Turn Any macOS Folder Into an Image Converter – Here's How

In macOS, you tin easy person the format of images utilizing a Quick Action successful Finder oregon you tin execute the aforesaid happening via the Preview app, but if your regular workflow requires you to repeatedly person images – for uploading to a blog, for illustration – past utilizing a Folder Action tin beryllium a overmuch faster mode of getting the occupation done.


In this article, we'll amusement you however to usage the macOS Automator app to make a precise elemental Folder Action that volition automatically person images dropped into a circumstantial folder, without you having to manually use a Quick Action oregon unfastened an representation editing app. Keep speechmaking to larn however it's done.

How to Create an Image Converting Folder successful Automator

1. Launch Automator from the Applications folder.
   
   
2. Click New Document.


3. Choose Folder Action arsenic the benignant of your document.
   
   
4. At the apical of the workflow area, click the dropdown adjacent to Folder Action receives files and folders added to: past prime Other....
   
   
5. Select the folder that you'd similar to property the representation conversion enactment to. In our example, we're choosing the Downloads folder.


6. From the Library sidebar connected the acold left, prime Photos.


7. From the Actions column, resistance Change Type of Images (the 1 with the Preview icon) to the workflow area.
   
   
8. A dialog punctual volition appear. If you privation your enactment to person copies of images placed successful the folder and sphere the originals, prime Add. If you privation it to person the archetypal images, prime Don't Add.


9. In the Change Type of Images enactment panel, take the benignant of format that you privation images to beryllium converted to. We're selecting JPG.
   
   
10. In the Automator paper bar, prime File -> Save... oregon property Command-S, telephone your caller record enactment "Convert Image," past click Save.

That's each determination is to it. Next clip you privation to person an representation into your preferred format, simply resistance it into the folder that you assigned the enactment to.

Now that you cognize however to make the representation conversion workflow successful Automator, you whitethorn privation to crook it into a standalone "Application," the enactment for which you tin find successful Automator's papers menu. An "Application" is simply a self-running workflow that acts arsenic a droplet – immoderate files oregon folders dropped onto it are utilized arsenic input to the workflow. In different words, you could adhd an "Application" to your Dock and driblet images onto it for conversion.

You tin besides import Automator workflows into the Shortcuts app. Shortcuts tin person astir Automator workflows into shortcuts that transportation retired the aforesaid functions, events and automations — you simply resistance a workflow record into Shortcuts and the conversion happens automatically.
This article, "Turn Any macOS Folder Into an Image Converter – Here's How" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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