In Lightroom, should I crop in Develop or use Print to JPEG for online print sizes?
Asked 2/19/2013
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I’m preparing files in Lightroom for an online print lab and need specific print aspect ratios. Is it better to crop each image in the Develop module and export as JPEG, or use the Print module to output a JPEG at the desired page size? The Print module seems faster because it avoids making temporary virtual copies, but I’m concerned about any downsides, especially whether Lightroom might make cropping choices I should control myself.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
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I think the primary difference here is conceptual. If you view the target aspect ratio as the ideal form of the image, it might make more sense to crop early in the workflow.
If, on the other hand, the ratio you are choosing for printing is just what you're doing this time and the image happens to be a less convenient shape in what you consider to be the "full" form, you might prefer the Print Module approach.
Either way, the result will be the same, but different processes might fit your ideas better.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Both methods are non-destructive until output, so image quality should generally be similar. The main difference is control.
If you crop in Develop, you choose exactly how the image is framed for that aspect ratio. That’s usually the safer approach when the print shape is important, because you can make intentional composition decisions and avoid awkward automatic crops. Virtual copies can help if you want different versions for different print sizes.
If you use the Print module to create a JPEG, it can be quicker, especially when the print ratio is just for this one output. But in that workflow Lightroom may effectively fit the image to the page/layout, which can leave more of the cropping decision to the system. Sometimes that’s fine; sometimes it can produce a crop you wouldn’t want.
So: if the target aspect ratio is part of the final composition, crop in Develop. If it’s just a convenient output format and you’re happy with the result, Print to JPEG can work too.
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