You’ve spent hours editing your photos, only to export them and see a drop in quality. Blurry details, weird colors, or pixelation—choosing the wrong Lightroom Export Settings can ruin all your hard work.
The good news? Lightroom gives you full control over image quality, format, and resolution. With the right settings, your photos will look crisp and professional, whether for print, web, or social media.
In this guide, we’ll discuss the best export settings and common mistakes to avoid. Let’s ensure your photos always look their best!
Lightroom Export Settings For Single Export
Exporting a single photo in Lightroom is a straightforward process, but choosing the right settings ensures your image maintains the highest quality,
Step 1: Open the Export Dialog
Once you’ve finished editing your photo in Lightroom Classic or Lightroom CC, follow these steps to start the export process:
- Select the photo you want to export from the Library or Develop module.
- Click File > Export, or use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + E (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + E (Mac) to open the Export Dialog Box.
Step 2: Choose Export Location
In the Export Location section, select where you want to save your file:
- Specific Folder – Choose a destination manually.
- Same Folder as Original Photo – Saves the exported file in the same location as the original RAW file.
- Desktop or External Drive – Ideal for organization and backups
Step 3: File Format & Quality Settings
Under File Settings, configure the following:
- Format: Choose JPEG for online use, TIFF for high-quality prints, PNG for transparent backgrounds, or DNG for future re-editing.
- Quality: Set between 80-100 for high quality (80 is often sufficient for web use).
- Color Space:
- sRGB (Best for web and social media)
- AdobeRGB (For professional printing)
- ProPhoto RGB (For advanced color editing)
- Limit File Size To: Check this box if you need a specific file size limit (e.g., for online uploads with size restrictions).
Step 4: Image Sizing & Resolution
- Resize to Fit:
- Width & Height – Define custom dimensions.
- Long Edge – Useful for setting a maximum side length (e.g., 2048px for social media).
- Short Edge – Useful for vertical images.
- Megapixels – Limits the image size in MP.
- Resolution:
- 72 PPI (For web and screens)
- 240-300 PPI (For printing)
Step 5: Sharpening (Optional)
- Output Sharpening:
- Screen (For online images)
- Matte Paper (For softer prints)
- Glossy Paper (For high-detail prints)
- Amount: Choose between Low, Standard, or High based on your preference.
Step 6: Metadata & Watermarking (Optional)
- Metadata: Keep All Metadata if you want to retain details like camera settings and copyright. Choose Copyright & Contact Info Only for privacy.
- Watermark: Enable Watermarking if you want to protect your images. Click Edit Watermark to customize text or logos.
Step 7: Export & Save Your Image
- Click Export to start processing.
- Lightroom will save the file with your selected settings in the specified location.
Lightroom Export Settings For Batch Export
When working with multiple images in Lightroom, batch exporting saves time by allowing you to export all selected photos at once with consistent settings.
Step 1: Select Multiple Photos
Before exporting, select all the images you want to export:
- In the Library Module, hold Ctrl (Windows) / Cmd (Mac) and click on individual images.
- To select all photos in a folder, press Ctrl + A (Windows) / Cmd + A (Mac).
Step 2: Open the Export Dialog
- Click File > Export, or use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + E (Windows) / Cmd + Shift + E (Mac).
- The Export Dialog Box will appear, allowing you to set the same export settings for all selected images.
Step 3: Choose Export Location
In the Export Location section, choose where to save your files:
- Same Folder as Original Photo – Keeps your exported files in the same location as your RAW images.
- Specific Folder – Choose a destination manually. You can also create a subfolder for better organization.
- Custom Naming – If needed, enable “Rename To” and set a naming pattern to keep files organized.
Step 4: Set File Format & Quality
Under File Settings, adjust the following options for all images:
- Format:
- JPEG (Best for web, social media, and general use)
- TIFF (For professional printing and editing)
- DNG (For keeping RAW-like flexibility)
- Quality: Set between 80-100 (80 is ideal for web use, 100 for high-resolution prints).
