1 Reply Latest reply: Apr 27, 2013 11:43 AM by web-weaver RSS

    Pros and cons Lightroom vs Photoshop printing

    Picturequest Community Member

      Greetings,

       

      I'm only recently learning the details of Lightrooms Printing module. And I really like it. In fact I have a workflow of saving a PS file in an Auto Import folder so I can use LRs Print module in place of PS CS6.

       

      A couple of questions. In PS I can select Black Point Compensation. But I don't see that option in LR 4.X.

       

      I like that LR remembers my printing preferences. I use an Epson 1900 and 2400. My workflow is to print a 4x6 proof first, then a 13x19". I've learned to turn off Printer Manages color, I like Relative Colormetry, and I like that I'me able to save this as a Preset or template.

       

      What I like In PS is I can grab the image and resize or move on the page.

       

      An issue I have with LR, maybe someone has a solution, is if I want to type in an exact print size. Example for a 12x18" I want it to be 12.1" (a bit of extra space for matting) That is easy to just type in in PS.

       

      What I hate about PS, is it doesn't remember any of my settings, Meaning I am compelled to check through the printer driver and advance setting each time to be sure color management is off and the Epson driver didn't switch paper types.

       

      Under the hood, is the LR and PS printing the same?

       

      In LR I can select the output to be say 360 dpi. In PS it sends what ever resolution to the printer, sometimes 900 dpi. Is there much of a difference between LR resizing to a specific DPI prior to print, or having Epson ingest the full resolution to print?

       

      Final question. When selecting a paper type. There are two places. Inside the Epson driver. Example Premium Glossy, and also in Lightroom or Photoshop after selecting PS manages color. So which over rides which? If the Epson driver is set to Presentation Matte, and in either App I select Premium Glossy, who wins the fight?

       

      Thanks!

       

      Max

        • 1. Re: Pros and cons Lightroom vs Photoshop printing
          web-weaver Community Member

          A lot of questions.

          I would recommend that you watch some of the printing tutorials on Adobe's website. See here (and scroll down to "Printing"): http://tv.adobe.com/show/learn-lightroom-4/

           

          As for the printing from PS vs. Lr (and under the hood), see here: http://forums.adobe.com/message/5229670#5229670

           

          Generally speaking, there is no difference in print quality between Lr and PS if all parameters are set correctly. So it comes down to the question of preference of workflow: Do you rather print from Lr or from PS?

           

          Also, you will - within a short time - notice that Lr has become not only your main image editor but also your image managing tool. In this situation it's just simpler to print from Lr instead of doing the round trip to PS. Also, in PS one tends to create an image copy for each print size; in Lr you can just do it with Virtual Copies. Or you can create a <saved print> that is added to a collection. That means you don't fill up your hard drive with file copies.

           

          Your Final question: The paper type and size has to be selected in your printer driver. You do this from Lr by clicking on <Page Setup> in the print Module. The dialog that comes up is not Lr but your printer dialog / driver.

          Lr will then "accept" the paper size selected in the printer driver / dialog. In Lr there is a selection for <Media Type> (not "paper type"!). Select what you are using - this selection affects the output sharpening that Lr applies "behind the scene". Also select the appropriate printing profile in Lr. The <Print Adjustment> sliders are best left alone. They are not necessary if your monitor is calibrated and set to the correct intensity (brightness). Apart from that these two sliders don't give you any feedback in Lr, i.e. you don't see their effects in Lr - only on the print.