Export Image quality with watermark

[magician john]

Lightroom Version Number

Classic 9.2.1 on iMac

Operating System

1. macOS 10.14 Mojave

I have just added a simple text watermark to some of my photos and Exported them in LR and then sync to my IPAD.

I have not altered any of the settings under the Edit Watermark field, yet the quality of the photos are far inferior compared to those without any watermark. So I have just added a watermark and ticked that box.

The KB for photos in general is showing 40-80 kb (with the watermark) as opposed to 700-800kb (without any watermark)

Is this to be expected or has something else happened and how can I keep a similar quality of image when exporting and syncing?

thnaks

john

 

[Hal P Anderson]

Show us a screen shot of your export dialogue. Make sure it includes the File Settings and Image Sizing section.

Most likely, you inadvertently changed some value in one of those.

 

[magician john]

here are copies of the Export dialogue box and Edit Watermark box.
i

 

[Hal P Anderson]

You're resizing your photo to 500 pixels on the long edge. That's quite small, and won't export anywhere near 700-800 kb.

 

[magician john]

You're resizing your photo to 500 pixels on the long edge. That's quite small, and won't export anywhere near 700-800 kb.

ok,, thanks what would the size need to be? I haven't altered this as far as I know. presume you cant backtrack to some of the photos to see what they were exported as without having some extra technology?

 

[Hal P Anderson]

photos to see what they were exported as without having some extra technology?

You can probably select one in Finder and see what the pixel dimensions are.

 

[clee01l]

ok,, thanks what would the size need to be?

. Export remembers the last settings unless you use an export preset. I would uncheck the resize option to export full size unless you have a need to create a smaller image than the original.

 

[magician john]

. Export remembers the last settings unless you use an export preset. I would uncheck the resize option to export full size unless you have a need to create a smaller image than the original.

OK, if I untick, what would be the size that it exports the photos as?

I have checked a series of previously exported photos, where the quality is good and they vary in size (long edge or the biggest number) between 2138 and 4226. How does this variation happen? If I didn't need full image size on my ipad (to keep space) would long edge of 1200 be good or more like 2000?

 

[Gnits]

Think of output sizes in terms of their intended target.
A lot of blogs used approx 800 width, to stay within the constraints of the blog layout, 1920 on the long side co-incides with a lot of tv's before the advent of 4k tvs. Check out the pixel dimensions for your iPad, if you want to maximise the impact of your ipad display. Create a preset for what you will use regularly. I have :
1. Web / Mail at 1920 pixels on the long side. (sRGB)
2. Full jpg for when I want all the pixels but a compressed file size(sRGB).
3. Tiff with all pixels when I want to send to a printer (colourspace AdobeRGB or ProPhotoRGB).

Mostly, I put exports in sub folders, so they are easy to find (with sub folder names such a Web-Mail, FullJpg, Tiff, etc).

I have several other presets, for specialised use, but the above cover 80-90% of my exports.

 

[clee01l]

OK, if I untick, what would be the size that it exports the photos as?

I have checked a series of previously exported photos, where the quality is good and they vary in size (long edge or the biggest number) between 2138 and 4226. How does this variation happen? If I didn't need full image size on my ipad (to keep space) would long edge of 1200 be good or more like 2000?

In pixels, these will be the same size of the cropped dimensions of the image that you are exporting. My recommendations rationale is to not resize on export. If you are syncing Lightroom Classic Collections to the cloud for access by Lightroom Mobile, then Lightroom Classic is going to create a proxy image that is 2560 or less on the long edge. You don't need to export. On the iPad, Lightroom (mobile) will only use the Cache storage space assigned in Lightroom Mobile settings and some local storage for the files received from the cloud. This will be managed by Lightroom Mobile.
If you have been adding exported Lightroom Classic images to the iPad manually, you are creating a housekeeping chore that could be avoided.

