IMAGES = $(wildcard jpgs/*) COL = $(patsubst jpgs/%,collection/%,$(IMAGES)) .PHONY: help help: $(info try 'show' or 'output') .PHONY: show show: $(info IMAGES is $(IMAGES)) $(info Col is $(COL)) .PHONY: output output: $(COL) collection/%.jpg: jpgs/%.jpg mkdir -p $(@D) cp $< $@