Converting picture files from Photo Creator

[MightyBeagle]

Trying to help a friend out. She has an HP printer and has used HP Photo Creator. 

However, the program (with her help) has managed to convert all the files on several DVDs into JPG files which can only be opened using the Photo Creator software. Other programs refuse to open the files, saying they are invalid or corrupted. Yet HP Photo Creator opens them just fine.

She would like her JPG files to be accessible using any image viewing program (this seems reasonable to me). 

Is there any way of converting these files back into a format that can be used by any picture/image viewing/editing software please? 

Thanks in advance. 
T. 

Windows 10 user | not hugely computer literate, but I'll give it a go | using South African internet (it's not the quickest) | decent, friendly people. 

[Gemini02]

Welcome @MightyBeagle,

Thanks for participating in the forums! I see you would like to know how to change the saved file format. I can try and help you out.

I have provided a document with some information using the HP Photo Creations Software: HP Photo Creation.

Feel free to click on the "Accept as Solution" and the "Thumbs
Up" if this helped. Please let me know the results. Best Regards,
 

[MightyBeagle]

Hello @gemini02 

Thanks for the reply. However, I cannot see an answer to my question in the documentation that you linked to. 

I need to convert all the photos back from the "HP jpgs" to ones I can use elsewhere. This isn't in a project, these are just files on a disc (old school) that have been altered by the program and now can't be used anywhere else. 

Yours Hopefully.

T. 

[Gemini02]

Hi @MightyBeagle,

Most likely you will have to upload the pictures to the computer to be able to change them to open in the file format in another program first, then save them again. Usually, on the CD, they would be locked and wouldn't have changed formatting.

1. Find any image file stored on your hard drive and right click on it. Result: a menu box will appear.

2. Select Properties, then select the General tab. Result: an information panel appears that has a Change button.

3. Click on the Change button. Result: You will see a box listing both "recommended" and "other programs" available on your computer. You may also click on Browse to find another program if your choice is not listed. Select the application you want to use.

4. Make sure there is a check in the box at the bottom beside "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file." Warning: if this is not checked, the new application will apply only to that one file.

5. Click on OK. 

Thanks!

[MightyBeagle]

Thanks again @Gemini02

I'm at work at the moment, but I will try this just as soon as I get home this evening and will let you know how I get on. 

Thank you. Dankie. Enkosi. Ngiyabonga. 

T. 

[MightyBeagle]

Oh dear @gemini02

I followed your instructions, but no joy.
Incidentally, when I opened the PROPERTIES dialogue box, the correct program (I use Picasa) was already set as default. It's not that the wrong program is trying to open the files, it's that none of the image software I have can open the files.

Some sample responses: 

Picasa: "Invalid image"
MS Office Picture Manager: RedEx
MS Paint:

The only program that can open the file is HP Photo Creator (HPPC). 

It's as if it has formatted the file in such a way that it's unreadable by any other program. It also changed all the names of the files and put thumbnails on the disc too. Each image has 3 copies, named picon rlf, pcf and rlf - but all of these are still .jpg files and I can't see why only HPPC is the only program that can open them. 

I don't doubt that my friend (remember these are her images, not mine) has done something "foolish" to make this happen, but I still want to try to make it unhappen. 

Any further ideas, please?

[Gemini02 · Accepted solution]

Hi MIghtyBeagel,

I would suggest to call in and do remote assistance.

Here is the link for contacting HP: Phone Assist Worldwide. 

Thanks!

[MightyBeagle]

Thanks for trying Gemini02.

Give my regards to Gemini01. 🙂

*flies away*

[RocketLife]

Hi Mighty Beagle.

I've changed the title of the question to say "HP Photo Creations."

HP Photo Creations  saves projects in a proprietary format. Each project is saved in a folder and contains multiple files. Although you can view the files in the folder, they are not directly usable. You must open the entire project from the program itself.

Most photo and printing programs should be able to open JPEG files directly from a DVD. If you want to transfer the JPEG files from the DVD to the computer, the easiest way would be to drag them over.

If you no longer have the DVDs, you could open the project files with HP Photo Creations and use the optional Image Export feature to export JPEGs. When exporting, you can choose the size and quality. However, Image Export is not designed for bulk conversion. We designed the feature to enable people to use the layered designs they create in HP Photo Creations in other programs — for example, to import a collage into a PowerPoint presentation.

@Gemini02 — That FAQ is quite old. We've created a new FAQ that's illustrated and searchable at RocketLifeSupport.com. You can also contact our support team there.

Hope this helps,

RocketLife