How to Convert RAW to JPEG in Lightroom

Having your Lightroom files in JPEG format streamlines your workflow and makes your files easier to manage. When you know how to convert RAW to JPEG in Lightroom, you’ll have the luxury of sharing your work with others on the go and even transferring them quickly online. How’s that possible?

How to Convert RAW to JPEG in Lightroom

Converting your Lightroom files to JPEG from the default RAW format is one of the most straightforward steps to take on Lightroom. Besides, you also have the privilege of keeping your original files as they are without altering their quality.

Well, due to how Lightroom operates, there’s little to no change in the original file’s quality or format. Instead of converting the original file to another format, Lightroom simply creates a copy of the original file and converts it to your desired format.

This first method of converting your Lightroom files to JPEG is pretty clear and precise. It involves creating a copy of the original file to export from Lightroom to a new location in a JPEG format. Below’s a list of steps to follow to use this method effectively:

1. Choose the File in the RAW Format

1. Open Lightroom on your computer
2. Navigate to the “Library” module, and go to the folder where you stored the original RAW image or find it in your filmstrip
3. Select the Image

2. Proceed to Export the RAW File

1. Navigate to the menu bar on your dashboard
2. Then, select the option titled File
3. Click on the “Export” option, which displays a dialogue box

Note: to convert to JPEG, you first need to export your image from Lightroom to a different location.

3. Set the RAW Image as JPEG

1. From the list of options in the “Export” dialogue menu, go to the option called “File Settings” and select it
2. Then, on the new menu that is displayed, go to the “Image Format” option it
3.  After that, click on the downward-facing arrow on the “Image Format” panel and choose the option “JPEG”

4. Choose the Appropriate File Settings

1. Below the “Image Format” button is the “Image Sizing” option. Set the size of the image corresponding to the original image size
2. Set the “Image Quality” at 100 to maintain the best export quality for the desired image
3. Navigate to the option called “Color Space” and set it at “sRGB” (i.e., standard Red Green Blue), which helps to maintain the image color in different file formats.

5. Select a New Location for the Exported File

1. Navigate to the top of the dialogue box and select the “Export Location” option, which displays a new drop-down window
2. From this menu, go to the “Export to” button and click on it
3. Scroll through the list of options and select a suitable location to export your file and what type of folder you want it to be exported in

6. Name the Export Folder

1. After selecting the appropriate location for the folder/file that you’re exporting, choose a relevant name for your file

7. Confirm “Export” Settings

1. Click on the “Export” button to confirm your modifications and export the image as indicated
2. Your original image has now been copied and stored in your desired location as a JPEG file

Exporting a RAW File Into JPEG in Lightroom Classic

If you’re looking for a simpler yet faster way to convert your raw images on Lightroom to JPEG, consider doing this on Lightroom classic if you have one. Making this conversion is pretty straightforward in Lightroom classic. Here’s what you need to do to convert files effectively on Lightroom classic:

1. Open Lightroom on your computer
2. Navigate to the “Library” module and select the image that you desire to convert to JPEG
3. Go to the “File” menu at the top left-hand side of the screen, which displays a drop-down menu containing a list of options
4. From the drop-down menu, select the “Export” option
5. Go to the Lightroom presets and select them ( you can also create your presets or not even use a preset at all. However, since these presets by default are in a full-size JPEG format, using them makes this process easier)
6. From the new dialogue menu, select the option titled “Burn Full-Sized JPEG presets
7. Then navigate to the top of the dialogue box and select the “Export To” option
8. Then, adjust the “Export To” option from CD/DVD to “Flash Drive”
9. Next, set the image properties such as the image quality and file location accordingly
10.  Do not alter the image sizing option to keep it similar to the original image that you’re converting
11. Select the “Export” option at the bottom right corner of the dialogue box
12. Wait while your file is exported in a JPEG format and saved in the set location

Converting RAW to JPEG on Lightroom Mobile

When using the Lightroom mobile app, you might need to convert your image from RAW to JPEG to ensure that it is easily transferable to other Lightroom mobile users. Making this conversion is pretty simple and only takes a few steps.

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to convert RAW to JPEG on Lightroom mobile:

1. Open Lightroom your mobile device
2. Navigate to the image icon at the bottom of your screen, which displays a drop-down menu
3. From the menu bar titled “Device Folders,” select the raw image/ set of images that you want to convert
4. Then, click on the tick mark at the top of the image or the top of the screen when selecting all images to import the photos into Lightroom
5. Next, go to the three-dot icon at the top right corner of the screen, which displays a drop-down menu
6. Scroll through the drop-down menu and select the “Show Info” option to confirm the current image format
7. After that, click on the share icon at the top of the screen
8. Navigate to the “Export As” option
9. From the dialogue menu, go to the “File Type” option and set it as “JPEG”
10. Then, go to “Image Quality” and put it at 100% to ensure the best possible quality while exporting
11. Next, click on the tick mark at the top of the screen and wait while it exports
12. Select the image that you’ve converted and click on the three-dot icon at the top of the screen
13. From the drop-down menu displayed, navigate to the “Show Info” option to confirm that your image has been converted to the JPEG format

How to Convert Multiple RAW Files to JPEG in Lightroom

At times, to make things faster and more streamlined, you might need to convert more than one image simultaneously from the RAW format to a JPEG. Stay calm; this process is not as complex as it sounds. Factly, you can do this in just eight steps using the guide below:

1. Open Lightroom on your computer
2. Navigate to the library module at the top of your main Lightroom window
3. Press down on the CTRL(on Windows) or CMD key(on a Mac) and select every image that you want to export
4. Then, go to the “File” section of the menu bar and click on it
5. Navigate the drop-down menu and select the option titled “Export”
6. From the new menu windows displayed, set the export destination 
7. Next, set the image format to JPEG
8. After that, click on the “Export” option and wait as your multiple files are exported and saved in the set location as a JPEG file

Conclusion

No doubt, converting your files from the RAW format to the JPEG format helps make it easier to share your files with several other Lightroom users while still maintaining your image quality. We’ve covered several ways to do this on both your computer and the mobile version of Lightroom.