Converting CMYK JPEGs to RGB

November 15, 2006 6:01 AM

Recommended methods for converting CMYK JPEGs to RGB JPEGs, ideally batch conversion?

I have about a hundred JPEGs in CMYK, and I'm looking for a straightforward way to quickly convert them to RGB. I'm using Windows XP and don't have Photoshop. Is there a method or a tool (preferably Freeware) that can do this?

Failing that any advice on simple ways to convert CMYK to RGB, even one image at a time, would be much appreciated.

posted by drill_here_fore_seismics to Computers & Internet (7 answers total)

You can do it with ImageMagick.
posted by grouse at 6:28 AM on November 15, 2006

On a Mac, GraphicConverter will do this, I believe. It has some fairly powerful batch-conversion features, and will only set you back $30.
posted by Kadin2048 at 6:45 AM on November 15, 2006

Of course, GraphicConverter doesn't run on Windows XP.
posted by grouse at 6:49 AM on November 15, 2006

Response by poster: Grouse, thanks for suggesting ImageMagick, is there an idiot's guide anywhere? I'll use it if there's no other option, but as I've been sending the JPEGs out I was hoping theremight be a more simple solution, preferably with a GUI.
posted by drill_here_fore_seismics at 6:55 AM on November 15, 2006

Find a friend with Photoshop. Seriously. With an Action, they can take care of this for you in about 5 minutes. I've got an action already set up for converting from CMYK to RGB (and the reverse) already. I'll bet any other serious Photoshop user will, too.
posted by unclejeffy at 7:04 AM on November 15, 2006

Google for [ImageMagick cmyk rgb] for examples.
posted by grouse at 7:25 AM on November 15, 2006

More importantly, find a friend with Photoshop and get him to create an action which not only converts to RGB but which also resets the levels. A black CMYK image converted to RGB will come out grey. Yuck. The levels will need adjusting to make the constrast appealing.
posted by Glum at 11:17 AM on November 15, 2006