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Question

How can I export images from Lightroom 4, without changing Resolution?

Forum|Forum|13 years ago
December 5, 2012
7 replies
29179 views

I have thousands of scans from film. Each film size, 35mm, medium format, 4x5, 8x10, was scanned at a different resolution, or DPI.

I am going through these images with Lightroom, cropping and adjusting.

I want to export the images at the same DPI as the original scans.

The problem is that when I use the Export feature of Lightroom, and export to a TIF file, I am forced to enter a resolution setting even though I have removed the checks next to 'Resize to fit' under 'Image Sizing'. The exported files, now have that setting as the DPI.

With literally thousands of scans, I can't afford to check the resolution for each original and then enter that into the Export 'Resolution' field.

I was hoping that with 'Resize to fit' unchecked that the resolution would be ignored, but it's not. The default of 240 is stored in the resulting TIF file. If I were in Photoshop, and I cropped an image, and saved it with a new name, it would retain the original Resolution/DPI value.

This topic has been closed for replies.

areohbee

Legend

MGianninibcw wrote:
I want to export the images at the same DPI as the original scans.

Exportant will do it - you just check a box (actually, two boxes):

My apologies in advance: I did not read all posts in this thread before replying.

Rob

Todd Shaner

Legend

Thanks Rob. I can work around the current LR 'Image Sizing' tool behavior, it's just that it doesn't follow PS's 'Image Size' logic. The CS applications Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign all have very similar user interfaces and the controls behave similarly. I realize that LR is NOT a CS application, but some of LR's tools are simply different without any good reason. The LR 'Image Sizing' tool is a very good example. In addition there appears to be a bug with the LR Export Resolution setting, which has a default value of 240. I use 300 ppi 99% of the time, but got bit today because it somehow had reverted from my "last used" 300 ppi setting to the default 240 setting. You can read my post for more details.

I'll be posting a revised suggestion for modifications to the 'Image Sizing" tool that better coorelate to how the similar PS 'Image Size' tool works. That's really my objective and it would be useful for everyone, even if they don't use PS.

DdeGannes

Community Expert

FEATURE REQUEST DRAFT

After careful consideration and review of PS's 'Image Size' tool, below is my proposal for "improving" functionality of the LR Export 'Image Sizing' tool. It appears most cameras set the EXIF 'Resolution' to 72 ppi, which is of limited usefulness. I also suggest that Adobe add the cability to read, use, and change the EXIF 'Resolution' data and option to write it to the file or XMP sidecar. This would make it very useful with the below suggested changes to the LR 'Image Size' tool.

I believe these changes, if implemented by Adobe, will be beneficial to all LR users.

Your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

Click on image to see full-size:

I've repeated the text here:

‘Resize to Fit’ not checked

With ‘Resize to Fit’ not checked show the EXIF Resolution with Width and Height for that value. Allow all values to be manually changed with the others updated to reflect the change. (If image file has no EXIF Resolution use the current default value ‘240.’)

This is how the Photoshop ‘Image Size’ tools works when the ‘Resample Image’ box is not checked.

‘Resize to Fit’ is checked

When ‘Resize to Fit’ is checked allow Resolution, Width and Height values to be manually entered with no linking. When the W:__ H:__ selector is changed from ‘in’ or ‘cm’ to ‘pixels’ reflect these changes made in the pixel values, and vice-versa. Changes made to the W:__ H:__ values should NOT cause the ‘Resolution’ value to change.

‘Constrain Proportions’ for W:___ H:___, such that changing one value is automatically updated in the other value.

This is how the Photoshop ‘Image Size’ tools works when the ‘Resample Image’ and ‘Constrain Proportions’ options are checked.

First and foremost Lightroom is software designed to process raw files from digital cameras. So its design is structured in such a way that the workflow is optimized for this purpose. If you need to export an image to conform to a specific size e.g 8in x 10in at 300 DPI because you need to do that for a specific purpose the tools available can do that in its present format.

If you wish to resize to a specific pixel size you can do so, then the resolution 240, 300, 600, 72 is mute and has no effect on the exported file other than a tag as to how it should be displayed or printed.