 

[Conrad Chavez]

To summarize the thread so far, what we see is:

• The pixel dimensions are being reduced to a point where small size watermark text can’t look good. The screen shot of the Export dialog says 500 pixels; at that size the watermark text can be only a few pixels tall — it’s gonna look chunky.
• The images are being “synced” to an iPad using some method that involves the Export dialog box, which is not typical, because it’s a lot easier to sync Lightroom Classic collections in one click.

Which means the key question is what Gnits asked: What’s the intended viewing environment for the watermarked images?

• A website?
• A blog?
• A social media channel such as Instagram or Facebook?
• Email?
• For viewing on the iPad only by you?

Once we know that, we’ll understand:

• Whether resizing is necessary, and if so, to what pixel dimensions
• Whether exporting is necessary, or if syncing is enough by itself
• Why the watermarks are needed

I have checked a series of previously exported photos, where the quality is good and they vary in size (long edge or the biggest number) between 2138 and 4226. How does this variation happen?

It can happen if the photos were shot with multiple cameras, since the pixel dimensions and aspect ratios of camera sensor vary a lot. If they were all shot with the same camera, the usual explanation is some were cropped. Different crops will naturally result in different pixel dimensions.

 

[magician john]

Think of output sizes in terms of their intended target.
A lot of blogs used approx 800 width, to stay within the constraints of the blog layout, 1920 on the long side co-incides with a lot of tv's before the advent of 4k tvs. Check out the pixel dimensions for your iPad, if you want to maximise the impact of your ipad display. Create a preset for what you will use regularly. I have :
1. Web / Mail at 1920 pixels on the long side. (sRGB)
2. Full jpg for when I want all the pixels but a compressed file size(sRGB).
3. Tiff with all pixels when I want to send to a printer (colourspace AdobeRGB or ProPhotoRGB).

Mostly, I put exports in sub folders, so they are easy to find (with sub folder names such a Web-Mail, FullJpg, Tiff, etc).

I have several other presets, for specialised use, but the above cover 80-90% of my exports.

How would i go about creating a preset t export my images to ipad?

 

[magician john]

To summarize the thread so far, what we see is:

• The pixel dimensions are being reduced to a point where small size watermark text can’t look good. The screen shot of the Export dialog says 500 pixels; at that size the watermark text can be only a few pixels tall — it’s gonna look chunky.
• The images are being “synced” to an iPad using some method that involves the Export dialog box, which is not typical, because it’s a lot easier to sync Lightroom Classic collections in one click.

Which means the key question is what Gnits asked: What’s the intended viewing environment for the watermarked images?

• A website?
• A blog?
• A social media channel such as Instagram or Facebook?
• Email?
• For viewing on the iPad only by you?

Once we know that, we’ll understand:

• Whether resizing is necessary, and if so, to what pixel dimensions
• Whether exporting is necessary, or if syncing is enough by itself
• Why the watermarks are needed

It can happen if the photos were shot with multiple cameras, since the pixel dimensions and aspect ratios of camera sensor vary a lot. If they were all shot with the same camera, the usual explanation is some were cropped. Different crops will naturally result in different pixel dimensions.

1. I don't use iCloud nor LR mobile, nor wifi due to health concerns. Hence why I Export the best of my photos to ipad.
2. Photos are on ipad mainly to share with other enthusiasts when out in field. my photos are either dragonflies, or butterflies or birds
3. Watermark has been added so I know the species of the dragonflies as not easy to differentiate and id the exact species/variety.
4. I export approx 5-10% of the photos from my pc from each shoot or only if it is showing something better, different to before.

 

[magician john]

To summarize the thread so far, what we see is:

• The pixel dimensions are being reduced to a point where small size watermark text can’t look good. The screen shot of the Export dialog says 500 pixels; at that size the watermark text can be only a few pixels tall — it’s gonna look chunky.
• The images are being “synced” to an iPad using some method that involves the Export dialog box, which is not typical, because it’s a lot easier to sync Lightroom Classic collections in one click.

Which means the key question is what Gnits asked: What’s the intended viewing environment for the watermarked images?

• A website?
• A blog?
• A social media channel such as Instagram or Facebook?
• Email?
• For viewing on the iPad only by you?

