How To Export Retouched File Names In Lightroom

You have your images all edited in Adobe Lightroom and you're ready to export them with "-Retouched" added to the end of the file name like our File Naming and Retouching Workflow instructions say. Use the steps below to set up a Lightroom export preset that you can use to export these files with the correct naming.

Step 1 – Open The Export Settings

In Lightroom, click “File” then “Export”. The Export settings window will now pop up.

Note: If “Export” is greyed out and not clickable, it means you don’t have any images in your catalog and you’ll need to add one to continue with this guide.

Step 2 – Folder Setup (Optional)

This step is not required but you may want to make a new folder within the “Output” folder titled “Retouched Images” then select it as the “Export To” folder within the “Export Location” section.

Ex: Test Job/Output/Retouched Images

This is helpful for keeping your retouched images away from your original proofs. If you choose to do this, please remember that when you upload these retouched images, you’ll need to select this new “Test Job/Output/Retouched Images” folder instead of the normal “Test Job/Output/Headshot Tools” folder!

Step 3 – Load The Headshot Tools Preset

In the Export window’s left list of User Presets, click on the “Headshot Tools” preset. This will load your “Headshot Tools” user preset from your original setup. We’re going to use this preset as the basis for creating a new retouched images only export preset.

Note: If you don’t see this “Headshot Tools” preset, please go back to the Lightroom Setup Instructions and complete the Export Settings setup step then continue with this guide.

Step 4 – Enable Renaming

Now, in the “File Naming” section, check the “Rename To” checkbox. This will allow us to have Lightroom modify our exported filenames, however, we have to configure Lightroom to do so in the next step.

Step 5 – Configure Renaming Settings

Now click the dropdown to the right of the “Rename To” checkbox and select “Edit…”. A new window will pop up with a large textbox at the top of it. Here you can type “-Retouched” to the right of {Filename»}. This box should now read as such:

{Filename»}-Retouched

Next click “Done”. The small window will close and you’ll be returned to the Export settings window.

Step 6 – Save Your Export Preset

Now on the very bottom left of the Export settings window click the “Add” button. Enter “Headshot Tools -Retouched” as the preset name, then click “Create”. You should now have 2 presets. One for “Headshot Tools” and one for “Headshot Tools -Retouched”. The original “Headshot Tools” preset should be unchanged by this process.

Next click “Cancel” to close the Export settings window.

Step 7 – Export Your Retouched Images

You can now export images by first selecting the images you want to export in the Library module of Lightroom, clicking “File”, then “Export”. Click the “Headshot Tools -Retouched” preset we just set up and click “Export”. Your files will now be processed and export to the “Export To” folder selected earlier.

This preset will export the same as what you’re used to with the original “Headshot Tools” preset, but all images will receive hyphen Retouched at the end of the filename.

Example: Smith_John_123-0001-Retouched.jpg

You're all set! If you're following the Retouching Workflow guide, you can continue with the next step.

Other Questions?

If you have any other questions, please contact Support@HeadshotTools.com