I've got a series of photos that I'm printing out to fit in various antique frames. The source images are JPGs, at various aspect ratios. The frames have openings that are of various sizes & aspect ratios, ranging from 1.0 (square) to 1.67. I've pre-visualized the most pleasing resize & crop for each photo/frame in Photoshop, using photos of the actual frames. However, this pre-viz was approximate and done on the un-color-corrected photos.What I'd like to do now is export the original photos with color corrections from Lightroom for printing, with the correct cropping for its specific frame, at the right physical size... Knowing that the printer only has a limited number of choices for print size (4x6, 5x7, 8x10, etc.), and their web interface does not allow you to specify DPI. That is, if I send a 900 x 1200 pixel file to the printer, I can't tell them to interpret it as 300 DPI = 3" x 4", and have them just center it in a 4x6 print - they'll always scale the uploaded file to the maximum size that fits.It seems like I can get close with the "Mogrify" export plugin:Eyeball match the Photoshop crop in Lightroom, using the Custom crop option to set the aspect ratio to the actual measured dimensions of the frame's opening.Set export Resize to the frame's opening dimensions in inches.Set Mogrify's "Canvas" option to the nearest printable size. So 1200x1800 for a 4x6, and Mogrify will pad the edges with a solid color.Export to JPG, which is all that the printer will accept.The problem with this option is that there's no bleed. If my physical frame measurements are slightly off (which they most certainly are), I'll likely get the padding color showing in the frame.Alternatively:Export full size from Lightroom. (Maybe as TIFF, to avoid re-compressing to JPG?)In the Photoshop file (which is set to 300 DPI, and has the frames scaled to roughly correct dimensions), eyeball match the color corrected Lightroom export to the correct scale.Cut and paste the resulting resize into a new PSD at the closest printable aspect ratio - getting the edge padding for "free".Re-export to JPG, which is all that the printer will accept. Both of these are sort of labor-intensive. What I'd love to be able to do is: Eyeball match the Photoshop crop in Lightroom, using the Custom crop option to set the aspect ratio to the actual measured dimensions of the frame's opening.Tell Lightroom, "Seat the crop in a 4x6 canvas, but export *uncropped* - discarding pixels that fall outside the canvas."Export once, to JPG at 300 DPI. Is such a thing possible, with stock Lightroom CC, or some plugin? Or can someone think of a workflow that's less painful and involves fewer export/imports?I've attached a layout that describes the problem.

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Question

padding to a standard export ratio

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
February 16, 2023
4 replies
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I've got a series of photos that I'm printing out to fit in various antique frames. The source images are JPGs, at various aspect ratios. The frames have openings that are of various sizes & aspect ratios, ranging from 1.0 (square) to 1.67. I've pre-visualized the most pleasing resize & crop for each photo/frame in Photoshop, using photos of the actual frames. However, this pre-viz was approximate and done on the un-color-corrected photos.

What I'd like to do now is export the original photos with color corrections from Lightroom for printing, with the correct cropping for its specific frame, at the right physical size... Knowing that the printer only has a limited number of choices for print size (4x6, 5x7, 8x10, etc.), and their web interface does not allow you to specify DPI. That is, if I send a 900 x 1200 pixel file to the printer, I can't tell them to interpret it as 300 DPI = 3" x 4", and have them just center it in a 4x6 print - they'll always scale the uploaded file to the maximum size that fits.

It seems like I can get close with the "Mogrify" export plugin:

Eyeball match the Photoshop crop in Lightroom, using the Custom crop option to set the aspect ratio to the actual measured dimensions of the frame's opening.
Set export Resize to the frame's opening dimensions in inches.
Set Mogrify's "Canvas" option to the nearest printable size. So 1200x1800 for a 4x6, and Mogrify will pad the edges with a solid color.
Export to JPG, which is all that the printer will accept.
The problem with this option is that there's no bleed. If my physical frame measurements are slightly off (which they most certainly are), I'll likely get the padding color showing in the frame.

Alternatively:

Export full size from Lightroom. (Maybe as TIFF, to avoid re-compressing to JPG?)
In the Photoshop file (which is set to 300 DPI, and has the frames scaled to roughly correct dimensions), eyeball match the color corrected Lightroom export to the correct scale.
Cut and paste the resulting resize into a new PSD at the closest printable aspect ratio - getting the edge padding for "free".
Re-export to JPG, which is all that the printer will accept.

Both of these are sort of labor-intensive. What I'd love to be able to do is:

Eyeball match the Photoshop crop in Lightroom, using the Custom crop option to set the aspect ratio to the actual measured dimensions of the frame's opening.
Tell Lightroom, "Seat the crop in a 4x6 canvas, but export *uncropped* - discarding pixels that fall outside the canvas."
Export once, to JPG at 300 DPI.

Is such a thing possible, with stock Lightroom CC, or some plugin? Or can someone think of a workflow that's less painful and involves fewer export/imports?

I've attached a layout that describes the problem.

Windows

This topic has been closed for replies.

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mitch28429832jb21Author

Participating Frequently

Thanks to everyone who replied in this thread. I thought I'd reply to wrap things up...

