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Prathap Karunakaran
New Participant
October 28, 2015
Question

Ideal resolution While Exporting from Lightroom CC

  • October 28, 2015
  • 5 replies
  • 84226 views

While exporting from Lightroom CC, in the export menu there is "image sizing" menu.

In the image sizing menu, there is resolution option.

My question is what should be the ideal resolution ?

If I increase the resolution (may be 600 pixels per inch), the print size reduces (I checked the print size in Photoshop)

If I decreased the print size (may be 72 pixel per inch), the print size increases.

So what is the ideal resolutions for this image ?

and how will I get the maximum size with maximum quality   (without loosing the quality)

This topic has been closed for replies.

5 replies

Brad_Polt-Jones
Brad_Polt-Jones
Participating Frequently
February 13, 2017

It seems like it's time to revisit this thread. In the original post from Prathap he is asking what's the optimum resolution for printing at maximum size. The key component of this question is printing, and when you're printing the output resolution is not irrelevant, in fact it's very important.

Print drivers have a fixed resolution at which they convert pixel information into the screened pattern of dots used to print the image. If you're using an Epson printer, and you are printing through the operating system (not using a RIP) then the resolution needed when you export from Lightroom is 360 ppi. That matches the native resolution the Epson driver will use. At any other resolution, the print driver will resample your image to 360 ppi. It's far better to let Lightroom resample the image than to let the operating system and the print driver resample the image.  A higher resolution than 360 ppi is completely useless for printing as the image will be resampled down via the print driver.

Another alternative is to use RIP software such as Imageprint. These type of programs bypass the operating system printing pipeline and use their own proprietary screening algorithms. In this scenario the resolution needed is more flexible. I typically export from Lightroom using 240 ppi when printing using Imageprint.

When a file is being output specifically for print, then you need to turn on the Resize to Fit checkbox and use the absolute values needed for the print, that being size and resolution. If you do not set the correct values here, then the print driver will alter your data accordingly.

    bartonlew
    bartonlew
    Brainiac
    September 29, 2017

    I read and re-read this thread numerous times and while I found it extremely helpful, it was also confusing as different contributors seemed to be saying conflicting things.  And they were all Adobe experts (ACP's)!  Jim Hess and dj_paige were insistent that changing the ppi does not affect the size or quality of the image; while Brad Polt Jones was equally insistent that it does.  What I finally figured out was that Jim and dj_paige meant that if you do not check Resize to Fit, the Resolution (PPI) is irrelevant.  You can export the image for printing and your printer will ask you the format you want to print in (4x6, 5x7 etc.) and you'll get a print based on the native resolution of your image, giving you the maximum quality based purely on the dpi setting of your printer.  In this case if you DON'T check Resize to Fit you can enter any value in the PPI field and it will have no bearing whatsoever on the quality of your print. 

    However, as Brad says, if you check Resize to Fit then you can export an image intended to be of a certain print size and with a specific resolution.  In this instance PPI will affect the quality of your image because if you put in a low PPI in relation to the image size it will presumably give you a soft, ill-defined image.  I think this is all correct, and if not, would appreciate hearing back.

    So my question is, my printer (Epson XP830) always wants to know the format of my image (size and number of images per page) when I print.  I don't know if it allows you to customize (just bought it and haven't gotten that far yet) but let's say it doesn't.  Would there be any reason for me to ever check "Resize to Fit" or should I always leave this box unchecked and export?  Even better yet, why would I do this and not just print from LR using the Print module?  Of these 2 options, isn't printing from LR superior because it will do a better job of interpolating the ppi and image size when I print to my printer?  Is there a reason to check Resize to Fit and export to a jpg other than needing a digital file that can be posted online?

    Thanks,

    Barton

      Jdogbirdeye
      Jdogbirdeye
      Participating Frequently
      February 5, 2017

      Can you edit 360 image using LR? if so, what is the best way to exported

      JP Hess
      JP Hess
      Inspiring
      February 5, 2017

      The exported resolution is meaningless with digital images. Irregardless of whether you have the resolution set to 300 PPI or 72 PPI or 600 PPI, the image still has the same number of pixels. You can set the printer resolution, but that is DPI (dots per inch) and it isn't related in any way to the resolution of the image. You can set the export resolution to 1 PPI or 600 PPI and order an 8 x 10" print from either file, and quality of the print will be precisely the same in either case.

      As an example, if you want to print an 8 x 10" image at 300 PPI you need to have a file that has 2400 x 3000 pixels. It doesn't matter what the PPI setting is. If you print an 8 x 10" print it will be printed at 300 PPI, Simple math. The DPI setting on the printer controls how many dots of ink are printed per inch, and can affect the quality of the print. But the PPI setting in the image file has no effect on the quality of the print.