- Color Space:
- sRGB (For online sharing and social media)
- AdobeRGB (For high-end prints)
- ProPhoto RGB (For advanced editing needs)
- Limit File Size To: Use this option if you need smaller file sizes for web uploads.
Step 5: Image Sizing & Resolution
- Resize to Fit: Choose the best option depending on where the images will be used.
- Width & Height – Set custom dimensions.
- Long Edge – Define max length (e.g., 2048px for Instagram).
- Short Edge – Ideal for portrait orientation images.
- Megapixels – Limits the image size in MP.
- Resolution:
- 72 PPI (For online use)
- 240-300 PPI (For printing)
Step 6: Apply Output Sharpening (Optional)
If needed, apply sharpening to all images in bulk:
- Screen – If exporting for online use.
- Matte Paper – If printing on matte paper.
- Glossy Paper – If printing on glossy paper.
- Amount: Choose Low, Standard, or High based on your preference.
Step 7: Set Metadata & Watermarking (Optional)
- Metadata: Choose between keeping full metadata or limiting it for privacy.
- Watermarking: If you want to brand or protect your images, enable “Watermark” and customize your text or logo.
Step 8: Start Batch Export
- Click Export, and Lightroom will process all the selected images with the same settings.
- The files will be saved in the location you specified.
How to Save HDR Photos in Lightroom
High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography allows you to capture more details in highlights and shadows by blending multiple exposures into a single image.
Step 1: Capture Bracketed Photos
Before merging HDR images in Lightroom, ensure you have a set of bracketed photos:
- Use Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) or manually capture at least three images with different exposure levels (normal, underexposed, and overexposed).
- Keep the camera steady using a tripod to avoid misalignment.
Step 2: Import Photos into Lightroom
- Open Adobe Lightroom Classic and go to the Library Module.
- Click Import and select your bracketed images.
- Ensure all the exposures are selected in the Filmstrip or Grid view.
Step 3: Merge to HDR in Lightroom
- Select the bracketed images you want to merge.
- Right-click and choose Photo Merge > HDR, or use the shortcut Ctrl + H (Windows) / Cmd + H (Mac).
- The HDR Merge Preview window will appear with the following options:
- Auto Align – Useful if the images aren’t perfectly aligned.
- Auto Settings – Lightroom will apply automatic tone adjustments.
- Deghosting – Reduces motion artifacts (set to Low, Medium, or High).
Step 4: Save the Merged HDR Photo
- Click Merge, and Lightroom will create a new HDR DNG file, preserving all details.
- The file will appear next to the original images in the Library Module.
Step 5: Edit & Export the HDR Image
- Switch to the Develop Module to adjust exposure, contrast, highlights, and shadows.
- Once satisfied, export the HDR image:
- Click File > Export or use Ctrl + Shift + E (Windows) / Cmd + Shift + E (Mac).
- Choose JPEG, TIFF, or DNG format, depending on your needs.
- Adjust resolution and sharpening settings accordingly.
- Click Export to save your HDR photo.
Tips for Selecting the Right Image Format
Choosing the right image format when exporting from Lightroom is crucial for maintaining quality, ensuring compatibility, and managing file sizes. Each format serves a different purpose, so selecting the right one depends on how you intend to use the image.
JPEG – Best for Online Sharing & General Use
JPEG is the most widely used format due to its balance of quality and file size. It’s ideal for web uploads, social media, and sending images to clients. Since it uses compression, some quality is lost, but when set between 80 and 100, the difference is barely noticeable.
PNG – Best for Transparency & Web Graphics
PNG is a lossless format that maintains high image quality and supports transparency. It is a great choice for graphics, overlays, or images with text. If you need a high-quality image with a transparent background, PNG is the best option.
TIFF – Best for Professional Printing & Archival Storage
TIFF files preserve every detail of your image without compression, making them perfect for high-quality prints and archiving. This format supports 16-bit color depth, ensuring smooth tonal transitions. If you’re preparing images for professional printing, TIFF is the recommended choice.
