Export Settings for Client Galleries: Web vs Print

The right Lightroom export settings for clients depend on where the photos are going. Web files should be sRGB, sensibly sized and lightly compressed, while print files should be full resolution with minimal compression. Set up two or three export presets once and you'll never guess again.

Why one export setting doesn't fit all

A file built for a phone screen and a file built for a 50 x 70 cm canvas have different jobs. Export everything at full size and your galleries load slowly. Export everything small and a client's print may look soft.

Clear export presets also save you from awkward conversations. "Why does my print look blurry?" is often a file-size question, not a photography one.

The settings that matter most

Before looking at specific numbers, it helps to understand what each setting controls.

• File format. JPEG is the usual choice for client delivery. It's universally supported and opens on any device. TIFF is sometimes requested by labs or designers, but files are much larger.

• Colour space. This defines the range of colours a file can describe. sRGB is the standard for screens and the safest default for most consumer labs.

• Image sizing. Long edge in pixels controls how big the file is. This matters more than the resolution (ppi) number.

• Quality. The JPEG compression slider. Higher means larger files with fewer compression artefacts.

• Output sharpening. Compensates for softening caused by resizing and printing. Lightroom offers Screen, Matte Paper and Glossy Paper options.

• Metadata. Controls what camera, location and copyright information is embedded.

A note on ppi

The resolution (ppi) field confuses a lot of photographers. On its own, it doesn't change a file's pixel dimensions or quality. It's simply a tag telling software how large to print the image by default.

What matters for print is total pixel count. A common rule of thumb is around 300 pixels per inch of print for close viewing. So a 20 x 30 cm print (roughly 8 x 12 inches) would want about 2,400 x 3,600 pixels.

Lightroom export settings for clients: common starting points

These are starting points, not rules. Practice varies, and your lab or gallery platform may have its own recommendations.

• Online gallery / proofing: JPEG, sRGB, around 2,000–2,500 px on the long edge, quality around 70–85, sharpening for Screen at Standard.

• Social media: JPEG, sRGB, sized to each platform's current guidance, quality around 70–85, sharpening for Screen at Standard.

• Client digital download (high res): JPEG, sRGB, full size with no resize, quality around 90–100, sharpening for Matte or Glossy at Standard (or none).

• Lab prints: JPEG or TIFF (ask your lab), sRGB unless the lab says otherwise, full size or sized to the print, quality at or near 100, sharpening for Matte or Glossy to match the paper.

• Album design: JPEG or TIFF, the colour space your album company specifies, full size, quality 100, low or no sharpening (the designer may sharpen).

If any of these settings conflict with your lab's instructions, follow the lab. They know their printers and workflow far better than any general guide.

Web exports: small, fast and consistent

For online galleries, you want images that look crisp on modern screens without taking forever to load. A long edge somewhere around 2,000 to 2,500 pixels usually looks great on laptops and phones.

Always export web files in sRGB. Most browsers and phones assume sRGB, so files in wider spaces like Adobe RGB or ProPhoto RGB can look dull or oddly shifted.

Quality settings above about 85 tend to increase file size with little visible benefit on screen. Test a few exports at different settings and compare them side by side at normal viewing size.

Print exports: full size and lab-friendly

For prints, start with full-resolution files and minimal compression. You can always size down later, but you can't add detail that isn't there.

Colour space is where practice varies most. Many consumer and pro labs expect sRGB, and some accept Adobe RGB. Sending Adobe RGB to a lab that expects sRGB can produce flat or shifted colour, so check before you switch.

Match output sharpening to the paper. Matte paper generally needs a little more sharpening than glossy because ink spreads slightly into the surface. Start at Standard and judge from real test prints.

Build export presets once

Creating presets takes ten minutes and saves hours over a year. Set up a preset for each common use, name them clearly and keep them in a dedicated folder.

Helpful habits:

• Use clear names. For example "Client Web 2048 sRGB" and "Lab Print Full sRGB".

• Use file naming templates. Include the client name or session date so files stay organised.

• Add your copyright. Use a metadata preset so your details travel with every file.

• Consider stripping location data. For family and newborn sessions at a client's home, removing GPS data is a sensible privacy step.

Watermarks: when and how

Watermarking proofs is a personal choice. If you do, keep watermarks off final client downloads and lab files. Nobody wants your logo across their canvas.

Lightroom's built-in watermark tool works for simple text or graphic marks. For proofs, a subtle watermark placed where it's hard to crop out is often more effective than a giant one.

Check before you send

Before sending a batch, open two or three exported files on a different device. Check sizing, colour and sharpness at normal viewing distance.

It's also worth ordering an occasional test print from your lab. It's the only real way to confirm your print export settings match your expectations.

When it's time to deliver, PixoProof keeps your proofs protected and selections simple.

Start free at pixoproof.com.