Lightroom - Resizing for Export to File/Print

I want to export pictures from Lightroom to a file, and have them sized at 4x6 inches with a resolution that will print well i.e. 240-300 ppi.

I've played with the export settings all afternoon and no matter what I do between the size settings and the resolution setting in the Export Dialogue, I cannot get the resolution and size where I want it. I also tried resizing the images in LR first but to no avail. The size dimensions are correct but the resolution is always off, making the image either tiny or huge and certainly not printable.

What am I doing wrong???

I want to put these images on a disk for a friend to be able to open the image and print it off the disk and get a 4x6 print at between a 240-300 resolution.

Any help would sure be appreciated.

Go file > Export.

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Thanks for providing the shot of your screen Rene. I've been entering the settings correctly when I compare. I just did it again and used these settings:

w: 6 in
h: 4 in
resolution: 300
Then I exported to a folder

When I look at the properties for this image, now in the folder, it confirms that the image is 6x4 at 300ppi.

The problem occurs when I open this file in Elements or PS to print and it now wants to print at 25.00 in x 16.67 in. No mention of resolution but I assume it's displaying at 72ppi.

I expected the image to open from the file (or CD) at its actual size and resolution but it appears not to be. You still have to define the size for printing then. Is this correct?

I was trying to make it easier on people without PS etc to print off what I give them by saving them at 6x4 actual size but if you still have to enter a print size then I may as well just export them at the original size.

I'm a little confused at why it works this way but at least I know I'm using the export dialogue correctly. Thanks Rene, I sure appreciate your response.

Not sure how elements works in this regard, but the measurement of 25x16.67 suggests 72dpi...

What does the command Resize - Image Size from the menu Image of Adobe Photoshop Elements say the size is?

Might have to do with your default paper size or so, with "fit to paper" set? Or printer settings?
No idea really. Only used PSE once...

Then again; dpi is largely irellevant, as long as the image is about 1200x1800 pixels, it should print fine at 4x6"

I opened it in PS3 Resize and Pixel Dimensions are:

Width is 1800 px
Height 1200 pixels.

Then below that it says the Document Size is:

Width: 25.001 inches
Height: 16.667 inches
Res: 72 ppi

So I could print it fine from my programs, by changing the resolution to 300 and not resampling. However the average person doesn't know to do this.

I think I'm going to export them as 4x6's and 300 res and then go with the CD files to the person's own printer and just see what happens with "normal" printing programs. I'm so confused about this but at least I know that the images are indeed saving to file as the right size. Issue seems to be with the printing programs.

I'm used to people just taking images I give them on CD, to a photo shop to have them printed and in future that's all I'm going to give anybody. lol

Thanks again Rene...

Take your "big" 72 ppi PSE image and crop it to 4X6, that will give you the resolution you desire.

DoubleL wrote in post #6494668
Take your "big" 72 ppi PSE image and crop it to 4X6, that will give you the resolution you desire.

I believe the term you are after is "resize", not "crop". While the crop tool might work for this sort of thing, since you can input the dimensions AND resolution, it is easier to just resize. However, the exported files are already in the correct size so this shouldn't be something the OP needs to do anyways.

To the OP, when you setup you exports settings use 6 in for width and height. This way when you export both landscape and portrait images they will be the correct size.

I noticed Rene's screen shot of the export screen had the same dimensions for both length and width at the same measurement - thought that meant a square image.

In the LR Export Screen, if I used the "Longest Side" option and put 6 inches AND a resolution of 300, would that also work?

You know, when I first started this, I thought I would have to use the export settings of 6x4 and enter a resolution of 584 to give me the correct size.

Still a bit confused but getting there, I'm sure it will come with more experimentation. At least I know I'm on the right track and can export with more confidence.

Thanks everyone....

plbb wrote in post #6494979
I noticed Rene's screen shot of the export screen had the same dimensions for both length and width at the same measurement - thought that meant a square image.

It would only be square if the image was cropped square.

I always use the export settings the way Rene has it listed. Just habit I guess. But there are likely other ways to get there as well. You could also use pixels, putting 1800 in both and a resolution of 300 to achieve the same end result.

