How to convert a batch of PFFiles to UImages?

In my app, images are being stored on parse. They then get retrieved into an array of PFFiles, however I have to convert them individually to UIImages using this method which takes time.

  PFFile *picture = [pictureArray objectAtIndex:indexPath.row];
[picture getDataInBackgroundWithBlock:^(NSData *data, NSError *error) {

    myimage = [UIImage imageWithData:data];

}];

So I need to store images on parse, and retrieve them, and I don't want to individually convert all of these pictures, I want it all done at once. These are the options I currently see:

1. Create a loop that loops the code above to convert all the PFFiles to UIImages and add them to an array ready to access.

2. Find a better way to convert or use PFFiles.

3. Upload NSData or something else to parse so I don't have to convert the PFFiles.

Can anyone provide me advice or solutions to my problem? As I am presenting a fairly large amount of images in a UICollectionView, I want them to be all loaded at once some how instead of having to load them individually, I want the images in an array ready to go so I can just call:

cell.myimage.image = [pictureArray objectAtIndex:indexPath.row];

and all the images will be loaded instead of waiting for PFFIles to be converted etc.

If you want to present them you should use PFImageView which can load the by itself. It's a subclass of UIImageView and its pretty.

Example:

PFImageView *creature = [[PFImageView alloc] init];
creature.image = [UIImage imageNamed:@”1.jpg”]; // placeholder image
creature.file = (PFFile *)file;
[creature loadInBackground];

If you want to download them for other uses check out this answer.