Problem is the name Adobe PHOTOSHOP Lightroom confuses everyone if you think of it as Adobe Lightroom then the problem will go away.

If you are using Lightroom to do your printing then you do not need to do the resizing exercise, this will happen automatically when the file, raw, jpeg or tiff is used in the print module.

Regards, Denis: iMac 27” mid-2015, macOS 11.7.10 Big Sur; 2TB SSD, 24 GB Ram, GPU 2 GB; LrC 12.5,; Lr 6.5, PS 24.7,; ACR 15.5,; (also Laptop Win 11, ver 24H2, LrC 15.0.1, PS 27.0; ) Camera Oly OM-D E-M1.

Todd Shaner

Legend

MGianninibcw wrote:
I was hoping that with 'Resize to fit' unchecked that the resolution would be ignored, but it's not. The default of 240 is stored in the resulting TIF file. If I were in Photoshop, and I cropped an image, and saved it with a new name, it would retain the original Resolution/DPI value.

I just got bit by this issue with a Blurb book I am creating using InDesign. I am "placing" scans of old photos and letters into my layout, which I want to appear "life-size" same as the originals. I normally scan these types of documents at 600 ppi, do cropping and spot removal in PS, and everything else in LR. Once the image has been processed in LR I Export to TIFF format with "Resize to fit" checked, desired layout dimensions entered, 'Resolution' setting of 300 pixels per inch, and printer specific 'Sharpening' settings.

Today I processed some photos using LR4.4 that were scanned at 300 ppi. After making tonal and color adjustments I exported them without resizing thinking the images would simply be exported with the LR adjustments and original file's 300 ppi resolution. When I placed these images inside InDesign they were larger than the originals. I never had problems placing LR exported images previously, so why were these images behaving differently? After doing some research on the web I ran across this post, which now explains why. I normally set LR's Export> Image Resizing> Resolution to 300 pixels per inch, since that's the resolution I always use. Somehow the 'Resolution' reverted back to the LR default of 240 pixels per inch causing the exported images to place larger than life-size inside InDesign.

So there are two issues that need to be "fixed" inside LR's Export module:

1) Provide an option checkbox titled 'Use Original File Resolution' next to the current 'Don't Enlarge' checkbox. When processing raw camera files this checkbox could (should?) be grayed out and unselected to prevent setting it. For all other files such as JPEG, TIFF, and PNG (LR5 only) the check box should be available. By implementing the option this way it may be less likely to cause problems for users who simply don't need or use it. I checked my Canon camera files in Adobe Bridge and the raw files show no ppi and JPEG files show 72 ppi. The EXIF data for both shows XResolution and YResolution as '72' and Resolution Unit as 'inches.' I don't believe this can be changed using an "in-camera" setting.

2) The second issue is for Adobe to determine why LR's Export> Image Resizing> Resolution does not "stick" when set to a value other than the default 240 pixels per inch setting. If necessary Adobe can add this as a 'Preferences' setting so that it will "stick, but I leave that decision to Adobe.

I am not sure if I should add this information to MGianninibcw's Feature Request, or create a new one. Any suggestions and/or comments are welcomed.

Message was edited by: trshaner Changed wording for clarification of 'Use Original File Resolution' checkbox functionality.

JP Hess

Inspiring

If you export the image and don't resize it, you'll get a full sized image, the same dimensions as the original. The only way you can change the quality of that image is to specify the quality slider, which controls the amount of compression that is applied to the JPEG image (assuming you are exporting JPEG images). Regardless of what resolution setting you choose, it will not affect the quality of the image in any way. As an example, take an image that is 4000x6000 pixels. What do you expect to be different, as far as quality is concerned, if you set the resolution at 240, 300, 360, 600 PPI? The image will still be the same size. So where are you going to get a difference in image quality based on the resolution setting?

M

MGianninibcwAuthor

Participating Frequently

I don't know what to say. I have a simple goal, which like richardplondon pointed out could be a "Same as original" for the PPI setting when exporting images.

It's what I want, it's what my client wants, and apparently what Lightroom can't do. If I open an image in Photoshop, crop it, and save it to a new file, it uses the original PPI, even though it's now a new file.

