Files
  • Lightroom Print Module JPG Dimensions 01 - How to save a JPG smaller than 4 inches in Lightroom's print module?
    How to save a JPG smaller than 4 inches in Lightroom's print module?
  • Lightroom JPEG Export Quality Settings Test 02 - Quality Settings When Exporting JPGs from Lightroom
    Quality Settings When Exporting JPGs from Lightroom
  • Lightroom Delete Rejects - How to Delete Rejected Photos in Lightroom
    How to Delete Rejected Photos in Lightroom
  • imageoptim header - How to Optimize Images from Lightroom with ImageOptim
    How to Optimize Images from Lightroom with ImageOptim
  • Lightroom CC logo - How to Rename a Lightroom Catalog
    How to Rename a Lightroom Catalog
  • duplicate finder plugins for lightroom - Can Lightroom Find Duplicates?
    Can Lightroom Find Duplicates?
  • Screenshot Lightroom Filmstrip - How to Resize Thumbnails in Lightroom's User Interface
    How to Resize Thumbnails in Lightroom's User Interface
By David Coleman

Last updated on January 28, 2020

Categories: Exporting from Lightroom Versions: Lightroom 3, Lightroom 4, Lightroom 5, Lightroom CC/6, Lightroom Classic

I may earn a commission for purchases using links on this page. Learn more.

Popular Posts

  • How to Make a Contact Sheet in Lightroom
  • Using Lightroom’s Crop Overlays to Help with…
  • How to Resize Photos in Lightroom Classic
  • How to Switch between Landscape and Portrait…
  • How to Convert RAW to JPG in Lightroom Classic

News & Deals

Sign up for the Newsletter!

Get my latest Lightroom tips and tricks delivered right to your inbox.

You can unsubscribe anytime and find the privacy policy here.

Comments

  1. Bill says

    April 2, 2020 at 9:35 am

    Hmmm…the title of the article sounds like a person is able to convert WITHIN Lightroom…to change a RAW file to a JPG…so there’s no way to do that? You have to an export and then re-import?

    Thanks…

    Reply
  2. Stephanie says

    March 26, 2019 at 6:54 pm

    I would like to shoot in RAW but when I edit and save my RAW images as JPG I end up with image degradation. Is there a way around that? Is this different that shooting RAW+JPG? I need a higher quality finished product so the images can be printed larger and still have good quality.

    Reply
    • David says

      June 20, 2019 at 2:31 pm

      If you’re using RAW, it doesn’t replace the original RAW with a JPG version. It’s a core principle of Lightroom and other non-destructive editors. You can export a derivative JPG version if you like, in which case the quality will be determined by the quality settings you export at.

      Reply
  3. Ariane says

    August 2, 2018 at 1:51 am

    Hello, I am not sure if I got this correctly. Is this the process I need to follow if I want to convert my presets into file so I can send it to emails? Then from emails they can easily import them to their LightRoom Mobile?

    Reply
    • David says

      August 2, 2018 at 3:17 pm

      No, this is only for image files.

      Reply

Questions & Comments Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.

David Coleman Photography

I’m a professional travel & location photographer based in Washington DC and traveling all over. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.

Licensing & Prints

Looking for travel stock photos or prints? I might be able to help. You can search my collection here:

If you already have a buyer account with Alamy and would prefer to use that, you can search my images directly here.

Get in Touch

Member

© 2009–2021 David Coleman · Have Camera Will Travel LLC · all rights reserved


Photos by David Coleman. Please contact me for licensing images.
All images are registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.


Privacy & Disclosure · Cookie Declaration · Disclaimer · Terms of Service · Copyright · Contact


Adobe, Creative Cloud, Photoshop, and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.


XML Sitemap