Once we know that, we’ll understand:

• Whether resizing is necessary, and if so, to what pixel dimensions
• Whether exporting is necessary, or if syncing is enough by itself
• Why the watermarks are needed

It can happen if the photos were shot with multiple cameras, since the pixel dimensions and aspect ratios of camera sensor vary a lot. If they were all shot with the same camera, the usual explanation is some were cropped. Different crops will naturally result in different pixel dimensions.

same camera but certainly as wildlife, they are all cropped .
thanks

 

[Gnits]

Bad idea to watermark images to store information. Use the metadata fields to store text based info. Then let it travel with the image. Here is a screen grab from viewing the image on my iPhone, showing the metadata view.

 

[magician john]

OK, this looks interesting but I would want only the keyword and maybe the file name on it. There is far too much data shown and my main aim is to get the image as big as possible.
So how would I get what I want into the Exported photo please?
I have created a Edit in the Metadata and applied it (well I think so) yet details not showing on the exported image. I have just ticked the Keyword box.
what are the steps to get this keyword and file name showing?

 

[Gnits]

1. Create a Test Collection.
2. Import a new image (so we are starting from scratch). In the Library view add text info to Title (eg Name of bird), Caption (eg details of habitat) and whatever keywords you want.
3. Add this image to the Test Collection.
4. Sync the Test Collection.

The metatdata fields should be populated when this image syncs to your Ipad. No need to export, as the Sync to the Cloud will transfer an image to the cloud with the metadata.

If you want a more streamlined presentation of the information then explore an Ipad App such as 'Foliobook'. There are probably others. There is a learning curve to this app, but many professionals use it to present images.

 

[magician john]

1. Create a Test Collection.
2. Import a new image (so we are starting from scratch). In the Library view add text info to Title (eg Name of bird), Caption (eg details of habitat) and whatever keywords you want.
3. Add this image to the Test Collection.
4. Sync the Test Collection.

The metatdata fields should be populated when this image syncs to your Ipad. No need to export, as the Sync to the Cloud will transfer an image to the cloud with the metadata.

If you want a more streamlined presentation of the information then explore an Ipad App such as 'Foliobook'. There are probably others. There is a learning curve to this app, but many professionals use it to present images.

I have done this and sync to ipad without exporting, but no metadata info is showing. You did say iCloud with transfer but i do not use iCloud or wifi so will this work? if there is alternative without iCloud, please advise as would like to do this and as simply as possible, so you suggestion does sound good one if I can get it to work.

 

[Roelof Moorlag]

You did say iCloud with transfer but i do not use iCloud or wifi so will this work?

Gnits did not mention iCloud but he refered to 'the Cloud' as used by Adobe CC.

 

[Gnits]

Gnit did not mention iCloud but he refered to 'the Cloud' as used by Adobe CC.

correct....

 

[Roelof Moorlag]

This is an example of an image that i synced from classic to the cloud, showed in the Lightroom App on my ipad:

And this is how the same image is showed from Lightroom web (Lightroom mobile ):

 

[magician john]

Gnits did not mention iCloud but he refered to 'the Cloud' as used by Adobe CC.

correct, apologies. however, there must be a step that I need to add as soft there are no metadata being sync to the ipad, that are showing anyway. what else can I do?

 

[Roelof Moorlag]

In the example that i showed above i did add title and caption in Classic and it showed in the App on my ipad and via Lightroom Web a few minutes later.
There is no extra step necassary exept that the image must be in one of the synced collections.

You could share the link to one of those images so we can take a look.

 

[magician john]

you say must be in one of the synced collections.
Do you mean a 'collection set" rather than a folder? all my photos are in folders and not collection.

I will share the link, what exactly are you after? the metadata preset? the Lr metadata information, the photo?

 

[Roelof Moorlag]

Folders can not be synced to the cloud, you have to put them in a collection and then check the box in front of it to sync it:

An alternative is to drag an individual photo to the special collection 'all synced photograps':