Converting HEIC Photos to JPEG in Windows
If you or your team uses an iPhone or an iPad to take photos in the field, you’ve probably come across photos that are saved in .HEIC format. HEIC is a relatively new image format that uses the HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) to store photos with better image quality and smaller file sizes compared to JPEG. Since 2017 (iOS 11), Apple has made this the default file format for photos taken in the camera app.
If you use a Mac computer you can open HEIC files out of the box. However, if you try opening a HEIC file on a Windows computer, chances are that it won’t open by default. This can be quite frustrating when you need to quickly look at a photo or attach it to a document you are working on. In this article, we will show you how to open HEIC files and convert them to JPEG format.
Adding Support for HEIC on Windows 10
Before you can open HEIC files on Windows 10, you have to first install an application. There are several options available but the one we recommend is called CopyTrans HEIC. Apart from letting you open HEIC files, CopyTrans adds thumbnail preview support to Windows File Explorer and also allows you to import HEIC files directly to Microsoft Office. Once you’ve installed this plugin, you will be able to open HEIC files in Windows like any other image format!
Converting HEIC to JPEG format
HEIC format is excellent for keeping file sizes small but sometimes it’s just simpler to store JPEG files instead. That way when you share or copy the photos to another computer, you know it can be opened.
With the CopyTrans HEIC plugin installed, converting HEIC files to JPEG is simple. Just select the photos, right-click and select “Convert to JPEG with CopyTrans”. You can convert up to 100 photos at a time using this method
Making iOS Save JPEG Instead of HEIC Format
If you don’t want to deal with HEIC photos on your computer, you can change the default file format in the iOS Camera Settings. Open the Settings app and scroll down until you see the Camera app. You can also type “Camera” in the search bar to find it quickly. Next, just click on the Formats button and change the Camera Capture format from High Efficiency to Most Compatible.
A Better Way to Capture Construction Photos
Trying to get your team to capture site photos is challenging enough. Getting them to back them up to the company server in a specific file format is probably not going to happen. We created SiteCam to help make photo management easier for construction.
SiteCam allows you to quickly capture and organize photos while you are on site. You can pin a photo’s precise location onto a plan or a map and add tags/notes associated with the capture. The photo can then be shared via a URL and all the information will be available to the recipient.
When your teammates also use SiteCam it pools your site photos together for instant access. As a bonus, this cloud access means your photos are available on any device, so no more plugging your phone in to transfer files!
You can try out SiteCam for free and see the benefits for yourself, it only takes a couple of minutes to set up. Sign-up using the form below.