Creating web galleries: Basic workflow

The Web module lets you create web photo galleries, which are websites that feature thumbnail images that link to larger versions of the photos. The panels on the left side of the Web module in Lightroom contain a list of templates and a preview of their page layouts. The center pane is the image display area, which automatically updates as you make changes, and also lets you navigate between the index and other pages in your web photo gallery. Panels on the right have controls for specifying how the photos appear in the template layout, modifying the template, adding text to the web page, previewing the web gallery in a browser, and specifying settings for uploading the gallery to a web server.

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The Web module

A.: Type of web gallery
B.: Template Browser
C.: Preview button
D.: Panels for customizing layout and specifying output options
E.: Navigation buttons

Lightroom can create two types of web galleries:

Lightroom HTML gallery: Produces a web page of thumbnail images that link to pages with larger versions of the photos.
Lightroom Flash gallery: Produces a website with different views: a row of thumbnail images that display a larger version of the photos, and a navigable slide show. View this gallery in a browser using Adobe Flash® Player.

To create a web gallery in Lightroom, follow these basic steps:

1. Select images from the Library.

In the Library module, select images in the Grid view or Filmstrip. Or select a folder, collection, or keyword to display the photos to include in the web photo gallery. You can refine your selection and then add the photos to the Quick Collection or a collection. You can also use the Quick Collection to assemble photos from multiple folders or photos that have different keywords. See Selecting photos in the Grid view and the Filmstrip and Photo collections.

If you plan to modify your web gallery later, it is a good idea to assemble all of your photos into a collection, which preserves the photo order and any custom settings you specify.

You can filter the photos in the Filmstrip of the Web module by clicking the Use pop-up menu in the toolbar and choosing All Photos, Selected Photos, or Flagged Photos.

2. Go to the Web module.

The photos that you selected appear in both the Filmstrip and the work area in the center of the Web module.

3. Rearrange the photo order.

If you assembled your photos into a collection or if you’ve selected a folder that does not contain other folders, drag photos in the Filmstrip to rearrange them in the order that you want them to appear in the gallery. See Rearrange web gallery photo order.

4. Choose a template.

Move your pointer over a template name in the Template Browser to see a small preview. Click a template name to select it for your web gallery.

5. Enter website information.

In the Site Info panel, type a title for your website, a title for your gallery, and a description. You can also enter your e-mail address so that visitors to your gallery can click your name to send you an e-mail. See Add titles, description, and contact information to web photo galleries.

6. (Optional) Specify the web gallery appearance.

In the Color Palette panel, click the color box next to the element that you want to modify and choose a new color for it. See Choose colors for web photo gallery elements.

7. (Optional) Specify the gallery layout.

In the Appearance panel, modify the gallery layout by setting the Grid options (for HTML galleries) or choosing from the Layout menu (for Flash galleries). For Flash galleries, you can also specify the size of the thumbnail images and the enlarged photo in the Appearance panel. See Specify the appearance of Lightroom HTML galleries and Specify the appearance of Lightroom Flash galleries.

8. (Optional) Add your identity plate.

Display your identity plate on the web page by checking that option in the Site Info panel (for HTML galleries) or in the Appearance panel (for Flash galleries). See Add your identity plate to web photo galleries.

9. (Optional) Specify the text that appears with the photos.

In the Image Info panel, type or choose the metadata to display as the title and caption for each photo. Leave the Title or Caption boxes unchecked if you don’t want text to appear under the photos. See Display photo titles and captions in web photo galleries.

10. Specify the output settings.

In the Output Settings panel, specify the quality of the enlarged view of a photo. You can also add copyright information.

11. Preview your web gallery in a browser.

At the bottom of the work area, click Preview In Browser. Lightroom opens a preview of your web gallery in your default browser. See Preview a web photo gallery.

12. Export or upload your web photo gallery.

After you finish your gallery, you can either export the files to a specific location or upload the gallery to a web server. In the Upload Settings panel, choose Web Server from the FTP Server menu, or choose Edit Settings to specify settings in the Configure FTP File Transfer dialog box. If necessary, consult your ISP for help with FTP settings. See Previewing, exporting, and uploading a web photo gallery.

13. (Optional) Save the web layout and options as a template or with an output creation.

If you plan to reuse your web gallery settings, including layout and upload options, save the settings as a custom web template. Or save the settings as an output creation to preserve a set of specific Web module options with a collection of photos. See Create custom web gallery templates and Save web settings as an output creation.

For a video about all the output modules, see www.adobe.com/go/lrvid2212_lrm.

For a video about the Web module, see www.adobe.com/go/lrvid2215_lrm.