        D
        dj_paige
        Brainiac
        October 28, 2015

        prathap wrote:

        While exporting from Lightroom CC, in the export menu there is "image sizing" menu.

        In the image sizing menu, there is resolution option.

        My question is what should be the ideal resolution ?

        If I increase the resolution (may be 600 pixels per inch), the print size reduces (I checked the print size in Photoshop)

        If I decreased the print size (may be 72 pixel per inch), the print size increases.

        So what is the ideal resolutions for this image ?

        and how will I get the maximum size with maximum quality   (without loosing the quality)

        All of these calculations of print size are misleading and wrong. Your image can be printed at multiple sizes. If the exported photo is 4000x6000 pixels, you can print it 8x12 in which case it prints at 500 pixels per inch, or you can print it at 4x6 inches which would be 1000 pixels per inch, or you can print it at 10x15 in which case it would be 400 pixels per inch, or you can print it at other sizes (regardless of the number you specify in the export dialog box).

        If you are going to print at just about any size (except for extremely large print sizes), you UNcheck the box that says "Resize to Fit", and you get maximum resolution, which produces maximum quality.

          P
          Prathap KarunakaranAuthor
          New Participant
          October 29, 2015

          Hi

          My Photo resolution is 5184*3456 (from Canon 60D - 18 mega pixels)

          I am NOT using the option "Resize to Fit" - its always  unchecked.

          If I export this image with a resolution of 600 pixels per inch , the print size is 8.64 * 5.76 Inches

          And

          If I export this image with a resolution of 300 pixels per inch , the print size is 17.28 * 11.52 Inches

          and

          If I export this image with a resolution of 72 pixels per inch , the print size is 72 * 48 Inches - I think this is the maximum size which can be extracted from this (Simililar to JPEG) . . .Am I right ?

          SO as you said when the resolution increases, the print size decreases and vise versa.

          I believe 300 pixels per inch is the ideal resolution for printing and 17.28 * 11.52 Inches is the maximum size I can avail without loosing the print quality (correct me if am wrong)

          Question number (1)

          Is this the maximum print size which can be availed from this camera (while exporting from Lightroom) ? (Any other method to get max print size - maintaining a decent ppi  )

          Question number (2)

          Is there any option to get maximum print size without compromising on quality (300 pixel per inch) from canon RAW

          Question number (3)

          If I shot in JPEG mode (that is 72 pixels per inch ) and I am exporting from LR "300 pixels per inch" . . .will this image reconstruct the pixels from 72ppi to 300ppi ? (or is it digitally reconstructing the image?) will it loose or gain quality ?

          pls reply

          regards

          Prathap

            Brad_Polt-Jones
            Brad_Polt-Jones
            Participating Frequently
            October 29, 2015

            Prathap,

            The resolution of your file is based on the number of pixels in the original Raw file, in you case 5184 x 3456. When you export a file, these pixels almost always need to be either reduced in number or increased, depending on the size and output resolution of the you specify in the export dialog. For example, you choose 8 x 12 inches for your print, and you specify 240 pixels per inch (ppi) the resulting file would have now have 2880 x1920. This is called resampling.

            Lightroom does this automatically when you use the print module, and print to your own printer. If you are giving the file to another person to print, then you need to know the optimal ppi needed by that printer as well as the print size. Lightroom will resample the image to give you perfect results.

            I work as a professional printer, and can tell with a certain degree of confidence, that this is quite flexible. Files export from your 60d as 14.4 x 21.6 inches if you do not resize them, this is the native resolution of your camera with an output resolution of 240 ppi. However, you will achieve great results exporting as large as 20 x 30 inches as long as the image is sharp and well exposed. Lightroom can upsample your files with little appreciable visible loss of image quality as long as you don't go more than twice the native resolution. For most inkjet printers, 240 ppi is a great output resolution.

            Regards, Brad

              ManiacJoe
              ManiacJoe
              Inspiring
              October 28, 2015

              The "good" resolution tends to be 220 or higher for something like an 8x10.

              Your image has a size in pixels, 4000x6000 or whatever. This is the size of your image.

              When you go to print the image you have a paper size in inches or cm.

              Divide the pixels by the inches or cm and you get the printing resolution in DPI.

              If that number is too low, the print quality will suffer.

              However "too low" depends on how big you are printing and how far away the image will be viewed from.

              B
              bob frost
              Inspiring
              October 28, 2015

              It depends what you are going to do with the exported image.

              Bob Frost

              P
              Prathap KarunakaranAuthor
              New Participant
              October 28, 2015

              If I want to print in Maximum size , what could be the ideal resolution ?

              Prathap

              B
              bob frost
              Inspiring
              October 28, 2015

              Why not print from LR? Then you don't have to export the image, and LR does the resizing if necessary. All you have to do is set up the printer, page size and image size in LR's print module.

              Bob Frost 

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