Convert DNG to JPG on Windows

DNG files from Lightroom mobile sync, drone exports, or converted RAW need JPEG delivery for clients and portals. Convert DNG to JPG on Windows exports from Photos or Lightroom, then resizes for MLS and email caps. Process locally so pre-release product shots never upload to online converters.

Keep the DNG master

File	Role
DNG	Edit master
JPEG	Delivery

See RAW to JPG on Windows . For CR2 and NEF, see CR2 to JPG on Windows and NEF to JPG on Windows .

Keep ingest read-only. Export JPEG to deliverables\jpeg\.

Mistake to avoid	Why
Overwriting DNG	Destroys edit latitude
Full-res JPEG to email	Use width cap first
Mixed Adobe and phone DNG in one batch	Color profiles may differ

Drone and phone ProRAW DNG files are often larger than DSLR DNG exports. Set export width per job type, not one preset for every shoot.

Export JPEG from Photos

1. Open DNG in Photos when preview renders.
2. Export or Save as JPEG at high quality.

When Photos shows blank preview, use Lightroom or Adobe DNG Converter first.

Target	Width hint
Email	2048 px
MLS	3000 px (verify portal)
Web	1920 to 2400 px

Photos batch export works when every file previewed correctly on import. When you copy DNG from a card to D:\Jobs\ClientA\raw\, Lightroom is usually faster than importing hundreds of files into Photos just to export JPEG.

Compare three random exports at 100% zoom before you upload the full set. Exposure choices in Photos may clip highlights differently than Lightroom for the same DNG frame.

Lightroom export

1. Import DNG with edit preset.
2. Export → JPEG, quality 80 to 95.
3. Set long edge per client rules.

Paint is not for DNG development. Use Photos or Lightroom, then Paint only to crop a finished JPEG if needed.

Lightroom export checklist:

Setting	Typical value
Color space	sRGB for web and MLS
Quality	85 to 90
Long edge	Portal max width
Sharpening	Screen for web, print for vendor

Save export presets per client so second shooters match your deliverable spec without asking for settings each job.

FFmpeg resize after export

Get-ChildItem deliverables\*.jpg | ForEach-Object {
  ffmpeg -i $_.FullName -vf scale=3000:-2 "web\$($_.Name)"
}

See how to compress images on Windows when files still exceed limits.

Spot-check exports at 100% zoom before uploading the full gallery.

Install FFmpeg with winget if it is not already on PATH:

winget install --id Gyan.FFmpeg -e

Batch every JPEG in deliverables when MLS caps long edge at 3000 px:

mkdir web
Get-ChildItem deliverables\*.jpg | ForEach-Object {
  ffmpeg -i $_.FullName -vf scale=3000:-2 -q:v 3 "web\$($_.BaseName)-3000.jpg"
}

Phone JPEG sidecars from the same shoot day should not mix into the DNG ingest folder. Keep phone files separate so batch scripts do not treat 12 MP phone images like 45 MP DNG exports.

Using GetCompress

After DNG to JPEG export, GetCompress applies portal presets across the deliverables folder.

• Batch resize for MLS and web.
• Quality presets when caps are strict.
• Local processing for unreleased work.
• Folder monitoring on export directories.

Develop in Photos or Lightroom. Deliver sized JPEG files through GetCompress.

GetCompress does not replace RAW development. Use Photos or Lightroom for the initial DNG to JPEG export, then GetCompress for consistent delivery sizing across the whole shoot. When a portal rejects the first upload, tweak quality once in the saved preset rather than re-exporting from DNG unless the edit changed.

Second-shooter JPEG from a backup body can join the same GetCompress queue as Photos exports. Match long edge and quality presets so MLS or gallery uploads show consistent grain and sharpness across the full set.

Label deliverables folders with shoot date and client code so the next editor does not re-export DNG masters when only a resize pass was needed.