Lightroom Export Settings for Print: A Complete Guide

(Last updated on October 11th, 2023)

Short Summary

In this article, we will show you how to export photos from Lightroom for print with the best quality and settings. Here are the main steps that you need to follow:

• Select the photos that you want to export from Lightroom for print.
• Go to File > Export or press Ctrl+Shift+E on Windows or Command+Shift+E on Mac.
• Choose a location where you want to save your exported photos and adjust the settings according to your preference and purpose. The best export settings for print are:
  • File format: TIFF or JPEG
  • Color space: Adobe RGB or ProPhoto RGB
  • Resolution: 300 ppi or higher
  • Output sharpening: low or standard
  • Metadata: minimal or none
• Click on the Export button to start exporting your photos from Lightroom for print.
• Find your exported photos in the location that you chose and print them using your preferred printer and paper type.

If you want to learn more about these steps and some tips and tricks for printing photos from Lightroom, please read on. Happy printing!

Introduction

Do you love taking photos and editing them in Lightroom? Do you want to print your photos and display them on your wall, album, or portfolio? If so, you might be wondering how to export your photos from Lightroom for print with the best quality and settings.

Printing photos is a great way to preserve your memories, showcase your work, or create personalized gifts. However, printing photos can also be tricky and frustrating if you don’t know how to export them properly. You might end up with prints that look dull, pixelated, blurry, or distorted.

That’s why in this article, we will provide you with a complete guide on how to export photos from Lightroom for print, covering the essential settings and tips. By the end of this article, you will be able to export your photos from Lightroom for print with confidence and ease.

Best Lightroom Export Settings for Print

Before we dive into the details of how to export photos from Lightroom for print, let’s first go over the difference between the export settings for print and for web or other purposes.

When you export photos from Lightroom for web or other purposes, such as social media, email, or online galleries, you usually want to optimize them for speed and size. That means you want to reduce the file size and resolution of your photos, while maintaining a decent quality and appearance.

However, when you export photos from Lightroom for print, you want to optimize them for quality and accuracy. That means you want to preserve the file size and resolution of your photos, while ensuring that they match the color and sharpness of your original edits.

So, what are the best export settings for print? Well, there is no definitive answer to this question, as different printers and paper types may require different settings. However, here are some general guidelines that you can follow:

• File format: TIFF or JPEG
• Color space: Adobe RGB or ProPhoto RGB
• Resolution: 300 ppi or higher
• Output sharpening: low or standard
• Metadata: minimal or none

Let’s take a closer look at each of these settings and why they matter.

File format: TIFF or JPEG

The file format is the type of file that you save your photo as. There are many file formats available, such as PNG, GIF, PSD, etc., but the most common ones for printing are TIFF and JPEG.

TIFF stands for Tagged Image File Format. It is a lossless file format that preserves all the information and quality of your photo. It is ideal for printing because it does not compress or degrade your photo in any way. However, TIFF files are also very large and take up a lot of space.

JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group. It is a lossy file format that compresses your photo to reduce its size. It is convenient for printing because it saves space and time. However, JPEG files also lose some quality and information every time you save them. This can result in artifacts, noise, or banding in your photo.

So, which file format should you choose? Well, it depends on your preference and purpose. If you want the highest quality and accuracy possible, go with TIFF. If you want to save space and time, go with JPEG. Just make sure that if you choose JPEG, you set the quality slider to 100% to minimize the compression.

Color space: Adobe RGB or ProPhoto RGB

The color space is the range of colors that your photo can display. There are many color spaces available, such as sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto RGB, etc., but the most common ones for printing are Adobe RGB and ProPhoto RGB.

sRGB stands for Standard Red Green Blue. It is the default color space for most monitors and web browsers. It is also the smallest color space among the three. It can display about 35% of the colors that the human eye can see.

Adobe RGB stands for Adobe Red Green Blue. It is a larger color space than sRGB. It can display about 50% of the colors that the human eye can see. It is ideal for printing because it covers most of the colors that printers can produce.

ProPhoto RGB stands for Professional Photo Red Green Blue. It is the largest color space among the three. It can display about 68% of the colors that the human eye can see. It is also ideal for printing because it covers even more colors than Adobe RGB.

So, which color space should you choose? Well, it depends on your preference and purpose. If you want to preserve as many colors as possible in your photo, go with ProPhoto RGB. If you want to match the colors of your photo with most printers, go with Adobe RGB. Just make sure that if you choose ProPhoto RGB or Adobe RGB, you also use a printer that supports these color spaces. Otherwise, you might end up with dull or inaccurate colors in your prints.

Resolution: 300 ppi or higher

The resolution is the number of pixels per inch (ppi) that your photo has. It determines how sharp and detailed your photo looks. The higher the resolution, the sharper and more detailed your photo looks. The lower the resolution, the blurrier and more pixelated your photo looks.

The resolution that you need for printing depends on the size and distance of your prints. Generally, the larger and closer your prints are, the higher resolution you need. The smaller and farther your prints are, the lower resolution you need.