DNG – Best for Keeping RAW-like Flexibility
DNG (Digital Negative) is Adobe’s RAW format, which retains all the original image data and adjustments. It’s a great option if you want to keep your photo files small while still maintaining editing flexibility.
PSD – Best for Editing in Photoshop
If you plan to work on your images in Photoshop, PSD is the best format as it retains layers and adjustment settings. This makes it ideal for advanced retouching and compositing. However, PSD files are large and should be converted to TIFF or JPEG before sharing or printing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Choosing Settings for Lightroom Export
Selecting the wrong export settings can lead to quality loss, unnecessarily large file sizes, or compatibility issues. Here are some of the most common mistakes photographers make when exporting images from Lightroom and how to avoid them.
Choosing the Wrong File Format
One of the biggest mistakes is using the wrong file format for the intended use. Exporting TIFF files for social media results in unnecessarily large files, while using JPEG for high-end printing can lead to loss of detail. To avoid this, always match the format to its purpose—JPEG for web, TIFF for print, and DNG for future edits.
Exporting with the Wrong Color Space
Using the wrong color space can cause colors to appear dull or inaccurate. For online images, sRGB is the best choice since most web browsers and devices support it. If you’re exporting for print, however, AdobeRGB or ProPhotoRGB provides a wider color range and better accuracy.
Over-Compressing Images
Setting the JPEG quality too low (below 70) can result in visible compression artifacts and a loss of sharpness. The best approach is to keep JPEG quality between 80-100 for an optimal balance between quality and file size.
Not Resizing for the Intended Platform
Exporting full-resolution images for online use can slow down loading times and take up unnecessary storage. For social media, it’s best to resize images to 2048 pixels on the long edge to maintain quality while keeping file sizes manageable. For print, however, exporting at the highest resolution ensures sharpness and detail.
Ignoring Output Sharpening
Not applying sharpening during export can make images look soft, especially when resizing them. Lightroom provides different sharpening options based on the output type. Screen sharpening is ideal for web use, while matte or glossy sharpening enhances prints.
Overlooking Metadata & Watermarking
If you’re sharing images online, forgetting to include metadata or a watermark can lead to unauthorized use. Lightroom allows you to include copyright and contact information in the export settings. If you want to protect your work, consider adding a watermark, especially for images posted on social media.
Not Saving Export Presets
Manually adjusting export settings every time can be time-consuming and increases the risk of mistakes. Lightroom allows you to save export presets for different use cases, such as social media, print, or client delivery. Creating presets ensures consistency and saves time when exporting multiple images.
FAQs
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What is the best format for exporting images for social media?
JPEG is the best format for social media. Use sRGB color space, set the quality between 80-100, and resize the image to 2048 pixels on the long edge for optimal quality and fast loading.
Should I sharpen my photos during export?
Yes! Lightroom offers output sharpening options based on where your image will be used. Choose Screen for digital images, Glossy Paper for high-quality prints, and Matte Paper for softer-looking prints.
How do I prevent quality loss when exporting images?
To prevent quality loss, keep the JPEG quality at 80+, use the right color space, and avoid over-compression. For print, use TIFF format instead of JPEG for the best quality.
Can I save my export settings for future use?
Yes! You can create and save Export Presets in Lightroom, so you don’t have to adjust settings each time manually. This saves time and ensures consistency across your images.
How do I prevent my exported photos from looking blurry?
To prevent blurry images, export them at high resolution (PPI 240-300), enable output sharpening for Screen (High), and keep the JPEG quality at 80+ to avoid excessive compression.
Conclusion
Don’t settle for default settings or guesswork. Getting the right Lightroom export settings can be the difference between a crisp, professional image and a blurry, washed-out mess. Take the time to experiment, save presets for efficiency, and avoid common mistakes. With the right export settings, your photos will look just as stunning on screen or paper as they do in Lightroom.
