Exporting from LR5 at specific dimensions

Question

Exporting in LR5 for a photo contest.  Stated requiremnts are "high res JPEG at 300 dpi, no larger than 8x12 inches".  Just not sure what settings to use in LR5/cc to meet these specs.  There is no "dpi". 
Am I right in assuming that if I put 300 into ppi, that that will set the resolution and also 'fix' the maximize size of the image so it wont get enlarged beyond what would look good/be printable?  I imagine that the images are 'judged' as JPEGs on a monitor and the selections will then will be printed in a Blurb book in various final printed sizes.
I obviously want no degradation of image quality and dont want all images automatically enlarged to 8x12 inches.  Some of my pics are square crops and dont want them changed to 8x12.  Also one pic is from small area of original image and not sure if it will blow up well to 8x12 so dont want it automatically enlarged to 8x12 inches.  Shooting a D300 in raw if that matters.
New to this and fairly clueless so apologize if I'm asking an obvious question.  Any help appreciated, but looking for recomendations of the exact LR5 export settings that I should enter.  Thanks.
Message was edited by: Brett N

Answer 1

HardSoft wrote:
Exporting in LR5 for a photo contest.  Stated requiremnts are "high res JPEG at 300 dpi, no larger than 8x12 inches".  Just not sure what settings to use in LR5/cc to meet these specs.  There is no "dpi". 
I  interpret the photo contest requirements as meaning, "We will be making "review prints" of all submitted pictures at a size no larger than 8"x12" and ask that you submit your images at 300dpi.
I suggest submitting your pictures using the maximum print size, which can be done using these LR Export module settings:
1) File Settings: JPEG, sRGB, Quality = 90 or higher
2) Image Sizing: Short Edge = 8.0", Resolution = 300 ppi
Standard 2:3 aspect ratio images will print at 8"x12" and Square 1:1 aspect ratio images will print at 8"x8".
If you have any images with an aspect ratio larger than the standard 2:3 ratio you will need to use Long Edge = 12", Resolution = 300 ppi to create these JPEGs. This is the required to meet 8"x12" maximum print size @ 300 dpi constraint. For example if you have a panoramic image with 1:2 ratio it must print at 6"x12" size to stay within the 8"x12" print size constraint. When reviewing images the judges don't want to be influenced by the print size, so this constraint helps to keep all of the "review prints" as close as possible in size (regardless of their aspect ratio).
3) Output Sharpening: Screen Standard, Low, or High as required to achieve the desired sharpening of the Exported image as it appears in LR at 1:1 Zoom view. 
(Technically a print will need added sharpening, but this will make the screen image appear over-sharpened.)
"Is there a way in LR5 to see my image's pixel dimensions?  In photoshop it seems I can find that under Image.  Cant seem to find that info in LR5 tho."
You can only see the image files pixel dimensions from inside the Library and Develop modules, but not in the Export module. Unlike PS you can't see the image file's 'Resolution' in any of LR's modules. Camera image files technically have no 'Resolution' that is of any practical use. For example a full-frame Canon 5D MKII camera has a sensor 'Resolution' of 5616x3744, which translate to a 'Resolution' value of 5616÷36mm = 156ppmm x 25.4 = 3962.4 ppi. However, it would be useful to have the the ability to read and use the image file 'Resolution inside LR for specicifc purposes such as this photo contest. Here's what I have suggested:
http://feedback.photoshop.com/photoshop_family/topics/gw73zjy55amnv