Image resize / convert shortcut help

[JABB]

Forgive me if this is in the wrong section, but I am loading RAW CR2 files onto my mac and I am looking for a simple way to make a copy of each, but convert it to JPG and resize it for email / web / forum use.
I know somehow it is possible to set up something on the mac, is it workflow? Some kind of shortcut? I don't even know what it is called to google, but I remember reading on here the other day, someones description of such a thing and remember it involved some setting up, and then it was saved to use time and time again.
Can someone point me in the right direction? I am looking for a idiots walk through step by step really and also advice on what size to make the files in terms of physical file size and shot size.

[Simpo Two]

What you were thinking of is probably a Photoshop 'action', but I don't use PS for RAW processing and on the one or two times I've tried setting up actions I've found it highly un-intuitive.

My software will be different to yours, but I would do it in two stages.

One is a batch process - select destination folder for the JPGs, select all the RAWs and hit Go.

Wait while it cranks them out.

Then use a batch file resizer to reduce the (big) JPGs into little ones. Top of Google is www.fotosizer.com though I haven't used it.

I find 800px wide works well for e-mail, and a file size of 100-200Kb.




NB: Did you have any reason for shooting RAW? - because batch processing wipes out most of the benefits IMHO.

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 21st March 18:12

[JABB]

Simpo, Thanks
I don't know what or why really. I shoot in RAW as a) I am told it is the way to do it, and B) I hope to be able to process better in the future so I can re-visit the RAW file.
I want to post photos on here and Talk Photography, so need to resize the pic to the correct size ( 800? ) and the correct file size ( 200Kb? )
I have Photoshop CS, which can't handle CR2 from my 40D. I have lightroom but am not sure of my way round it yet. I am favouring preview as a method of viewing the folders.

[RobDickinson]

It wouldbe easier to either install picasa 3 and export ( poor conversion though) or install DPP (should have came with the camera) and use that to batch out some jpgs.

CS is a pain to batch.

[Simpo Two]

JABB said:

I shoot in RAW as a) I am told it is the way to do it, and B) I hope to be able to process better in the future so I can re-visit the RAW file.

Fair point!

JABB said:

I want to post photos on here and Talk Photography, so need to resize the pic to the correct size ( 800? ) and the correct file size ( 200Kb? )

PH actually resizes to 758px wide but mangles the image a bit, so I make them 750px wide. Other forums will be different I expect. Once you've resized the images and do 'Save As' you'll (probably) see a scale 1-12 and preview file size. That's where you choose your compression. Just changing it from 12 to 9 or 10 makes a massive difference in file size with no practical visual difference.

[BlueMR2]

I posted this on your other thread.

Load Automator, choose workflow.

Use the pictures below as guidance.

You can select the files in different ways, for example you can select them in finder then run the action, or you can do as the 2nd window shows which opens a finder dialogue and you choose the files you want.

Then choose resize (this will ask if you want to add a copy section in, you do, choose a new folder to copy to, this is where your resized jpg's will be without changing your original pictures) and choose either the percentage of the size or the pixel (width i think).

Then change them to jpg's with the last section in the 2nd picture.

When the workflow is working you can actually open the folder in finder and watch the files being copied in, the size changed, then change to jpg.

I recommend you copy a few cr2's to the desktop or similar and select those to trial run the automator workflow to make sure it does what you expect.

It took about 20 seconds to do the workflow in the below pictures, it is very easy, just make sure you always check it works on copied files before unleashing it on 100s of original unbackedup files.

Then delete the practice files and go for it.

[JABB]

Thank you so much MR2, I think it may have been something you posted before I remember.
I will try this tomorrow with fresh eyes.

[BlueMR2]

No problem, the bits you want are in the finder and preview panes.

Check out Aperture 3 in the online mac app store for a much cheaper price than in store for the full version if you fancy an apple app rather than lightroom.

It was £44.9? when i purchased it, not sure if its still the same price but about a quarter of the boxed price in the shops.

[crmcatee]

Don't know if this is any use to you but it's a quick photoshop action which will resize to 1024 / 800 / 600 along the longest edge depending upon which one you click.

You'll be able to use this along with the File, Automate Batch process to resize your images.


Installation is easy. From the actions tab in Photoshop - click on the little drop down arrow at the top right of the action window, select Load Actions and selct the file and you're good to go.

http://www.craigmcateer.co.uk/photostuff/Resizeit....

Select the size you want and then click the play button on the bottom of the Actions window. Alternatively from the little drop down - select Button Mode and then the actions become single click operation when working with images.

[Nick Grant]

It won't help the OP as his Photoshop can't read his RAW files but for everyone else you don't need an action to do this in Photoshop, the Image Processing function does this very well.

File > Scripts > Image Processor

[crmcatee]

Good point. Well made. Missed his second post.

[mcflurry]

Does the camera have the facility to save RAW and JPG at the same time?
My Nee-con does, so that the JPGs can go onto Spacebook and emails etc, and the raw files for "the good shot"

[tinman0]

JABB said:

Forgive me if this is in the wrong section, but I am loading RAW CR2 files onto my mac and I am looking for a simple way to make a copy of each, but convert it to JPG and resize it for email / web / forum use.
I know somehow it is possible to set up something on the mac, is it workflow?

I use ImageMagick on a Mac. Use it all the time in fact for exactly the same use. But it is command line.

You need to install ImageMagick first (check the web).

Then put all the pictures in one folder on your desktop (call the folder Jimbob for the sake of the commands). On the command line:


cd ~/Desktop/Jimbob

mogrify -format jpg *.cr2

for a in `ls` ; do convert -resize 640x $a $a ; do



640x will make them 640 pixels wide, change that at will. But remember that there is no undo so make sure you aren't working on the originals. Duplicate the Jimbob folder before you start just to be sure.