Every time you export a photo from Lightroom Classic, you face the same set of decisions. What file format? What resolution? What color space? How much sharpening? Where should the file go? If you shoot regularly, making these choices manually for every export wastes time and invites inconsistency. Export presets solve this problem by saving your preferred export settings so you can apply them with a single click.
An export preset is simply a saved configuration of all the options in Lightroom’s Export dialog. Once you create one, it appears in your preset list permanently. You can build presets for every scenario you encounter: full-resolution files for print, web-sized JPEGs for your portfolio, images sized for Instagram, TIFF files for further editing in Photoshop, or files formatted to a client’s specific delivery requirements. The goal is to make the decisions once, save them, and never think about them again.
Understanding the Export Dialog
Before building presets, you need to understand what the Export dialog controls. Open it by selecting one or more photos and pressing Ctrl+Shift+E (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+E (Mac), or by going to File > Export. The dialog is divided into several sections, and each one controls a different aspect of the exported file.
Export Location determines where the exported file is saved. You can choose a specific folder, the same folder as the original, or your desktop. You can also create subfolders automatically based on naming rules. For client work, setting a consistent export folder keeps deliverables organized.
File Naming controls what the exported files are called. You can keep the original filename, use a custom name with a sequence number, or build a template using tokens like date, original filename, and custom text. Consistent file naming matters more than most photographers realize, especially when delivering to clients or uploading to stock agencies.
File Settings is where you choose the format (JPEG, TIFF, PSD, PNG, DNG, or Original) and the quality or compression level. For JPEGs, the Quality slider ranges from 0 to 100. A setting of 80-85 gives you an excellent balance between file size and image quality for most purposes. For print work or further editing, TIFF or PSD at 16-bit preserves maximum quality.
Image Sizing lets you resize the exported image. You can set dimensions by width, height, long edge, short edge, megapixels, or exact dimensions. For web use, resizing to a long edge of 2048 pixels is a common starting point. For print, you typically export at full resolution. The “Don’t Enlarge” checkbox prevents Lightroom from upscaling images that are smaller than your specified size.
Output Sharpening applies sharpening tailored to the output medium. You can choose between Screen, Matte Paper, and Glossy Paper, each with Low, Standard, or High intensity. This sharpening is applied on top of any sharpening you did in the Develop module, and it is specifically designed to counteract the softening that happens when images are resized or printed.
Metadata controls what information is embedded in the exported file. You can include all metadata, strip everything except copyright, or remove location data while keeping other EXIF information. For images posted online, removing GPS coordinates is a smart privacy practice. For client deliveries, including copyright metadata protects your work.
Watermarking lets you apply a text or graphic watermark during export. You can create watermark presets separately and select them here. This is useful for social media posts or client proofing galleries where you want to protect images before final delivery.
Creating Your First Export Preset
Building an export preset is straightforward. Configure every setting in the Export dialog exactly the way you want it, then save the whole configuration as a preset. Here is the process step by step.
Open the Export dialog by selecting any photo and pressing Ctrl+Shift+E (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+E (Mac). Work through each section from top to bottom, setting every option to your preferred values. Take your time here. The point of a preset is that you only make these decisions once.
Once all settings are configured, look at the left side of the Export dialog. You will see a panel labeled “Preset” with folders for Lightroom’s built-in presets and any user presets you have created. At the bottom of this panel, click the Add button. Lightroom will ask you to name the preset and choose a folder for it. Give it a descriptive name that tells you exactly what it does. “Instagram 1080px sRGB” is far more useful than “Export 1” or “My Preset.”
Click Create, and your preset is saved. From now on, it appears in the Preset panel every time you open the Export dialog. You can also access it by right-clicking any photo in the Library module and choosing Export > [Your Preset Name] from the context menu, which skips the Export dialog entirely and exports immediately using your saved settings.
Essential Export Presets Every Photographer Should Build
Most photographers need between three and six export presets to cover their regular output needs. Here are the most common scenarios and the settings that work well for each.