To some saving the original PPI may seem meaningless, but to me applying a single PPI to all images with different original PPI is also meangingless, particularly when you can't predict the ultimate destination for the image.

In regards to " You said the goal was to automatically size a potential future print according to the original photograph. And yet any digital image (and film negative) can be printed or used at other sizes, whether you like it or not":

I don't want to control how users resize the image for anything, and I fully expect they will to meet their requirements. It's just that when they open an image from a 35mm scan, I would rather not have it appear in Photoshop looking like it came from a 5"x7" print (because of that the rulers and PPI indicate in Photoshop).

I do appreciate everyones input. I will put in a feature request with Adobe, and if they ever get to it, most users are welcome to ignore it. I doubt that even if they do get to it, that it will be completed in time to assist me with my project.

So I'll just pick an arbitrary PPI for all my exported images, and that will be that.

JP Hess

Inspiring

I don't know what to say, either. You won't answer the question. So I will ask it one more time. If you can't or won't answer that question then there isn't any sense in continuing this discussion. What do you expect to change, as far as quality is concerned, by simply changing the resolution setting? It seems to me that neither you nor your users or clients fully understand resolution, even though you think you do.

C

chriss352

Participant

hi

I am chriss i have an idea to these topic the dpi setting does not determine the resolution of your tif files that is determined by the number of pixles there in the file. The dpi setting is only a tag for display purposes. Once you do not resize on export and at the same bit depth 8bit or 16bit as the original scans the resolution will not change.

Thanks,

www.bustoursniagarafalls.com

M

MGianninibcwAuthor

Participating Frequently

Chriss352,

thanks, but I don't think you understand.

You say 'resolution of your tif files that is determined by the number of pixles'. I clearly stated that I am using 'Resolution' to describe the field clearly marked as 'Resolution' in both Lightroom and Photoshop, to adjust the PPI.

You say 'The dpi setting is only a tag for display purposes'. I agree. And that is what I do NOT want to change. I just want the original PPI of my images to remain intact after export.

You say 'Once you do not resize on export and at the same bit depth 8bit or 16bit as the original scans the resolution will not change'. Again, I am refering to the PPI as 'Resolution', and this DOES change when exported, even if you don't resize.

R

richardplondon

Community Expert

Lightroom is creating a brand new file, when it exports. If it were a question of this new file showing the same PPI metadata as the PPI of the originally imported file, this would be a question of copying that - and there seems to be nothing objectionable about an added option "same as source" in the export options, as an alternative to assigning a fixed PPI as now.

In the case of a Raw file, though, there is no inherent PPI that could be sensibly copied; one must be assigned and in this case the "same as source" option might be problematic. Exactly the same is true in (for example) ACR where the PPI to be labelled onto the converted file, is explicit in the ACR output settings. So this aspect of how LR works is at least consistent.

The workflow within which a particular image may have been deliberately given one rather than another PPI, is usually one where the file concerned has already been manipulated or used in (for example) Photoshop, in a way that requires this. And that option is still available, for example using the "Edit Original" option of Edit In..and going into Photoshop and doing there, whatever it is that pays attention (as LR does not) to a specific PPI.

In other words, the LR workflow normally regards export as being for a given purpose which either includes a particular PPI requirement, or else that disregards that. The special case mentioned will not occur where prior PPI-specific operations have not happened - which is the normal "steady state" situation for many, perhaps overwhelmingly most, LR users.

DdeGannes

Community Expert

The DPI setting does not determine the resolution of your tiff files that is determined by the number of pixles there in the file. The DPI setting is only a tag for display purposes. Once you do not resize on export and at the same bit depth 8bit or 16bit as the original scans the resolution will not change.

If you need to see the resolution of the original scans, in the Library module look under Metadata (right side panel) and you can see the pixel dimentions. You can also check the pixels of the exported file the same way.

