Choosing the best export settings for Photomator photos is not about finding one perfect preset. It is about matching the file to its destination. A photo for Instagram, a photo for print and a photo kept as a master file have different needs for format, size, quality and colour. Export with the destination in mind, and you will avoid soft prints, oversized uploads and colours that shift between screens.
This guide explains the main export choices in Photomator, gives practical settings for sharing, social media, web and print, and covers the mistakes that most often spoil an otherwise good edit.
Start With Format: JPEG, PNG, TIFF and HEIF
For most sharing, JPEG is the right choice. It keeps file sizes manageable, is accepted everywhere, and at high quality the compression is hard to see. Use JPEG when the photo will be viewed on a screen, sent by message or uploaded to social media.
PNG is better when you need sharp edges and transparency, such as graphics, text overlays or images with flat colour areas. Its files are larger, so it is not usually the best choice for photographs alone. TIFF is the archival option: large, lossless and ideal for keeping a high-quality master or sending a file to a printer. HEIF can offer good quality at smaller sizes on Apple devices, but check that the destination supports it before you rely on it.
Keep a Master Copy Separate
Before you export a smaller or more compressed version, keep a full-quality master. Export once at high quality for your archive, then make destination-specific copies from that master or from the edited original. This way, a social-media export never becomes your only version of the photo.
Quality, Size and Resolution Explained
Quality controls compression, not just sharpness. A JPEG at 90 to 95 percent quality usually looks excellent while keeping the file size reasonable. Dropping below 80 percent saves space, but can introduce visible artefacts in skies, skin and smooth gradients. For print, stay at the highest practical quality and avoid re-saving a JPEG several times, because each save adds compression.
Size is about pixels, not just file size. A photo for a phone screen does not need 8,000 pixels on its long edge, while a large print does. Resizing for the destination also helps social platforms, which often compress uploads again. If you export at a sensible size for the platform, you keep more control over the final result. The guide to resizing an image on Mac covers the same sizing logic in more detail.
Resolution, measured in pixels per inch, matters mainly for print. A common target is 300 pixels per inch for high-quality prints, which means the pixel dimensions must be large enough for the intended print size. For screens, pixel dimensions matter far more than the pixels-per-inch number stored in the file.
Recommended Settings by Destination
Social Media and Messaging
For Instagram, Facebook and messaging apps, use JPEG at high quality, with the long edge sized to the platform recommendation, usually around 2,048 to 4,096 pixels. Keep the file under the platform size limit if possible, and check the result after upload, because platforms add their own compression.
Web and Blog Use
For websites, balance quality and loading speed. JPEG at 85 to 92 percent quality, sized to the display width plus a little extra for retina screens, is a reliable starting point. Avoid uploading full-resolution camera files to a blog, where they slow the page without improving what readers see.
For print, use the largest high-quality file you have, preferably TIFF or a maximum-quality JPEG, in the original colour space requested by the printer. Do not upscale a small file and expect print sharpness to appear. If the print size is large, check the pixel dimensions first and choose a smaller print size if the file is not large enough.
Colour Space and Metadata
For screens, sRGB is the safest colour space, because it is the standard most displays and platforms expect. A wider colour space can look different, or muted, when a platform converts it without telling you. For professional print, follow the printer guidance, which may call for a different colour space.
Metadata is a smaller decision, but worth a thought. Keeping location data in a file shared publicly can reveal where a photo was taken. If privacy matters, strip location metadata from shared copies, while keeping it in your private master file.
After export, the next step is often getting the photo to another device. The guide on exporting photos from Mac to iPhone explains a clean transfer workflow that avoids duplicate or compressed copies.
Common Export Mistakes
The most common mistake is exporting once and using that file everywhere. A single export is rarely ideal for both print and social media. Another mistake is judging export quality only on the editing screen. Open the exported file, view it at full size, and check it on the device or platform where it will be seen.
Finally, avoid exporting, editing and re-exporting the same JPEG repeatedly. Each round of compression loses a little quality. Work from the edited original or a lossless master whenever you need a new version.
Conclusion
The best export settings for Photomator photos depend on where the photo is going. Choose JPEG for most sharing, PNG or TIFF when the job needs them, size the file for its destination, keep quality high for print, and keep a master copy safe. With that routine, your exports will look as good as the edits behind them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best export format in Photomator?
JPEG is best for most sharing because it balances quality, file size and compatibility. Use PNG for graphics or transparency, and TIFF for high-quality masters or professional print.
What JPEG quality should I use for Photomator exports?
For general sharing, 90 to 95 percent usually looks excellent. For web use, 85 to 92 percent is a good balance. For print, use the highest practical quality and avoid repeated JPEG re-saves.
Should I export at full resolution for social media?
Not usually. Size the long edge to the platform recommendation, often 2,048 to 4,096 pixels, so the platform has less reason to compress your photo aggressively.
Why do my exported photos look different on another device?
This is often a colour space or compression issue. Export in sRGB for screens, check the file after upload, and remember that different displays render colour and brightness differently.