These settings give you a reliable starting point. Below, we break down each export option in more detail and explain when to use each one.

Lightroom Export Settings for Printing Photos (Desktop)

For print, your goal is simple: maximum quality and accurate color.

Recommended Print Export Settings

• File Type: JPEG (most labs) or TIFF (only if your printer requests it)
• Color Space: sRGB (safest for most labs). Use Adobe RGB only if explicitly requested.
• Quality: 100
• Resolution: 300 PPI
• Image Sizing: Resize unchecked (let the lab handle sizing). If resizing is required, size in inches.
• Output Sharpening: Matte or Glossy (Standard)
• Metadata: Include copyright info. Remove location data if desired.

These settings preserve detail, prevent color shifts, and give print labs the best possible file.

Why Prints Can Look Darker Than Your Screen

Photos often appear darker in print because screens are brighter than paper. What looks perfect on your monitor can print deeper and heavier.

Lowering your screen brightness before exporting and using soft proofing (when available) can help your prints look closer to what you see while editing.

Lightroom Export Settings for Instagram (Desktop)

Instagram applies aggressive compression to uploaded images. Exporting correctly helps you keep crisp detail and clean color.

Recommended Instagram Export Settings

• File Type: JPEG
• Color Space: sRGB (recommended for Instagram)
• Quality: 80 to 85
• Image Sizing: Resize to fit (Long Edge)
  • Square (1:1): 1080 × 1080
  • Portrait (4:5): 1080 × 1350
  • Landscape: 1080 × 566
• Resolution: 72 or 96 PPI (does not affect web quality)
• Output Sharpening: Screen (Low)
• Metadata: Remove location info (recommended)

These settings help Instagram apply less aggressive compression, so your photos stay sharp.

Lightroom Mobile Export Settings for Instagram

Lightroom Mobile handles exporting a little differently, but the goal is the same.

Recommended Lightroom Mobile Settings

• File Format: JPEG
• Dimensions: Long side 1080 px (or 2048 px if you prefer a little extra headroom)
• Quality: 85 to 100
• Color Space: sRGB
• Sharpening: None at export (apply sharpening during editing instead)
• Metadata: Remove location data if desired

Lightroom Mobile already optimizes for mobile screens, so you don’t need to overthink this step.

Why Instagram Compression Happens

Instagram automatically compresses every photo uploaded to the platform. This happens regardless of how carefully you edit or export your images.

The goal of compression is speed and consistency. Instagram needs photos to load quickly across millions of devices, screen sizes, and internet connections. To do that, it resizes and re-compresses images to fit its preferred dimensions.

When you upload files that are too large, too small, or exported with the wrong color space, Instagram applies heavier compression. This is when images can appear soft, muddy, or slightly blurry.

Exporting at Instagram’s preferred sizes (such as 1080 px on the long edge) and using the sRGB color space gives Instagram less work to do. This results in cleaner uploads, better sharpness, and more accurate color.

In short, you can’t avoid Instagram compression entirely, but you can control how aggressive it is by exporting correctly.

Should You Use Different Export Settings for Reels & Stories?

Stories and Reels are vertical by default, so size for 9:16.

• Best size: 1080 × 1920
• File Type: JPEG
• Color Space: sRGB
• Quality: 80 to 85

Avoid exporting at very high resolutions. Instagram will compress your photos anyway.

Common Export Mistakes to Avoid

• Exporting in Adobe RGB for Instagram
• Using low quality (below 70)
• Exporting overly large files and letting Instagram downscale aggressively
• Forgetting output sharpening for print

Export settings won’t fix a bad edit, but the wrong export can absolutely flatten a great one.

Turn These Into Saved Export Presets (Desktop + Mobile)

Saved export presets make exporting a one-click step, faster, cleaner, and consistent every time.

How to Save an Export Preset in Lightroom (Desktop)

1. Select any photo in Lightroom Desktop.
2. Click File, then Export.
3. Enter your export settings (use the presets below).
4. In the left panel under Preset, click Add.
5. Name your preset, choose a folder, and click Create.

Export Preset: High-Quality Print

Preset Name: Print High Quality (300 PPI)

• File Type: JPEG
• Quality: 100
• Color Space: sRGB
• Resize: Off
• Resolution: 300 PPI
• Output Sharpening: Matte or Glossy (Standard)
• Metadata: Copyright only (optional)

Export Preset: Instagram Feed

Preset Name: Instagram Feed (1080px)

• File Type: JPEG
• Quality: 80 to 85
• Color Space: sRGB
• Resize: Long Edge to 1080 px
• Resolution: 72 or 96 PPI
• Output Sharpening: Screen (Low)
• Metadata: Remove location info (recommended)

Export Preset: Instagram Stories & Reels

Preset Name: Instagram Stories & Reels (9x16)

• File Type: JPEG
• Quality: 80 to 85
• Color Space: sRGB
• Resize: Long Edge to 1920 px
• Resolution: 72 PPI
• Output Sharpening: Screen (Low)

Saved Export Presets in Lightroom Mobile

Lightroom Mobile doesn’t use export presets the same way, but it remembers your last export settings. Set them once, then reuse them every time.

1. Open an edited photo.
2. Tap Share, then Export.
3. Set your export options.
4. Export once. Lightroom will remember these settings next time.

Lightroom Mobile Export Settings: Instagram

• File Format: JPEG
• Dimensions: 1080 to 2048 px
• Quality: 85 to 100
• Color Space: sRGB
• Sharpening: None at export

Lightroom Mobile Export Settings: Print

• File Format: JPEG
• Dimensions: Full size
• Quality: 100
• Color Space: sRGB

Lightroom Export Settings FAQ

1. Does PPI matter for Instagram?

No. PPI (pixels per inch) does not affect image quality on Instagram. Instagram displays images based on pixel dimensions, not print resolution.

You can export at 72 PPI or 96 PPI without changing how your photo looks online. What matters is the pixel size, such as exporting at 1080 pixels on the long edge.

2. Why do my Instagram photos look blurry after uploading?

Blurry uploads usually happen because Instagram applies heavy compression. This is often caused by exporting images that are too large, using the wrong color space, or exporting at the wrong size/quality (which triggers heavier compression).

To avoid this, export JPEG files in the sRGB color space, resize to Instagram-friendly dimensions, and apply light screen sharpening.

3. Should I export PNG instead of JPEG?

No. JPEG is the better choice for Instagram. Instagram converts PNG files to JPEG anyway, often applying more compression in the process.

Exporting directly as a high-quality JPEG gives you more control and usually results in sharper uploads.

4. Should I sharpen before or after exporting?

Sharpen during editing first, then apply light output sharpening during export if needed. For Instagram, use Screen sharpening set to Low.

Avoid heavy sharpening at export, as Instagram’s compression can exaggerate it and create artifacts.

The Takeaway

Think of exporting as the final translation step in your workflow:

• Print files need resolution, sharpening, and color accuracy.
• Instagram files need correct sizing and compression control.
• Desktop and Mobile exports should be handled slightly differently.

Once your export presets are saved, exporting becomes a one-click step. This means a faster workflow and more consistent results across print and social media. 

If you want to speed up your workflow even more, you may also find our guide on batch editing in Lightroom helpful.

If you want to spend less time editing and more time creating, our Lightroom presets are designed to work seamlessly with these export settings. Browse all our Lightroom presets