Why 584? Is that the resolution for a full size image (3504x2336). It is actually better to downsize prior to printing so that you can sharpen for your particular print size.

Keep playing. You'll get it.

Yes, 6 inches x 584 ppi. This was while I was trying to get it to be the 6x4 size once saved to a folder and maybe this would work as it was the "proper" resizing. Made sense at the time.

This is good to know. I'm trying to work inside LR1 as much as possible and have only done a little printing.

I have assumed I'm resizing when I choose say 4x6 "Aspect" in the Develop Module. (This is where I always wonder what the resolution is)

I've also used the Print Module with the original sized print "reduced" to 4x6 by setting the colums and rows with the page grid. Is this resizing in the same way for printing? Pics come out ok but I always wonder how it's doing it in terms of resolution etc.

I wish the books I have for LR gave more indepth info on what the program is doing with some of this detail, including exporting. (Martin and Kelby)
Some day....

plbb wrote in post #6495182
Yes, 6 inches x 584 ppi. This was while I was trying to get it to be the 6x4 size once saved to a folder and maybe this would work as it was the "proper" resizing. Made sense at the time.

OK, I get it now. Definitely resize. No need for 584 ppi.

Good approach.

No. When you crop in the develop module you are only providing the aspect ratio, not the resolution. So LR is only "throwing away" pixels outside of the crop boundaries. Your size can be anything from 1 pixel to 3504 depending on how much you crop. Resolution is set when you export the file.

The print module is a little different. There are numerous ways to go about getting the size print you are after for a certain size paper so I won't go into that (unless you need help there). The resizing occurs based on the settings you choose at the bottom of the right panel. Here is where your resolution is entered. Now, once all of your settings are determined, LR creates an "exported" temp file from which your print is rendered. This file is then tossed when the printing is complete.

It is hard to say how much info should be in the books. There is so much that it all can not be included. These guys provide the basics that everyone wants to know. From there you have to either derive your own conclusions or ask the pros that "know". Victoria Bampton (a member here) has a great site for LR and a book that is put together well. She will also answer any question you have about LR.

Thanks so much for all the information Mike, after visiting Victoria's site I'm definitely going to look more closely at her book. Thank you for that link. Point well taken that Martin and Kelby et al can't include everything - I love Martin's book BTW. I plan to upgrade shortly to LR2, just cleaning out my catalogue before I do that so I'm happy to see Victoria has updated her book.

I hate to ask just one more question but I'm intrigued... where do you resize then before the final sharpening you mentioned.

plbb wrote in post #6497171
Thanks so much for all the information Mike, after visiting Victoria's site I'm definitely going to look more closely at her book. Thank you for that link. Point well taken that Martin and Kelby et al can't include everything - I love Martin's book BTW. I plan to upgrade shortly to LR2, just cleaning out my catalogue before I do that so I'm happy to see Victoria has updated her book.

I hate to ask just one more question but I'm intrigued... where do you resize then before the final sharpening you mentioned.

For LR v 1.x you have to use another program, like Photoshop to sharpen since LR 1.x does not have output sharpening.

LR 2.x now has output sharpening so you can do it via export. It works quite well too. You chose the type of output (screen, print) and then the amount. You might have to play with it a little to see which settings you prefer, but so far I am impressed. I rarely have to go to PS anymore when editing so my workflow is much faster now.

Hey Guys,

I'm a little confused on the same subject and was reading around trying to get my answer.

Basically, I have a note pad with the "original raw file size" dimensions of my images for different cameras.

For example:
5D Mark 2 medium JPG is 56.667 long edge dpi of 72
5D Mark 2 medium RAW is 11.031 long edge dpi of 350
1D Mark 3 large RAW is 16.2 long edge dpi of 240

Then, after I'm done editing and go to export, I make my settings:

Long edge (whatever the above number is), dpi (whatever the corresponding above number is), "Do Not Enlarge", and the "resize to fit" box is also checked.

Am I doing this right? or should I just not check anything at all? My goal is to make the exported size of my images the same size as when they were imported.

Mike

Just uncheck the resize box. LR won't change the image size if you don't tell it to.