Lightroom Print Module Part 1 

Lightroom is loaded with many advanced features and one of the most neglected of these is the Print Module. To make matters worse, there are very few articles available about this module and its’ potential. In a series of articles I am going to discuss some of the most useful features of Lightroom’s Print Module, such as how to specify the page layout and print options for printing photos and contact sheets on your printer.

Lightroom Print Module Layout

Now let’s jump right in and take a look at Lightroom’s Print Module Layout:

The left panels contain a list of templates and a preview of their page layouts. The area in the centre of the Lightroom Print module displays the photos in the chosen template. The right panels contain controls for specifying how the photos appear in the layout, modifying the template, adding text to the printed page and selecting settings for print color management, resolution, and sharpening.

Simple printing in Lightroom Print Module

To print photos from Lightroom, follow these basic steps:

1. Select the photos you want to print.

In the Library module, use the Grid view or the Filmstrip to select the photos you want to print.

You can also select a folder or a collection of photos using the Folders or Collections panel.

2. Choose the page size.

Switch to Lightroom Print module and click the Page Setup button in the lower-left corner of the module. Choose a page size by doing one of the following:

(Windows) In the Paper area of the Printing Preferences or Print Setup dialog box, choose a page size from the Size menu. Then, click OK.

(Mac OS) In the Page Setup dialog box, choose a printer from the Format For menu and choose a page size from the Paper Size menu. Then, click OK.

Important tip: Leave the Scale set to 100% and make any size adjustments in Lightroom.

3. Choose a template.

A template provides a basic layout for your photo prints. Lightroom includes three types of print templates:

A- Single Image/Contact Sheet templates let you print one or more photos, all at the same size, on a page.

B- Picture Package templates let you print one photo in multiple sizes on a page.

C- Custom Package templates let you print multiple photos at various sizes on one or more pages.

Lightroom print templates scale the photos to accommodate the paper size you choose.

4. Add or remove photos from the layout.

Depending on the type of template you choose, you may need to add, change, or remove photos from the layout.

For Single Image/Contact Sheet templates and Picture Package templates, select one or more photos in the Filmstrip to add them to image cells in the preview area. Deselect photos in the Filmstrip to remove them from the template.

For Custom Package templates, drag a thumbnail from the Filmstrip to the image cell in the preview area.

In the next instalment we’ll continue exploring Lightroom’s print module with additional advanced options and settings.

For more information about our Lightroom workshops, please visit our UPCOMING CLASSES page.

Ted and the Omnilargess Team