Web and Social Media
For images destined for websites, portfolios, or social media platforms, you want files that load quickly without looking soft or compressed. Set the format to JPEG with a quality of 80-85. Resize to fit the long edge at 2048 pixels. Use the sRGB color space, which is the standard for web browsers and screens. Enable output sharpening for Screen at Standard intensity. Strip location metadata for privacy but keep your copyright information embedded.
Some photographers create separate presets for different platforms. Instagram displays images at a maximum of 1080 pixels wide for feed posts. If you want pixel-perfect control, create a preset specifically sized for that dimension. For general web use, 2048 on the long edge works well across most contexts.
Full Resolution for Print
When preparing files for printing, you want maximum quality. Set the format to JPEG at quality 100 or, better yet, TIFF with no compression. Do not resize the image. Leave the Image Sizing section unchecked so Lightroom exports at the original resolution. Set the color space to Adobe RGB or the specific profile your print lab requires. Enable output sharpening for Matte Paper or Glossy Paper depending on your print medium.
Resolution for print should be set to 300 pixels per inch (ppi). While this number technically only matters when the image is placed into a layout at a specific size, print labs expect it and some software uses it as a reference. Setting it to 300 ppi is standard practice.
Client Delivery
Client delivery presets depend on what your clients need. For wedding and portrait clients receiving digital files, JPEG at quality 90-95 with full resolution is a common standard. Keep the sRGB color space unless your client specifically requests something different. Most clients view images on screens, and sRGB ensures the colors look right without any color management on their end.
Name these files using a clear template. Something like “LastName_FirstName_001” makes client files easy to identify. You can configure this in the File Naming section using Lightroom’s filename template editor.
Archive or Backup (DNG)
If you want to create archival copies of your RAW files with all your Lightroom edits embedded, export as DNG. The DNG format preserves your raw data while including your Develop module adjustments as non-destructive metadata. This is useful for backing up finished work or transferring catalogs to another system. Set the format to DNG, choose “Use Lossy Compression” only if file size is a concern (lossy DNG reduces quality slightly), and leave all other settings at their defaults.
Email-Sized Files
Sometimes you need to send a quick preview to someone via email. Create a preset that exports JPEG at quality 70, resized to 1200 pixels on the long edge. This produces files small enough to email without clogging inboxes while still looking good on screen. This preset is also useful for quick proofing galleries.
Organizing Your Presets into Folders
As your preset collection grows, organizing them into folders keeps the list manageable. When you create a new preset, the dialog lets you place it in an existing folder or create a new one. Common folder structures include grouping by output type (Web, Print, Client, Archive) or by client type (Weddings, Portraits, Commercial).
You can also drag and drop presets between folders after creating them. Right-click a preset in the Export dialog’s left panel to rename it, move it, or delete it. Keeping your presets organized pays off as your business grows and your export needs become more varied.
Editing and Updating Existing Presets
Your export needs will change over time. Social media platforms update their image specifications, clients request different formats, or you simply discover better settings through experience. Updating a preset is simple.
Open the Export dialog and select the preset you want to update. Make your changes to any of the settings. Then right-click the preset name in the left panel and choose Update with Current Settings. The preset is overwritten with your new configuration. If you want to keep the old version and create a variation, use “Add” to save it as a new preset with a different name instead.
Using Export Presets with One Click
The fastest way to use export presets bypasses the Export dialog completely. In the Library module, select the photos you want to export, right-click, and hover over “Export.” You will see a submenu listing all your user presets. Click one, and Lightroom immediately begins exporting using those saved settings. No dialog, no confirmation, no extra clicks.
This workflow is especially powerful when combined with smart collections or filtered views. For example, you could filter your catalog to show all five-star images from a shoot, select them all with Ctrl+A or Cmd+A, and export them in a single action using your client delivery preset.
You can also assign export presets to post-processing actions at the bottom of the Export dialog. The “After Export” dropdown lets you open the exported file in another application, like Photoshop, or trigger a Lightroom publish service. This chaining lets you build multi-step workflows that happen automatically.