A common rule of thumb is to use a resolution of 300 ppi or higher for printing. This means that for every inch of your print, there are 300 pixels in your photo. This is considered to be the optimal resolution for most printers and paper types.

To calculate the resolution that you need for printing, you can use this simple formula:

Resolution (ppi) = Print size (inches) x 300 / Photo size (pixels)

For example, if you want to print a 4 x 6 inch photo that has a size of 1200 x 1800 pixels, you can use this formula:

Resolution (ppi) = 4 x 300 / 1200 = 1

Resolution (ppi) = 6 x 300 / 1800 = 1

This means that your photo has a resolution of 1 ppi, which is very low and not suitable for printing. To increase the resolution of your photo, you can either resize it or crop it.

To resize your photo, you can use the Image Sizing option in the export dialog box. You can check the Resize to Fit box and choose the dimensions that you want for your print. For example, if you want to print a 4 x 6 inch photo, you can choose Width & Height and enter 4 and 6 in the boxes. You can also choose the unit of measurement, such as inches, centimeters, or pixels.

To crop your photo, you can use the Crop tool in the Develop module. You can drag the corners or sides of the crop overlay to adjust the aspect ratio and size of your photo. You can also choose a preset aspect ratio from the drop-down menu, such as 4 x 6 or 5 x 7.

Output sharpening: low or standard

The output sharpening is the amount of sharpening that you apply to your photo when you export it. It enhances the edges and details of your photo and makes it look crisper and clearer.

The output sharpening that you need for printing depends on the type and quality of your paper. Generally, the smoother and glossier your paper is, the more sharpening you need. The rougher and matte your paper is, the less sharpening you need.

A common rule of thumb is to use a low or standard amount of output sharpening for printing. This means that you apply a subtle or moderate amount of sharpening to your photo without overdoing it or creating artifacts.

To apply output sharpening to your photo, you can use the Output Sharpening option in the export dialog box. You can check the Sharpen For box and choose Print from the drop-down menu. You can also choose the amount of sharpening from the drop-down menu, such as Low, Standard, or High.

Metadata: minimal or none

The metadata is the information that is embedded in your photo file. It includes details such as camera settings, location, date, keywords, ratings, etc. It can be useful for organizing and managing your photos in Lightroom or other software.

However, metadata can also increase the file size and complexity of your photo file. It can also reveal personal or sensitive information about you or your photos. That’s why when you export photos from Lightroom for print, you might want to remove or reduce some metadata from your photo file.

A common rule of thumb is to use minimal or none metadata for printing. This means that you only keep essential metadata such as color profile or orientation in your photo file. You remove unnecessary metadata such as keywords or ratings from your photo file.

To remove or reduce metadata from your photo file, you can use the Metadata option in the export dialog box. You can choose what kind of metadata to include from the drop-down menu, such as All Metadata, Copyright Only, Minimal, or None.

How to Export Photos from Lightroom for Print

Now that we have covered the best export settings for print, let’s see how to actually export photos from Lightroom for print. Here are the steps that you need to follow:

1. Select the photos that you want to export from Lightroom for print.
2. Go to File > Export or press Ctrl+Shift+E on Windows or Command+Shift+E on Mac.
3. In the export dialog box, choose a location where you want to save your exported photos.
4. In the export dialog box, adjust the settings according to your preference and purpose. Here are some suggestions based on the best export settings for print that we discussed earlier:
   • File Settings: choose TIFF or JPEG as the file format, Adobe RGB or ProPhoto RGB as the color space, and 100% as the quality (if you choose JPEG).
   • Image Sizing: check the Resize to Fit box and choose the dimensions that match your print size. For example, if you want to print a 4 x 6 inch photo, enter 4 and 6 in the boxes and choose inches as the unit. Make sure that the resolution is 300 ppi or higher.
   • Output Sharpening: check the Sharpen For box and choose Print from the drop-down menu. Choose Low or Standard as the amount of sharpening.
   • Metadata: choose Minimal or None from the drop-down menu to remove or reduce metadata from your photo file.
   • Watermarking: check the Watermark box if you want to add a watermark to your photo. You can customize the watermark by clicking on the Edit Watermarks button.
   • Post-Processing: choose what to do after exporting your photos. For example, you can choose to open them in another application, show them in Explorer or Finder, or do nothing.
5. Click on the Export button to start exporting your photos from Lightroom for print.
6. Wait for the export process to finish. You can see the progress bar at the top left corner of Lightroom.
7. Once the export process is done, you can find your exported photos in the location that you chose in step 3. You can now print them using your preferred printer and paper type.

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Tips and Tricks for Printing Photos from Lightroom

In addition to the best export settings for print, there are also some features and tools in Lightroom that can help you enhance the print quality and appearance of your photos. Here are some tips and tricks that you can use:

Soft Proofing: how to preview how the photos will look on different paper types and profiles

Soft proofing is a feature that allows you to preview how your photos will look on different paper types and profiles before you print them. This can help you avoid unwanted color shifts, contrast changes, or clipping issues in your prints.

