lightroom to print problems

addicknchips

addicknchips

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Jonathan
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evening.

I've been using lightroom for about a year or so for basic RAW editing. once I've finished editing the raw file i would export it as a jpeg.
since wanting to print some images I've learnt that in order to blow them up large for canvas prints I've had to un-tick the "resize" box and save with 300 ppi, sharpening for print rather than screen.
this worked fine for some images I've had blow up onto a canvas a metre wide. looks lovely and sharp.

I've just tried repeating the process to have some more photos printed to a similar size. unfortunately once they have been converted to jpeg in lightroom I'm seeing some of the images being as small as 4 mb's (apparently too small to print with).

any ideas as to what I'm doing wrong for the images to be compressed into such small files? my lightroom knowledge is limited to say the least -and printing wise I'm a complete novice. but getting fairly frustrated with this.

thanks in advance.
 
It's hard to work out what you might be doing wrong with such a vague description. How about posting a screen shot of the export dialogue?
 
+1 ^
 
Is it possible that you had heavily cropped an image so there is very little data to start with and therefore the size of the output file is small?
 
Mintchocs said:
Is it possible that you had heavily cropped an image so there is very little data to start with and therefore the size of the output file is small?
Click to expand...

Small amount of cropping, but coming from. 36mp or 24mp camera there's still plenty of detail left. Will try and post screen shots later.
Cheers
 
Make sure you've not got one of the alternative export options selected, such as export for email. This really produces small files
 
addicknchips said:
Small amount of cropping, but coming from. 36mp or 24mp camera there's still plenty of detail left. Will try and post screen shots later.
Cheers
Click to expand...

The size of the JPEG can also be smaller depending on how's much detail/ colour is in the image. As far as I'm aware the 36mp or 24mp camera is related to the size of the RAW files.
The export box in LR can be a tricky one. I accidentally exported a folder full of images last month as Prophoto RGB as I had scrolled the little wheel on my mouse whilst that box was selected! But I am always rushing so more haste less speed in my case!

I would open the export box and go through all the drop down menus in your chosen saved preset and check them. Ensure quality is at 100%, 300 DPI is selected and so on.

If you have photoshop you can try opening it there and doing a save as JPEG, (quality 12) then check both file sizes and see if there's a difference.
 
Thanks will try and do a few screen shots tonight. Always have 300ppi selected.
Cheers
 
Ok so this was shot in raw on my d610. No cropping. When exporting from Lightroom its compressing the file to around mbs.
Here's a photo of the export screen.
View attachment 44484
 
addicknchips said:
But apparently the mb size is too small to print with
Click to expand...
???
What is the image size in pixels? Does it match what it is in LR?
300ppi means nothing unless you are resizing the image to specific dimensions (i.e. inches and not pixels). From your screen shot you are not resizing at all so it means even less....
 
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addicknchips said:
Ok. Clearly I'm not familiar with the process for printing.
Click to expand...
So help us to help you.

You said earlier:
addicknchips said:
Small amount of cropping, but coming from. 36mp or 24mp camera there's still plenty of detail left.
Click to expand...

Does that apply to the image which you think isn't big enough to print? What size (in pixels, and in megabytes) was the original image from the camera? What size (in pixels, and in megabytes) was the version which you exported from Lightroom?

And... it would also help if you post a copy of the image here for us to look at. The core of your concern, if I've understood it, is that the image is large in pixels but small in megabytes. If that's the case - and when you supply the actual numbers, we'll be able to confirm it - then there could be good reasons why. Large areas of uniform or gradually shading colour (eg blue skies or white backdrops) don't require as many megabytes as areas with lots of small detail when you save as a JPEG.

But we're still all guessing without more information from you.
 
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What version of Lightroom are you using? I.e version 4, 5, 6 and is it up dated to the most recent update for that version?
 
