Lightroom Export Settings for Print, Web, and Clients

Choose the delivery destination first

The settings below are editorial starting points, not requirements from a print lab or social network. A recipient’s specification takes priority. Keep separate presets for full-resolution delivery and smaller online copies so one export does not quietly overwrite the other.

Build an export in Lightroom Classic

Select the finished photographs and choose File > Export. Use a distinct export folder and naming pattern. In File Settings, choose the format and color space; in Image Sizing, set resizing and resolution; in Output Sharpening, choose a destination if needed. Review metadata and watermark settings before exporting.

Save the configuration as a preset using Add in the Export dialog. Give it a descriptive name such as “Web — sRGB — 2000 px” so the intended output remains clear. Menu layouts can vary by installed version; use the named export sections to locate each control.

1. Confirm the final crop and edits before exporting.
2. Choose folder, filename, file settings, image sizing, and output sharpening.
3. Decide which metadata to include; remove location information when it should not be shared.
4. Export a sample, inspect it, and only then export the full set.

JPEG quality, TIFF, and color space

JPEG is a practical delivery format for most web use and many photo labs. Its quality slider trades file size for compression artifacts; 100 is not a promise of visible improvement over every lower value. Inspect fine texture, gradients, and text in your own files before choosing a lower setting to meet an upload limit.

For routine online delivery, sRGB is a conservative starting point. Use Adobe RGB or another space when the receiving workflow explicitly supports it. An embedded profile tells compatible software how to interpret color; changing the profile is not a way to make every screen match.

TIFF is useful when another editor needs a rendered file with more editing latitude. It is much larger than JPEG and is not a universal client-delivery requirement. Exporting a small or heavily cropped original as TIFF cannot recreate lost detail. Keep your original RAW files and editing catalog separately.

Pixels, PPI, and a worked print export

An 8 × 10 inch print at 300 PPI needs 2,400 × 3,000 pixels. Crop to 4:5 first; then enter the required output dimensions. A 6,000 × 4,000 file is 3:2, so it cannot fill 8 × 10 without cropping or borders. Check the composition before resizing.

Changing resolution metadata from 72 to 300 PPI does not add detail when pixel dimensions stay unchanged. Websites primarily work with pixels. For print, PPI connects pixels to inches; the printer’s DPI describes ink or toner dot placement.

When the original is smaller than the requested output, consider a smaller print, a lower acceptable PPI, or deliberate upsampling. Inspect the result at the intended size. Turning off “Don’t Enlarge” is permission to interpolate, not proof that the source has enough detail.

Output sharpening and client delivery

Output sharpening happens after sizing and is separate from sharpening the original image during editing. Use Screen for a screen-delivery test and the appropriate paper option for a known print workflow. Avoid adding output sharpening when a lab or retoucher asks to apply it themselves.

Deliver clearly named folders, for example High resolution and Web copies. State which files are for printing and which are for online use. A high-resolution set should not include accidental watermarks, tiny resize limits, or an unexpected filename sequence.

Check the exported file, not just the preview

Open an exported sample outside Lightroom. Check pixel dimensions, file type, embedded profile, crop, and file size. Inspect gradients and detailed edges at 100%, then view at the actual delivery size. Compare the export with the edited source in a color-managed application.

For a website or social platform, upload a test and inspect the displayed image on another device. For a valuable print run, order a proof. Screens, paper, ambient light, and upload processing can change the result even when the export settings are sensible.