To use soft proofing in Lightroom, you can follow these steps:

1. Select the photo that you want to soft proof in the Develop module.
2. Click on the Soft Proofing icon at the bottom right corner of the screen or press S on your keyboard.
3. You will see a white border around your photo and a checkbox that says Create Proof Copy. Check this box to create a virtual copy of your photo that you can edit without affecting the original.
4. Click on the Profile drop-down menu at the top right corner of the screen and choose the paper type and profile that matches your printer and paper. For example, if you use an Epson printer and glossy paper, you can choose Epson Glossy Paper.
5. You will see a histogram and a warning icon at the top right corner of the screen. The histogram shows the tonal range of your photo and the warning icon shows if there are any colors that are out of gamut (meaning they cannot be reproduced by your printer and paper). You can click on the warning icon to toggle between showing or hiding these colors on your photo. They will appear as blue (for shadows) or red (for highlights) patches on your photo.
6. You can adjust the exposure, contrast, saturation, or other settings of your photo to make it look as close as possible to your original edit. You can also use the Before/After view to compare your original edit with your soft proofed version.
7. Once you are happy with your soft proofed version, you can export it using the best export settings for print that we discussed earlier.

Print Module: how to create and customize print layouts, templates, margins, etc.

The Print module is a tool that allows you to create and customize print layouts, templates, margins, etc. for your photos. You can use it to arrange multiple photos on a single page, add text or graphics, or create contact sheets or picture packages.

To use the Print module in Lightroom, you can follow these steps:

1. Select the photos that you want to print in the Library module.
2. Go to File > Print or press Ctrl+P on Windows or Command+P on Mac.
3. In the Print module, choose a layout style from the left panel. There are four layout styles available: Single Image/Contact Sheet, Picture Package, Custom Package, and Book.
4. Depending on the layout style that you choose, you can adjust various settings from the right panel, such as:
   • Layout: choose the number of rows and columns, cell size and spacing, margins, etc.
   • Image Settings: choose whether to zoom to fill, rotate to fit, repeat one photo per page, etc.
   • Guides: choose whether to show guides for page bleed, margins, cells, etc.
   • Page: choose the page size, orientation, resolution, etc.
   • Print Job: choose the printer, color management, print resolution, print sharpening, etc.
5. You can also add text or graphics to your print layout by using the Page panel. You can click on the Add Page Text or Add Identity Plate buttons to insert text or graphics on your page. You can customize the font, size, color, opacity, position, etc. of your text or graphics.
6. You can also save your print layout as a template by clicking on the + icon at the top of the Template Browser panel. You can name your template and use it again later.
7. Once you are happy with your print layout, you can click on the Print button at the bottom right corner of the screen to start printing your photos.

Print Adjustment: how to adjust the brightness and contrast of the photos for printing

Print adjustment is a feature that allows you to adjust the brightness and contrast of your photos for printing. This can help you compensate for any differences between your monitor and printer or paper.

To use print adjustment in Lightroom, you can follow these steps:

1. Select the photo that you want to print in the Develop module.
2. Go to File > Print or press Ctrl+P on Windows or Command+P on Mac.
3. In the Print module, go to the Print Job panel on the right side of the screen.
4. Check the Print Adjustment box and use the sliders to adjust the brightness and contrast of your photo. You can also use the before and after tool in Lightroom to compare your adjustments with the original.
5. Once you are happy with your print adjustment, you can click on the Print button at the bottom right corner of the screen to start printing your photo.

Print Job: how to choose the printer, paper size, orientation, etc.

Print job is a feature that allows you to choose the printer, paper size, orientation, etc. for your photos. This can help you ensure that your photos are printed correctly and efficiently.

To use print job in Lightroom, you can follow these steps:

1. Select the photo that you want to print in the Develop module.
2. Go to File > Print or press Ctrl+P on Windows or Command+P on Mac.
3. In the Print module, go to the Print Job panel on the right side of the screen.
4. Choose the printer that you want to use from the drop-down menu. You can also click on the Printer… button to access more settings and options for your printer.
5. Choose the paper size that matches your print size from the drop-down menu. You can also click on the Page Setup… button to access more settings and options for your paper size.
6. Choose the orientation that matches your print orientation from the drop-down menu. You can also click on the Rotate to Fit box to automatically rotate your photo to fit your paper orientation.
7. Choose whether to print to a JPEG file or directly to a printer from the drop-down menu. If you choose to print to a JPEG file, you can also choose the file resolution, quality, and location.
8. Once you are happy with your print job settings, you can click on the Print button at the bottom right corner of the screen to start printing your photo.

Conclusion

Printing photos from Lightroom can be a rewarding and satisfying experience if you know how to export them properly. In this article, we have provided you with a complete guide on how to export photos from Lightroom for print, covering the essential settings and tips.

We have discussed the best export settings for print, such as file format, color space, resolution, output sharpening, and metadata. We have also discussed how to export photos from Lightroom for print using the export dialog box.

We have also shared some tips and tricks for printing photos from Lightroom, such as soft proofing, print module, print adjustment, and print job. We have also explained how to use these features and tools in Lightroom to enhance the print quality and appearance of your photos.

We hope that this guide was helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below. Happy printing!

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