In the end, given the time pressures and size of the output set (only 40 images), we just took the exported "masters" from LR, dropped them into Photoshop, and manually transformed them to match our mocked-up uncolored temp versions, which had been previously cropped to fit into (photos of) the various vintage picture frames we'd sourced. We then created three template files with a neutral background in the print sizes available to us (8x10, 5x7, 4x6). Finally, we dragged the frames & temp images (as a sanity check) and matching colored masters into the appropriate template files, and centered them. Exporting just the colored masters for print resulted in prints that were more-or-less "drop in ready" for the frames. It also let us easily scale everything by 98%, to counteract the scaling we discovered our print lab was applying.

Given that the most labor intensive part was matching the crops to the masters, which we'd have had to do in a LR-only solution anyway, the whole process was pretty quick, and easier to sanity check visually. (Tip: we set the uncolored crops to "difference" mode in PS, which made matching the masters to them really easy.)

For anyone interested, the final project is here: thefacefoods.com

Bob Somrak

Brainiac

This can be done in the Print Module which was the same in 5.71 i think

See here

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/print-module-instagram/m-p/12790613

M4 Pro Mac Mini. 48GB

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mitch28429832jb21Author

Participating Frequently

Bob - thanks for the reply. This is very close to what I'm trying to achieve... The only piece missing is specifying the size of the "virtual crop" area as the driving metric for the image sizing.

If I crop it in Develop, using the 4.25" x 6.25" frame opening dimensions as the crop area, then go to Print and set the Cell Size to 4.25" x 6.25", it gives me the result outlined in workflow #1 (Mogrify) in my original post. That is, it's cropped, sized correctly, and embedded in an image of Custom File Dimensions 5"x7". (Refer to the attachment mockup on the original post.)

But what it's missing is the bleed. What I'd like to achieve is exactly what Print gives me, but with the crop removed, so that the full image is printed, maintaining the 4.25"x6.25" dimensions of the intended crop. I suppose there's some math I could calculate to work around this:

Crop to 4.25" x 6.25" in Develop
Math based on crop area vs. full image resolution = ???
Set the Cell Size in Print module to the appropriate value that keeps the intended crop at 4.25"x6.25"

Just removing the crop prior to the Print module shrinks the full image to fit, as you can see. What I'm after is the full image being allowed to bleed all the way out to wherever it would end up, based on the intended 4.25"x6.25" crop. (In this case, it would mostly just be the bottom edge extending downward with the plate & countertop. But other photos might have more bleed on all four sides.)

Bob Somrak

Brainiac

Unless I am missing something this should give you want you want. You can place the FULL size image in the box and make sure ZOOM TO FILL is checked. Then drag the image up or down in the box to place it where you want it. Or, you can crop to the 4.25x6.25 aspect. The first method is easier.

The File Resolution is set at 300ppi as that is for the whole 5x7 paper size so the photo will still be 300dpi for print. I closed the sections of the print dialog that were not important

BTW, I think you almost had it except for the Zoom to Fill

You also might want to set the Background Color so the Lab will NOT automatically cut off the white edges. I would set it to Neutral Gray in case they also do automatic color correction. If your Lab does these things I would find a more professional lab

M4 Pro Mac Mini. 48GB

GoldingD

Brainiac

A screen capture of your copy of Lightroom, in the Library Module. The full screen, would help clarify what exact app you are using.

Problem is caused by Adobe Marketing that confuses application name, Photoshop Lightroom, Lightroom CC, Lightroom, Lightroom Ecosystem (Cloud Based), Lightroom Classic.

Also, in Lightroom, click on Help, then System Info, copy and paste first five or so lines in a reply.

Example:

Lightroom Classic version: 12.0.1 [ 202210260744-9e008017 ]
License: Creative Cloud
Language setting: en
Operating system: Windows 10 - Business Edition
Version: 10.0.19045
Application architecture: x64

P.S. when posting a screen capture, please use the Insert Photo button in this community site as opposed to the Attachment button. Some members refuse to view attachments, and it works better that way anyhow.

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mitch28429832jb21Author

Participating Frequently

Here ya go - thanks. Why the OS version is incorrect, I have no idea. As you can tell, this is a very old version of LR, orginally installed by the company I bought my workstation/licenses from. I've not attempted to upgrade it, because it works fine for my purposes, and my use is occasional. If I were a professional photo guy, I'm sure I'd be on whatever the latest release is.

Lightroom version: 5.7.1 [994254]
License type: Perpetual
Operating system: Windows 8.1 Business Edition
Version: 6.3 [9600]
Application architecture: x64
System architecture: x64

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mitch28429832jb21Author

Participating Frequently

Oh - should have mentioned: Lightroom Classic 5.7.1. Windows 10. (Where's the Edit button?)

DdeGannes

Community Expert

There is no Lightroom Classic 5.7.1, if you are referring to the original Lightroom application that is activated with a serial number then the application is Lightroom 5.7.1.

Lightroom Classic is only available via a subscription payable annually with an option to pay monthly.

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.

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mitch28429832jb21Author

Participating Frequently

Thanks for the clarification. Does this post need to be moved to a different forum?

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