How to Export from Lightroom to Photoshop?

In the world of photography and digital image editing, Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop are two of the most powerful tools.

Each has its own strengths: Lightroom excels at organizing and performing global edits on large batches of photos, while Photoshop offers more advanced capabilities for detailed, pixel-level editing.

If you’re looking to get the best of both worlds, knowing how to export from Lightroom to Photoshop is a crucial skill. This guide will help you connect the two programs easily and smoothly into your work.

Why Use Lightroom and Photoshop Together?

Before getting into the technical steps, it’s important to know why you might want to move images from Lightroom to Photoshop.

Lightroom App is great for managing your entire photo collection, making it easy to organize, sort, and make basic edits without changing the original image.

Photoshop, on the other hand, is better for more detailed editing, like retouching, creating composites, and working with layers.

When you send a photo from Lightroom to Photoshop, you open up more advanced editing options.

After finishing in Photoshop, you can save the image, and it will automatically appear back in your Lightroom catalog, keeping your work process smooth and organized.

Getting Your Images Ready in Lightroom

Before exporting, make sure your image is prepared in Lightroom:

1. Import Your Photos: If you haven’t already, import your photos by clicking the “Import” button in the Library module, then select your images and click “Import” again.
2. Apply Basic Edits: Use the Develop module to adjust exposure, contrast, white balance, and more. These basic edits set up your photo for further work in Photoshop.
3. Create Virtual Copies (Optional): To keep your original edits safe, right-click your photo and select “Create Virtual Copy.” This allows you work on a duplicate without changing the original.

How to Export from Lightroom to Photoshop

Now that your photo is ready, you can begin the export process. Follow these steps:

1. Select the Image: In the Library or Develop module, select the image you want to export to Photoshop.
2. Choose ‘Edit In’ Photoshop:
   • Right-click on the selected image.
   • From the context menu, choose “Edit In” and then select “Adobe Photoshop” from the dropdown list. Alternatively, you can go to the top menu and choose “Photo” > “Edit In” > “Adobe Photoshop.”
3. Choose Export Options:
   • When you select “Edit In,” Lightroom will prompt you with several options:
     • Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments: This option exports the image with all the edits you’ve made in Lightroom.
     • Edit a Copy: This will export a copy of the original image without any Lightroom adjustments.
     • Edit Original: This option opens the original image in Photoshop without any Lightroom adjustments.
   • In most cases, you’ll want to choose “Edit a Copy with Lightroom Adjustments” to keep your Lightroom edits intact.
4. Wait for the Transfer: Lightroom will now export the image and automatically open it in Photoshop. Depending on the file size and your computer’s processing power, this may take a few moments.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While the process of exporting from Lightroom to Photoshop is generally smooth, Here are some common issues you might run into and how to fix them:

1. The Photo Doesn’t Open in Photoshop: If the photo doesn’t open automatically in Photoshop, make sure Photoshop is set as your default external editor in Lightroom. You can check this by going to “Edit” > “Preferences” > “External Editing” in Lightroom.
2. Photoshop Edits Don’t Show Up in Lightroom: If your Photoshop edits aren’t appearing in Lightroom, try saving the file again in Photoshop, making sure it’s saved in the same location as the original photo.
3. File Format Problems: If you’re having trouble with the file format, such as the photo saving as a JPEG instead of a TIFF or PSD, double-check your export settings in Lightroom’s external editing preferences.

Optimizing Your Workflow

To make your editing process even more efficient, consider the following tips:

1. Create Presets: In Lightroom App, you can create presets for common adjustments, making it quicker to prepare your images for export to Photoshop.
2. Batch Processing: If you’re working with multiple images, you can batch process them in Lightroom before exporting to Photoshop. Select all the images, apply your desired edits, and then export them to Photoshop for further work.
3. Keyboard Shortcuts: Familiarize yourself with keyboard shortcuts in both Lightroom and Photoshop to speed up your workflow.

Checkout the Best Lightroom Presets to Take Your Photography to the Next Level

Conclusion

Exporting photos from Lightroom to Photoshop is a powerful technique that allows you use the best features of both programs.

By following the steps in this guide, you can easily move your photos between Lightroom and Photoshop, make detailed edits, and keep everything organized.