By Gayle Vehar on | No Comments
Exporting images can sometimes get confusing. Let’s face it; there are many different settings to choose from and endless combinations of numbers to input. So today, I will break it all down in an easy step-by-step format and let you know precisely what you need to do to export your photos for print.
**Please Note: When I say print, I mean anytime you give clients files or send them to a lab or printer to print.
Additional Note: If you are trying to export from Lightroom Mobile, we have a separate tutorial with mobile instructions here.
You can open the Export Dialog Box in 3 different ways:
It doesn’t matter how you get there. Any of these options will work, so choose the easiest one for you to remember.
=
The Export Dialog Box has many different sections. For this post, we are going to cover several of them in-depth:
The Export Location section will tell Lightroom where you want your exported images saved. You can save them in a sub-folder inside the original folder or save them in another folder completely. You can also choose if you want this new folder added to your catalog or not.
Whatever you do, BE SPECIFIC about where you want the photos to go, so you can find them when you are done.
File Naming is something that I typically do when exporting files for clients. I like to add their name to the file number that either I or my camera gave the image when it was imported. So I check the "Rename To" box and choose “Custom Name-Original File Number” from the drop-down menu. Then, in the “Custom Text” box, I type in the client name that I want to have added to the file name.
In File Settings, you need to ensure that your Image Format is set to JPEG, which is the most share-friendly of the available options. Your Quality should be set to 100. Your Color Space should be set to sRGB - this is the color space used by photo prints, so it will render the best. DO NOT check the box “Limit File Size To:” - if you do, it will decrease your file quality significantly.
In Image Sizing, make sure "Resize to Fit" is UNCHECKED, and in the Resolution Box, you have 300 typed in, and the drop-down menu is set at “Pixels Per Inch.”
Output Sharpening will be a personal preference to most. I check the “Sharpen For” box and choose Matte Paper from the drop-down options and Standard under the Amount options.
Please feel free to download this Cheat Sheet to help you remember all of the essential Export Settings in Lightroom!
BONUS TIP: Starting in Lightroom 9.0, a handy multi-batch export feature was added so you can now export images for multiple purposes (like print and internet) at the same time. Read more about how to use Lightroom's Multi-Batch Export feature here.
Do you have any questions or comments about Lightroom Export Settings for Print? Leave us a comment below - we would LOVE to hear from you! And PLEASE SHARE this post using the social sharing buttons (we really appreciate it)!
Hi!! I am Gayle. I am a wife to my handsome husband and mom to 4 beautiful kids. In my spare time, I am a photographer and blogger at Mom and Camera. I have a passion for sharing my love of photography with others. I teach local photography classes and regularly share photography tips and tricks on my blog. I hang out there a lot—I’d love you to stop by and visit!
Comments