Export Presets vs. Develop Presets
It is important not to confuse export presets with Develop presets. They serve entirely different purposes. Develop presets save editing adjustments (like exposure, contrast, white balance, and color grading) that you apply to images during the editing process. Export presets save output settings (like file format, resolution, and destination) that determine how the finished image is saved to disk.
Think of it this way: Develop presets control how the image looks. Export presets control how the file is packaged and delivered. You will use both types regularly, and they complement each other perfectly. Apply a Develop preset to give the image its look, then use an export preset to deliver it in the right format.
Color Space: Getting It Right
One of the most commonly misunderstood export settings is color space. Lightroom works in its own wide-gamut color space internally, but when you export, you need to choose a color space for the output file.
sRGB is the safest choice for any image that will be viewed on a screen: websites, social media, email, and most client deliveries. It is the standard color space for the internet, and virtually every screen can display it correctly without color management.
Adobe RGB is a wider color space that captures more colors, particularly in the blue-green range. It is commonly used for print work, especially with high-quality inkjet printers. However, if an Adobe RGB file is displayed on a device that does not understand color management, the colors will look muted and washed out. Only use Adobe RGB when you know the recipient can handle it.
ProPhoto RGB is the widest color space available in Lightroom’s export options. It captures colors that no current display or printer can reproduce, but it preserves maximum data for future editing. It is useful when exporting TIFF or PSD files that you intend to edit further in Photoshop. Never use ProPhoto RGB for final delivery to clients or the web.
Troubleshooting Common Export Problems
Even with well-configured presets, a few common issues can trip you up.
Exported images look different from Lightroom. This almost always comes down to color space. If you exported in Adobe RGB or ProPhoto RGB and the viewing application does not apply color management, colors will look wrong. Switch your web and screen presets to sRGB to fix this.
Files are too large. If your exported JPEGs are larger than expected, check the quality slider and whether you have image resizing enabled. A full-resolution JPEG at quality 100 from a 45-megapixel camera can be 25MB or more. Reducing quality to 85 and resizing for the intended use dramatically reduces file size with minimal visible difference.
Exported images look soft. Resizing an image always introduces some softness. Make sure output sharpening is enabled in your preset. Choose “Screen” for digital delivery and the appropriate paper type for print. If images still look soft, you may need to bump the sharpening from Standard to High, though be careful not to over-sharpen.
Wrong file destination. If exports keep going to unexpected locations, check the Export Location section of your preset. The “Same folder as original photo” option can scatter files across your drive if your originals are spread across multiple folders. Using a “Specific folder” with a consistent path keeps everything predictable.
Sharing and Backing Up Export Presets
Export presets are stored as .lrtemplate files on your hard drive. You can find them in Lightroom’s preferences folder or by right-clicking a preset in the Export dialog and choosing “Show in Finder” (Mac) or “Show in Explorer” (Windows). To share presets with another photographer or move them to a new computer, simply copy these files. To install presets someone has shared with you, place the .lrtemplate files in the same folder location, or import them through Lightroom’s Export dialog.
Back up your export presets along with the rest of your Lightroom configuration. If you ever need to reinstall Lightroom or migrate to a new machine, having your presets backed up saves you from rebuilding them from scratch.
Building an Efficient Export Workflow
The real power of export presets is how they eliminate friction from your post-processing workflow. Without presets, every export requires you to remember and manually configure a dozen settings. With presets, exporting becomes a one-click operation that produces consistent results every time.
Start by identifying the three or four export scenarios you use most often. Build a preset for each one. Use descriptive names so you never have to open a preset to remember what it does. As new needs arise, add presets rather than modifying existing ones, unless the old settings are genuinely obsolete.
Pair your export presets with a consistent folder structure on your hard drive. Having a dedicated “Exports” folder with subfolders for Web, Print, and Client deliveries makes it easy to find your exported files later. Point each preset to the appropriate subfolder, and your exports will always land in the right place.
Export presets are one of those Lightroom features that seem minor until you start using them. Once you have a solid set of presets built, you will wonder how you ever managed without them. They save time, eliminate errors, and let you focus on the creative work of photography instead of the mechanical work of file management. Build your presets today, and every future export will be faster and more consistent because of it.