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How do I change the quality of an image in Lightroom?

Published in Image Quality Lightroom 4 mins read

Okay, changing the "quality" of an image in Lightroom can mean a couple of different things: improving the image's detail and resolution for better display or printing, or adjusting the quality settings when you export the image to a file format like JPEG. Below, we cover both key aspects.

Changing image quality in Lightroom can refer to enhancing the image's inherent detail and resolution or adjusting the settings used when you save or export the image.

1. Enhancing Image Quality (Increasing Detail and Resolution)

One way to enhance the quality of your image is by using features that increase its resolution and sharpness, making it look better, especially for larger prints or significant cropping. Lightroom offers powerful tools like Super Resolution for this purpose.

Here's how to use the Enhance feature with Super Resolution:

  1. Open your image in Lightroom. Make sure you are in the Develop module (Lightroom Classic) or have the image selected (Lightroom).
  2. Choose Photo > Enhance. This option is available in the menu bar.
  3. Select Super Resolution. In the Enhance dialog box that appears, check the box next to Super Resolution. You can preview the effect on a specific area of your image.
  4. Click Enhance. Lightroom will create a new DNG file next to your original image. This new DNG file will have twice the resolution (double the width and height) of the original, effectively quadrupling the pixel count.

This process uses Artificial Intelligence to intelligently upscale your image, preserving or even enhancing fine details, thereby improving its perceived quality and usability for larger outputs.

2. Changing Quality Settings During Export

A very common way to "change the quality" is during the export process. When you export your edited photo from Lightroom, you create a new file (like a JPEG, TIFF, etc.) with specific settings that affect its quality, file size, and dimensions.

Here’s how you typically adjust quality settings during export:

  • Access Export Settings:

    • In Lightroom Classic: Select the image(s), then go to File > Export... or right-click and choose Export > Export....
    • In Lightroom (Cloud-based): Select the image(s), then click the Share icon (usually a box with an arrow) and choose Export as....

  • Key Quality Settings in the Export Dialog:

    • File Format: Choose the format (e.g., JPEG, TIFF, DNG, Original). JPEG is common for sharing online or general use but involves compression. TIFF is lossless and higher quality, often used for printing or further editing.
    • JPEG Quality Slider (if exporting as JPEG): This is the primary control for JPEG quality.
      • Higher Percentage: Means higher quality, less compression, larger file size.
      • Lower Percentage: Means lower quality, more compression, smaller file size.
      • Values range from 0 to 100. 100 offers the best quality with minimal compression, while lower numbers introduce more artifacts but significantly reduce file size. For web use, values between 60-80 are often sufficient. For high-quality prints, 85-100 is recommended.
    • Image Sizing: This section allows you to resize the image.
      • Don't Resize: Exports at the original (or Enhanced) pixel dimensions.
      • Resize to Fit: Allows you to set maximum dimensions (width, height, long edge, short edge) or resolution (megapixels). Reducing the dimensions or resolution will create a smaller file and is another way to "change quality" (specifically, reduce the detail and file size).
    • Resolution (PPI - Pixels Per Inch): This setting in the resizing section is mainly metadata for print size calculation. It doesn't change the actual pixel dimensions unless 'Resize to Fit' is also used with a dimension constraint. For web, 72 PPI is traditional but doesn't impact display quality; pixel dimensions matter. For printing, 240-300 PPI is standard.

By adjusting the JPEG Quality slider and Image Sizing options in the Export dialog, you can directly control the quality, dimensions, and file size of the final image file output from Lightroom.

In summary, you can change image quality by enhancing the existing pixels using tools like Super Resolution or by adjusting settings during the export process that affect the final file's compression, dimensions, and format.

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