Question on Export for Email

[APB]

Hello. I have a question regarding Export for email. If I have a JPeg and I export it for email, am I re-jpegging (sp?) it or is it just making a copy of the jpeg to a new file?

 

[Brad Snyder]

Ann, welcome to LR Forums.

The answer depends a little bit on your workflow.

If you have imported a JPG into LR, then you can edit that JPG as much as you like, without fear of data loss through JPG recompression.This is because LR stores the adjustments as database instructions as opposed to the pixel twiddling that most other graphics tools employ. It's only when a JPG original is exported, hence creating a new JPG file, that the compression issues arise. Even at that point, your original JPG is untouched, and can be re-edited and re-exported repeatedly with no re-compression issues. The only time this issue becomes a concern is when you re-import previously exported JPGs into LR.

I'm not sure how you're exporting for email, but in general that creates a temporary file which exists only long enough to launch the email, and is then auto-deleted. Result: no, you're not recompressing the JPG.

The downside of the equation is that the JPG maintained in LR is not useful in any other program (other than PS/ACR) until it is exported.

This is a bit different from the JPG workflows in other applications.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Hi Ann, welcome to the forum!

Variation on that one - if you're wanting to export an exact copy (same size, no adjustments applied) of the original jpeg, select 'Original' as the file type in the Export dialog.

 

[APB]

Export Copy

Hi Ann, welcome to the forum!

Variation on that one - if you're wanting to export an exact copy (same size, no adjustments applied) of the original jpeg, select 'Original' as the file type in the Export dialog.

Thanks Victoria. I will try it once I am home. LR does not have a copy feature so I am trying to figure out a way I can copy certain photos from various folders to one file in order to upload to a printer service. Then I would delete them. I also sometimes use ProShow Gold and need to corral certain photos into one folder.

 

[Victoria Bampton]

That could work nicely then Ann - export as Original is exactly what you're looking for, if you don't want to resize.