I take it the original image is a RAW one straight from the camera. That little or no cropping has occurred. What happens when you export one of the files that are giving you small files using Lightrooms own "Export Full Size JPEG". I can't see anything obviously wrong with your output selections, but if using the built in output options gives files of a correct size it may be you might need to remake your export preset.
 
Whilst awaiting Jonathan's added info ref the actual pixel dimensions the file size of said dimensions.

I note he talks of wishing to print yet has the box ticked for output sharpening for screen. Now restating the obvious, output sharpening should and is only intended to be applied to an image after it has been pp'ed and resized for the intended output I.e. print or screen?

So either LR is doing something under the hood that is unexpected or he is experiencing the results of so to to speak "unexpected consequences"............. I wonder he would be seeing the same issue if he had selected output sharpening for print???

Now just what were the pixel dims and mb file size......???
 
Hi all figured I'd rather jump on this thread instead of starting another.

I too use lightroom and for the first time am looking to get shots printed out.

Re: doing this, should I be (a) resizing the files to a specific size (in inches) in relation to their intended frames, and (b) should I have output sharpening ticked also?

Thanks

Ian :)
 
Ian W said:
Hi all figured I'd rather jump on this thread instead of starting another.

I too use lightroom and for the first time am looking to get shots printed out.

Re: doing this, should I be (a) resizing the files to a specific size (in inches) in relation to their intended frames, and (b) should I have output sharpening ticked also?

Thanks

Ian :)
Click to expand...
Others will disagree, but I would suggest you simply crop/compose for the intended frame size (remember a bit will be covered at the edges). Then just output the file at it's native/resulting size.

I do not use "blind" automatic output sharpening... that just makes no sense to me. Different types of display (prints/screens) require different levels of sharpening. I'm guessing that LR's "print sharpening" is set to account for inkjet dot bleed, but you might not be getting inkjet prints (I don't).

I also do not resize/resample for any size print... if it looks good on your screen it will look good printed at *any size* when viewed from a corresponding/relative distance. **Any resizing/resampling that is needed will be done as well, or better, by the print system in use at the other end. IMHO, PPI/DPI is way over emphasized and makes very little difference (or rather, there's very little you can do to influence the results).


**there are cases where you can send files directly to a printer w/o any driver/software in between... if you are doing that, you better know exactly what you're doing and what the printer requires in order to generate good prints.
 
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sk66 said:
Others will disagree, but I would suggest you simply crop/compose for the intended frame size (remember a bit will be covered at the edges). Then just output the file at it's native/resulting size.

I do not use "blind" automatic output sharpening... that just makes no sense to me. Different types of display (prints/screens) require different levels of sharpening. I'm guessing that LR's "print sharpening" is set to account for inkjet dot bleed, but you might not be getting inkjet prints (I don't).

I also do not resize/resample for any size print... if it looks good on your screen it will look good printed at *any size* when viewed from a corresponding/relative distance. **Any resizing/resampling that is needed will be done as well, or better, by the print system in use at the other end. IMHO, PPI/DPI is way over emphasized and makes very little difference (or rather, there's very little you can do to influence the results).


**there are cases where you can send files directly to a printer w/o any driver/software in between... if you are doing that, you better know exactly what you're doing and what the printer requires in order to generate good prints.
Click to expand...
So in layman's terms, simply resize in the Develop module to my intended output size (accounting for what will be an unseen 'border') before doing so without applying any output sharpening at all?

It makes sense to me as sharpening 'blind' as you say is totally counter intuitive, especially as I'll already have sharpened during my work flow anyway.
 
Ian W said:
So in layman's terms, simply resize in the Develop module to my intended output size (accounting for what will be an unseen 'border') before doing so without applying any output sharpening at all?

It makes sense to me as sharpening 'blind' as you say is totally counter intuitive, especially as I'll already have sharpened during my work flow anyway.
Click to expand...
Yes. If you know you are getting inkjet prints, I would "oversharpen" a bit to offset the "dot bleed." But I would do it "manually."
 
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