Lightroom: print or export for online printing of specific aspect ratios

Which is better?

Use the Develop module to crop an image to a specific ratio and then export it to a JPEG

or

use the Print Module and print them to a JPG with a specific page size (aspect ratio)?


To me, the Print Module seems easier because I don't have to make temporary virtual copies, however I am wondering if this has any downside.

The goal is to upload the images to an online print service to get prints made.

TIA

Well, it's up to you and what you want for your output/presentation.

For example, I have framed prints without mattes of 12x16 and 12x18, and so I will crop if needed to the size I want.

Alternatively, I have had prints made at 11x14 and, I believe, 11x17. These I have done with the plan of matting them and fitting them into a larger frame. I would crop them first to "fit" my composition at whatever aspect ratio was suitable, and order a print at the desired size, although for the matting you could specify a larger paper size than the size of the actual image. In fact, Most of my framed printing has been done from a home printer using 13x19 paper. I have a good quality paper cutter to trim the paper to whatever final size I want.

I use the Export function if I want a borderless print, its easier - just crop to the print aspect, type in one dimension and 300 ppi, and save it out. (BTW, there is no reason to treat Virtual Copies as temporary. They take up very little room in the catalog, about 25 KB each. A thousand of them would occupy less HD space than one of my Raw files.)

But if I want a print with extras like borders, a frame or a caption, I will set it up and save it in the Print module.