We just got lightroom the other day, and so far are LOVING it. However I noticed today as I was in photoshop, wanting to set up some photos to print that all the photos I've exported from lightroom are only 72 dpi even though I have the settings set up for 300 dpi and quality at 100.

What am I doing wrong?

Here is a screen shot

Is the resolution of both files the same? DPI is just a tool to help you determine what resolution you need to export for a given size of print. Example: 4in x 6in @ 300dpi = 1200px x 1800px. This same file could be considered a 16.66in x 25in @72dpi. It's possible photoshop is opening it as a 72 dpi file because that's the typical dpi displayed by a computer monitor.

no I don't think so, whenever we've opened image properties in photoshop after saving from bridge the files are 300 dpi unless we change them and size them down to save for web/screen viewing.

I'm not sure if I'm following your question or not though. My concern is I want to print this as a 16x20. I've always been told that 72 dpi is for screen viewing and won't make a good print. This first image is one we saved from bridge



And then this second one is exported from lightroom with the settings that were shown in the above post. I see that both files have the same pixel dimentions. It's the 72dpi that has me concerned for large prints.



Why is it saving at 72 when we are telling it to save at 300 pixels per inch?

I thought that as well. So I tried to change the image to 300 dpi, but that just added pixel to the photo in the pixel dimentions (which I'm afraid is just deteriorating the image quality). I know I must be missing something basic that I will slap myself on the forehead for once I'm told, but I just can't figure it out.



Sorry if this is really dense questions, I'm normally quite computer literate and able to figure out photoshop and programs like it well, but this has me confused, and I'm concerned about loosing image quality.

That's a noodle scratcher for sure... maybe someone more familiar with photoshop can tell you how to fix this... I can tell you though that lightroom didn't degrade your image file quality though because all of your pixels are there for a high quality 12x18 image in both files.

We were having the same problem.... Uncheck the "Minimize Exported Metadata" option in the Export dialog within LR then PS and other programs will open at the resolution you set for the file in LR, otherwise they default to 72 dpi

Frank

Jen,

Uncheck the resample image box when you are resizing in this manner. with the box checked photoshop is keeping the image print dimensions the same and interpolating the resolution from 72 to 300, that is why the file size got so huge.

that because you have resample image checked, uncheck that and it will adjust the image without adding/deletingbut as far as the original problem, it works just fine for me, PS opens it at 300 if thats what I export it as.

Don't forget you can send it directly to PS from within LR without exporting

Thanks everyone, that fixed it! I knew it would be something easy that I was just missing. I appreciate all of you help!

So if I uncheck the "resample image size" and then change the res. to 300, it is okay? But do I need to do that, or can I just leave it alone and know that it is going to print ok?

Does that make sense?

Or should I uncheck the "minimize embedded metadate" box?

I'm confused!??!??!

TIA

As long as all of the pixels are there it'll print just fine. The PPI is kind of a meaningless number in this case. The only time it'll come into play is if you're printing directly from Photoshop -- and most people don't as a general rule.

Thank you, just what I wanted to hear!!