How Do I Change Save / Save As Default to JPG in Photoshop CC 2017?

I agree with Dave regarding saving a “master” PSD version of any edits performed in Photoshop, over and above what has taken place in ACR.

Another option is to use the File > Scripts > Scripts Events Manager to automatically save a JPEG copy of EVERY image that is saved (which may or may not be considered practical or workable). Photoshop ships with this “Save Extra JPEG” script and has done so for quite a few versions (however you may wish to adjust the quality level, embedding colour profile etc from the default values in the script).

// (c) Copyright 2005.  Adobe Systems, Incorporated.  All rights reserved.
/*
@@@BUILDINFO@@@ Save Extra JPEG.jsx 1.1.0.0
*/
var begDesc = "$$$/JavaScripts/SaveExtraJPEG/Description=This script is designed to be used as a script that runs after a save event. The script will save an extra JPEG file next to the current active document. This script does not handle 'as a copy' when saving." // endDesc
var begName = "$$$/JavaScripts/SaveExtraJPEG/MenuName=Save Extra JPEG" // endName
// on localized builds we pull the $$$/Strings from a .dat file, see documentation for more details
$.localize = true;
try {
  if ( UsingAsACopy( arguments[0] ) ) {
  alert( localize( '$$$/JavaScripts/SaveExtraJPEGWarning=Save used As A Copy, extra file may not save correctly.' ) );
  }
  if ( IsBeginSaveEvent( arguments[0] ) ) {
  alert( localize( '$$$/JavaScripts/SaveExtraJPEGError=Save Extra JPEG should only be used with the Save Document event and not the Start Save Document event.^rSaving Extra aborted!' ) );
        throw( "DONE" );
  }
  var data = GetDataFromDocument( activeDocument );
  // if the current save was not a JPEG then save an extra JPEG
  // JPEG does not support Bitmap mode
    if ( 'jpg'  != data.extension.toLowerCase() && 
         'JPEG' != data.fileType && 
         DocumentMode.BITMAP != activeDocument.mode ) {
  SaveExtraJPEG( data );
    }
} // try end
catch( e ) {
  // always wrap your script with try/catch blocks so you don't stop production
  // remove comments below to see error for debugging 
  // alert( e );
}
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Function: SaveExtraJPEG
// Use: save the current document as a copy using JPEG options
// Input: a document must be active
// Params: folder, filename, extension
// Output: file saved as a copy next to the current active document
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function SaveExtraJPEG( data ) {
  // 'Save for Web' would be better but I'm lazy
        var jpegOptions = new JPEGSaveOptions();
        jpegOptions.quality = 2; // really low 
        jpegOptions.embedColorProfile = false; // really small
        
        // are we using extensions on this save
        var jpegExtension = '.jpg';
        if ( "" == data.extension ) {
  jpegExtension = "";
  }
        // third option is as a copy, set that to true 
        // so the activeDocument doesn't switch underneath the user
        activeDocument.saveAs( File( data.folder + 
                                     '/' + 
                                     data.fileName + 
                                     jpegExtension ), jpegOptions, true );
}
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Function: UsingAsACopy
// Use: find out if the user used 'As A Copy'
// Input: action descriptor from the event that just occured
// Output: boolean that 'As A Copy' was checked
// Note: On script events the script gets passed in the actual action that
// occured we can look inside the action descriptor and pull information out
// in this case we are looking for the keyCopy
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function UsingAsACopy( actionDescriptor ) {
  var usingKeyCopy = false;
  if ( undefined != actionDescriptor ) {
  if ( "ActionDescriptor" == actionDescriptor.typename ) {
  var keyCopy = charIDToTypeID( "Cpy " );
  if ( actionDescriptor.hasKey( keyCopy ) ) {
  usingKeyCopy = actionDescriptor.getBoolean( keyCopy );
  }
  }
  }
  return usingKeyCopy;
}
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Function: IsBeginSaveEvent
// Use: find out if the user used 'Start Save Document' event
// Input: action descriptor from the event that just occured
// Output: boolean that this is the 'Start Save Event' is occuring
// Note: On script events the script gets passed in the actual action that
// occured we can look inside the action descriptor and pull information out
// in this case we are looking for the "saveStage" to not be "saveBegin"
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function IsBeginSaveEvent( actionDescriptor ) {
  var usingStartSave = false;
  if ( undefined != actionDescriptor ) {
  if ( "ActionDescriptor" == actionDescriptor.typename ) {
  var keySaveStage = stringIDToTypeID( "saveStage" );
  if ( actionDescriptor.hasKey( keySaveStage ) ) {
  var typeSaveStage = actionDescriptor.getEnumerationType( keySaveStage );
                 var typeSaveStageType = stringIDToTypeID( "saveStageType" );
                 var enumSaveStage = actionDescriptor.getEnumerationValue( keySaveStage );
                 var enumSaveStageBegin = stringIDToTypeID( "saveBegin" );
                 usingStartSave = enumSaveStage == enumSaveStageBegin && typeSaveStage == typeSaveStageType;
  }
  }
  }
  return usingStartSave;
}
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Function: GetDataFromDocument
// Usage: pull data about the document passed in
// Input: document to gather data
// Output: Object containing folder, fileName, fileType, extension
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function GetDataFromDocument( inDocument ) {
  var data = new Object();
  var fullPathStr = inDocument.fullName.toString();
  var lastDot = fullPathStr.lastIndexOf( "." );
  var fileNameNoPath = fullPathStr.substr( 0, lastDot );
  data.extension = fullPathStr.substr( lastDot + 1, fullPathStr.length );
  var lastSlash = fullPathStr.lastIndexOf( "/" );
  data.fileName = fileNameNoPath.substr( lastSlash + 1, fileNameNoPath.length );
  data.folder = fileNameNoPath.substr( 0, lastSlash );
  data.fileType = inDocument.fullName.type;
  return data;
}

When I Save/Save As on the Mac, it remembers the last saved file format.

I agree with Warunicorn’s advice. Setup your Export Preferences as desired, such as:

Next, you can setup a custom Keyboard Shortcut, such as:

Then just use the keycut to save as a JPEG!

There are other options, which I’ll mention shortly…

My advice would be this:

Always save your master file as a PSD without any resizing. This keeps the layers and is saved in a lossless format (i.e. no image information is discarded when saving).

If you need a jpeg copy , e.g. to share on a website etc. then use Export - Save for Web (Legacy) and make the appropriate judgement, using the previews and sliders, between file size, required pixel size and and image deterioration. Jpeg is lossy and you do not want to repeatedly open and resave for example if you need a copy for enlargement or further sharing.

Dave

There is no way to set a default for the file type.

But if you're on Windows, press Tab once to highlight the Save as type dropdown, then press J to choose jpg.

Not sure if this works on a Mac, though.

Might want to give the Quick Export option a try. (File > Export > Quick Export as on the menu bar. Use Edit (Photoshop on Mac) > Preferences > Export to change the format to JPEG.)