Photoshop vs. Lightroom JPEG - 100% view
I came across an interesting discovery yesterday. I have been wanting to make a streamlined method for creating JPEGs for submissions for stock using Lightroom. Normally I would open the image (either RAW or a PSD edited file) in Photoshop, convert to 8 bit, Adobe RGB if necessary, and resize (uprez) the file to 5100 pixels on the longest side so I would have a minimum uncompressed 48 MB file, and save as a Level 12 quality JPEG. No sharpening involved.
So I tried to simplify this process by creating a Lightroom Preset for stock photo exports. The Export panel in Lightroom will let you select pixel dimensions (including uprezzing), color space, and JPEG quality. I saved a few JPEGs at 100% quality, sizing to 5100 pixels longest side, using this method and compared them against their Photoshop counterparts.
Photoshop vs. Lightroom JPEGs
While it may be hard to illustrate from these screen captures, since they are also JPEGs and resized – there was definitely a slight quality improvement in the JPEGs exported from Lightroom when viewed at 100%. A bit more sharpness and detail, and less artifacts. I think the differences are subtle enough that they may never be noticed in a printed image, but it is nice to know that I can process images using Lightroom’s convenient collection sets, use the export feature much faster, with better quality – than going through the gyrations and multiple steps (even if saved in an action) in Photoshop. Pretty cool.
That is quite cool. That preset must be a significant convenience, and what a bonus that the quality is slightly better than your old PS method! The Lightroom generated .jpg does look sharper and I see more contrast. LR certainly has a lot going for it. Thanks Mark!
Mark are you exporting from LR using any of the sharpening settings? That might be what is making the difference. The sharpening settings on the export dialogue window are buried a bit. Check to see if that is what is causing the difference. Either way an interesting read. Now to catch up on your recent entries. I’m way behind.
Hey Jim, no – I wasn’t using any sharpening because I was specifically preparing them for Alamy, and as I understand it they don’t want any sharpening applied.
Are you willing to share steps of how you created the preset for this?
Alanna, the Lightroom Export module will let you create presets of the various export configurations you want to make. Within the export module window, there are options to save them.