Expert: LizaL - 5/16/2006

Question
Recently, I began experience a problem when I tried to save processed RAW format in Photoshop CS as JPEG file. It did not give me the option to save as JPEG and list of the formats is shorter then before. I don't know what to do. I have Windows XP pro.

Answer
Hi Andrey,

I don't think I'm the best person to answer this, since I don't shoot RAW or even have to deal with that option concerning my digital photography. But my motto throughout my career has been, "If I don't know the answer, I'm always happy to try and help you find the person who does!"

That said, I did find some links that *might* help you:

1. This link suggests that you can't save a layered file from RAW to JPEG if it has layers:
http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=008PRE&tag=

I'm not sure if this is your situation; you didn't give a lot of file specifics, but it's worth checking into and seeing if this applies to you. Also, you might want to consider posting your question here, as well.

2. This is actually a Mac board, so that part won't apply to you, but the techniques they're describing would apply to both platforms.
http://forums.macosxhints.com/archive/index.php/t-3263.html

It seems the suggestions here are to use Save As, and also Save As Copy. They talk about making sure you're NOT in RGB mode, and to me, that's worth a try (that is, changing to CMYK, especially since you will probably ultimately print these images), but later on that board, someone said that didn't matter. Still, I'd try switching to CMYK if it were me.

3. This site has a LOT of links you might peruse when you can, but I hit on one that has a page devoted to RAW:
http://www.dgrin.com/archive/index.php/t-188.html


While researching this question, I saw where someone made a comment that using Photoshop's Save for Web feature worked for them, when going from RAW to JPEG. I do Web design, and use Save for Web quite often, and I'm not sure this would be a good idea for you, because Save for Web uses a specific compression engine that really strips out what Photoshop deems 'uncessary' information, in order to make the image Web-ready. But again, I'm not a photographer, and I don't know enough about RAW to make a sure advisement about this. You might try it, though.


I'm sorry this might not help you, but since I don't shoot or process RAW, I'm probably not the best person to give you a solid answer. Hopefully some of the more educated RAW-adovcates out there can steer you to the best answr for your problem!

Lisa