Regards, Denis: iMac 27” mid-2015, macOS 11.7.10 Big Sur; 2TB SSD, 24 GB Ram, GPU 2 GB; LrC 12.5,; Lr 6.5, PS 24.7,; ACR 15.5,; (also Laptop Win 11, ver 24H2, LrC 15.0.1, PS 27.0; ) Camera Oly OM-D E-M1.

M

MGianninibcwAuthor

Participating Frequently

Thanks to all who answered, though I don't really think I have an answer yet.

I feel confident in my understanding of resolution, DPI, PPI, and so on.

The problem I have is this:
1) I have a file that Photoshop shows as 4"x5".
2) Using Lightroom I crop it down to quarter its size, and export it.
3) I open the cropped version in Photoshop, and it's now 5"x6.25" (larger than original).

I understand what it's doing (changing the resolution), but I don't want it to do what it's doing. I want it to appear as 1" x 1.25" in Photoshop (without manually changing the resolution in Photoshop).

Why am I doing this?
I am opening scans, adjusting the color from the color chart in the shot, cropping and desckewing the image. I am exporting the image because I want to have two copies: The original film scan, as well as the 'corrected' version that is more suitable for viewing and general usage.

I may have 50 35mm slides scanned at 2400DPI, 50 4X5 film scans at 1200DPI, and 50 8x10 film scans at 300DPI, all in one folder. I just want to crop them and export them with the same resolution value they originally had. But, when Lightroom exports all 150 files, it FORCES me to select a 'Resolution' value, which becomes the value for all items.

Why can't I just live with the 240 Pixels per inch default or select another default? Because I have varying input resolutions, and doing so would change the printed dimensions of the image (which would confused people).

Why can't I just set the resolution to 600 Pixels Per inch, and only process the images that are already 600PPI? Because I have so many images intermixed in folders that it wouldn't be cost effective. We plan on having a small staff of people dedicated to correcting and creating these images.

Do I think the image quality will deteriorate? No, I understand the pixel dimensions are still correct. If I crop a quarter of a 1000x1000 pixel image, I know the exported file will be 250x250. The pixel dimensions don't bother me, it's the changing of the PPI that I am concerned with.

My mission seems simple: Open 2 images, one that is 600PPI, and the other is 900PPI. Make some changes, then export them. I want the exports to still be 600PPI and 900PPI.

Note: I am calling it 'Resolution', because that's what it's referred to in the Export dialog of Lightroom, as well as the Image Size dialog in Photoshop.

I hope I have clarified my query enough.

JP Hess

Inspiring

I wish you luck. But personally I think you are going about it all wrong. I'm not even going to try to tell you how to do what you want to do. When I work on scanned images, I set the resolution of the scan according to the size of the image, just as you do. But when I export copies I usually specify the length of the long edge and specify a standard resolution, and then I let it go at that. After all, it is just a copy. And your original images are still left intact in Lightroom in their original condition. I think you are just making a lot of unnecessary work for yourself.

JP Hess

Inspiring

The resolution setting is basically meaningless. For instance, let's just say that you have an image that is 1000 x 1000 pixels. It doesn't matter whether the resolution is set at 72, or 200, or 300, or 600 PPI. The image will still be 1000 x 1000 pixels. The only thing that changes is how big the image will be at any given resolution. So if you are exporting without the resize option then you are exporting full sized copies of your images. The only time you even need to concern yourself with the PPI setting is if you want to give an indication to someone else of what your intended use for the image might be. The setting has no effect on the quality of the image.

D

dj_paige

Legend

I want to export the images at the same DPI as the original scans.

With all due respect, this makes no sense. Although I don't know exactly how you plan to use these photos, I do get the feeling you are making things unnecessarily difficult for yourself.

First of all, exports are measured in Pixels per Inch (PPI), not DPI. You can't really compare the two, its like comparing apples and cream cheese.

You didn't say why you are exporting every photo. The way Lightroom works, you don't normally do that.

Even if you do have a valid reason for exporting every photo (and you may have a valid reason), why do you need to resize every photo? Why don't you just ignore the image sizing (leave it unchecked), and export the entire set of pixels in your cropped photo, and then the PPI is a totally meaningless number, it doesn't matter what you set it to, you get the same image regardless of the PPI number in that case.

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