Luminous Landscape Forum

Raw & Post Processing, Printing => Adobe Lightroom Q&A => Topic started by: sunshine1234 on August 09, 2013, 10:49:03 pm

Title: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: sunshine1234 on August 09, 2013, 10:49:03 pm
When using an Epson 3880, is there any difference in the quality of the prints from Lightroom compared to Photoshop? Does one give better results than the other?
Title: Re: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: ButchM on August 09, 2013, 11:02:46 pm
When using an Epson 3880, is there any difference in the quality of the prints from Lightroom compared to Photoshop? Does one give better results than the other?

All things equal as per settings for printing ... the Print module in Lr is definitely one thing that Adobe got right ... and only one of the few features of Lr that I now miss ...
Title: Re: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on August 10, 2013, 12:40:13 am
The results are identical, but LR's great advantage is that you can make and save presets that hold all of the settings (both Photoshop and printer) for your favorite papers and not have to check all settings carefully for each and every print as you must in Photoshop.
Title: Re: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: Rhossydd on August 10, 2013, 04:16:28 am
The results are identical

Let's be more accurate here;
They can be identical. If you use no sharpening on output and output to the same ppi.
However once you invoke the sharpening options in LR, you'd need to use Photokit Sharpener or use a similar sharpening routine to get the same result from PS. Plus you'll need to resize the image to the optimal ppi for your printer.

The bottom line is that printing from LR makes it substantially easier to optimise the image for printing.
Title: Re: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: Schewe on August 10, 2013, 04:24:07 am
When using an Epson 3880, is there any difference in the quality of the prints from Lightroom compared to Photoshop?

Assuming the correct settings and profiles, 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other (meaning LR & PS should be equal in output results) but LR's workflow is far superior...print from LR is cool...printing from Photoshop sucks...

Just my humble opinion (but I know what the heck I'm doing).

Wanna learn how to make your life easier? Print from LR...
Title: +1 for LR
Post by: Simon Garrett on August 10, 2013, 05:25:38 am
As the others say, at default settings should be identical, but (IMHO) LR easier and more flexible. 
Title: Re: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: PhotoEcosse on August 10, 2013, 06:55:42 am

Just my humble opinion (but I know what the heck I'm doing).



Now that's one beauty of an oxymoron!!

(But I agree. Printing from LR is the answer. Irrespective of how much work I may do on an image in CS6, I always take it back into LR for final polishing and printing.)
Title: Re: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: sunshine1234 on August 17, 2013, 02:03:36 pm
Thank you for your comments about printing from Lightroom - I'm buying a 3880 on Monday. Since I like to launch from Lightroom this news of yours is a relief to hear.

BTW - the penetrating depth of your book The Digital Negative is very helpful to me.
Title: Re: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: hokuahi on August 18, 2013, 11:33:15 am
What about printing from Lightroom vs printing from ImagePrint... any thoughts, comments, comparisons? (Presuming of course one has it installed so that price isn't a factor here)
Title: Re: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: BAB on August 18, 2013, 07:08:22 pm
Here you can print directly from a canon 5d and get perfect images why would you even want to process images and waste valuable time?

http://www.kenrockwell.com/dv/2007/index.htm

Title: Re: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: Dave_Wyatt on August 20, 2013, 07:27:04 pm
If you didn't go ahead and buy the 3880 yesterday, I'd recommend a 4900 -the ink works out a lot cheaper over time as you can use the bigger cartridges.  I'd also get a rota trim or other professional level paper trimmer as you'll find the ability to print images laid out however you want in Lightroom means you will be able experiment.  Also, sometimes bigger paper cut down is quite a bit cheaper than the smaller (A4) paper.

Lastly, if you haven't yet, then start ordering test packs of as many quality papers as you can and get a feel for what works best with your set up.  You might also like to pick up a profiling kit for printers such as the i1 Pro as this will allow you full control over the process.  You can even get them used on ebay but be careful as they may be at the end of their working life.
Title: Re: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: sunshine1234 on August 21, 2013, 11:58:10 am
When you suggest ordering test packs, can you please be more specific? e.g. whose test packs? are they free?  Do you have a pack you'd recommend over others?
Title: Re: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: Dave_Wyatt on August 21, 2013, 03:04:51 pm
Most paper manufacturers offer a trial pack of either a selection of papers or 5-10 sheets of one paper stock.  Some are free ( rarely) and some cost a small amount.  If you like Matt papers, look at Hahnemuhle, if you like gloss (definitely worth looking at with the modern printers) check the various baryta papers.  I like the ones from Harman the best, but Ilford Galerie Gold Fibre Silk is excellent as well.  Canson baryta photographique appears to be the same paper stock so get which is cheaper.  The Innova line of papers is also excellent.
Title: Re: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: sunshine1234 on August 21, 2013, 08:29:54 pm
Thanks for that info - much appreciated.
Title: Re: Is it better to print from Lightroom or Photoshop
Post by: bjanes on August 22, 2013, 08:00:16 am
If you didn't go ahead and buy the 3880 yesterday, I'd recommend a 4900 -the ink works out a lot cheaper over time as you can use the bigger cartridges. 

Whether or not the larger cartridges would be more cost effective would depend on your volume of printing. If the larger cartridges expire before they are depleted, they may not be more economical. I have the 3880 and have found that one can use the cartridges far beyond the stated expiration date, but there must be a limit.

Regards,

Bill