How to Print from Lightroom

Printing in Lightroom

If you are like me and enjoy printing your images from home, you will love the Print module in Lightroom!  The Lightroom Print module allows you to select from a list of print templates or even use your own print specifications.

For this tutorial, I will walk you through how to make a standard 8X10 print using the Print module.

Let's get started:

Step 1: Open the Print Module

In Lightroom, select the image you would like to print, and then navigate to the Print module.  Select Single Image/Contact Sheet since we are only printing one photo:

Step 2: Adjust Image & Layout Settings

Next, you will need to complete the Image and Layout Settings.

Leave the Zoom to Fill box UNCHECKED unless the image you are using isn't cropped to an 8x10 ratio.  Checking the Zoom to Fill box will allow Lightroom to fill the photo cell completely.  You can move the photo around, so it's cropped the way you like by hovering over the image and then clicking and dragging it how you want.

The Rotate to Fit box is also unchecked in this scenario simply because the image is vertical.  If the image were horizontal, the Rotate to Fit box SHOULD BE CHECKED in order for the image to fit on the page without clipping.

Under Margins, I have moved all four sliders all the way to the left because I want my margins to be as small as possible.

Under Page Grid, I selected one Row and one Column since we are printing a single image:

For Cell Size, I selected 8X10 inches which is the size I want the image area of my print to be:

Step 3: Adjust Print Settings

For Print Resolution, I always like to USE THE HIGHEST PPI POSSIBLE, even when printing small.

I use 300 PPI without fail:

Step 4: Color Management

This next step is more complex, and an entire blog post could be written on color management alone, but for now, let’s look at the absolute basics.

Under Color Management, click on the Up/Down arrows next to Profile.  You have the option to select Managed by Printer or Other.

If you are using premium photo paper like Canson, Ilford, Red River, Epson, etc., you have access to a beautiful thing called an ICC Profile!

ICC profiles are downloaded onto your computer from the photo paper manufacturer’s website.  These can usually be found by doing an internet search for the name of your paper + “ICC profile.”

The ICC profile will ensure that your prints will be as close to what you see on your computer monitor as possible.  Do you know how sometimes your prints look totally different than the images on your monitor?  That is usually the result of the color management in your printer and the paper you are using just not working well together.  You may also have a monitor calibration issue.

Having an ICC profile specifically for your printer/paper combo will save you money over the long term by minimizing lousy print jobs that waste paper and ink.

If you DON'T have an ICC profile for your paper and printer, go ahead and select Printer Manages Colors.

If you DO have a custom ICC profile, click the Up/Down arrows and select Other.  You will see this box:

Once you have downloaded and installed the matching ICC profile, it will appear in this profile dialogue box.  Make sure to check the correct profile for your paper.  

After you select your Color Management (either "Managed By Printer" or "Custom ICC Other Profile"), press the Print button, and you are set.

A Note About Templates

When you are in the Lightroom Print module, you will see print templates of varying sizes on the left-hand side of your screen.  While there IS an 8X10 template, I chose to use my own custom settings because I prefer to have smaller margins than the Lightroom template for 8X10 provides.  You can choose which option is best for YOU.

Conclusion

The Lightroom Print module is powerful and great to use for printing your images.  You can use it to print to a local printer or save your images to print in other places.  There are so many possibilities.  Play around and explore all the powerful options!

Do you have any questions or comments about How to Print in Lightroom?  Leave us a comment below - we would LOVE to hear from you! And PLEASE SHARE our tutorial using the social sharing buttons (we really appreciate it)!