Why Batch Export Matters
Exporting photos one at a time is impractical beyond a handful of images. A wedding delivery of 500 images, an event gallery of 300 shots, or a portrait session of 80 selects all benefit from batch export: a single configured run that processes every image to your specifications without manual intervention per file.
Step 1: Complete Culling and Editing First
Never export before your editing is complete. Batch export should be the final step in your workflow. Run your shoot through imagic's five-step workflow (Import, Analyse, Review, Cull, Export) to confirm your selects before configuring the export.
Step 2: Define Your Export Profiles
Create saved export profiles for your most common deliverables:
- Client delivery: JPEG, 90 to 95 percent quality, sRGB, full resolution, copyright metadata embedded
- Web gallery: JPEG, 80 to 85 percent quality, sRGB, 2000px on the long edge
- Print order: TIFF, 16-bit, Adobe RGB or ProPhoto RGB, full resolution
- Social media: JPEG, 1080px, sRGB
Step 3: Set File Naming for the Export
Configure a consistent naming pattern. Client-facing deliverables should not use camera-generated filenames. Use a pattern like ClientName_001.jpg. imagic and darktable both support configurable rename during export.
Step 4: Check Metadata Settings
Always embed copyright information and creator name. Consider whether to include or strip GPS coordinates depending on client privacy preferences.
Step 5: Run the Export and Review
Queue the batch export and let it run. For 500 full-resolution JPEGs from a modern high-megapixel camera, expect 20 to 60 minutes depending on hardware. Review the output folder when complete and spot-check 10 to 20 images to confirm colour profile, resolution, and quality settings applied correctly before delivery.
Step 6: Deliver and Archive
Upload the export folder to your gallery delivery platform. Once the client confirms receipt, archive the export alongside your RAW originals and selects. Clients frequently request replacement copies months after initial delivery.
imagic Export Step
imagic's Export step handles batch output of your culled selects directly within the five-step workflow. Install with pip install imagic. Configure your output format, quality, and naming convention once and the entire selects folder is processed in a single batch run.