The Book module lets you design professional-quality photo books using your Lightroom images — drag-and-drop layout, custom text, and direct ordering through Blurb, or export as PDF for any printer.
📖
Design a Photo Book
Auto Layout places all your images instantly. Then customize page by page — layouts, text, cover design.
📤
Send to Blurb or Export PDF
Order a printed book directly through Blurb, or export as PDF for any local or online printer.
💡The Book module lets you design professional-quality photo books — drag-and-drop layout, custom text, and direct ordering through Blurb, or export as PDF for any printer.
The Interface
Accessing the Book Module
Click Book in the module picker. Start by selecting images in a collection in Library before switching — the filmstrip is your image source.
Left Panel
Preview panel (thumbnails of all pages) and Collections for quick access to your image sets.
Center — Book Page View
Displays double-page spreads. Scroll through all pages. Click any cell to place or adjust an image. Click any text box to edit text.
Right Panels
Book Settings · Auto Layout · Page · Guides · Cell · Type — work through these to build your book.
Bottom — Filmstrip
All available images. Unplaced images have a plain look; placed images show a small page indicator. Drag from filmstrip to any page cell.
Right Panel — Book Settings
Book Settings Panel
Configure this first — before Auto Layout or any page design. These settings determine the physical product.
Book Output
Blurb (print-on-demand ordering) · PDF (export for any printer) · JPEG (export pages as images)
Size Options
Small Square (7×7) · Standard Portrait (8×10) · Standard Landscape (10×8) · Large Landscape (13×11) · Large Square (12×12)
Cover Type
Hardcover Image Wrap · Hardcover Dust Jacket · Softcover. Hardcover Image Wrap is the most popular — image printed directly on the cover.
Paper Type + Estimate Price
Premium Lustre · Premium Matte · ProLine Pearl · ProLine Uncoated. "Estimate Price" shows real-time Blurb pricing as you configure.
Right Panel — Auto Layout
Auto Layout — Let LR Start
Click Auto Layout to have Lightroom automatically place all filmstrip images into the book using a selected preset. This gives you a complete rough draft in seconds.
Auto Layout Presets
One photo per page · Two photos per page · Mixed layouts (varied arrangements per page) · Fixed layouts. Choose a preset that matches your vision, then run Auto Layout.
After Auto Layout — Refine Manually
Auto Layout is a starting point. Change individual page layouts, swap images between cells, add text, adjust the cover — all manually after the auto pass.
Clear Layout / Start Over
Click "Clear Layout" to remove all placed images and start fresh. Useful if you want to try a different Auto Layout preset.
Best practice: Always start with Auto Layout, then refine — rather than building every page from scratch. You can have a complete rough draft in under a minute.
Page Design
Page Layouts — Templates
Every page can use a different layout template. Change any page independently of the others.
How to Change a Page Layout
Right-click any page in the center view → Select Layout. A grid of layout options appears — click to apply. Or use the Page panel on the right to browse layouts.
Layout Range
From full-bleed single image (image fills the entire page) to grids of 6+ smaller images. Text-only layouts for chapter dividers or story pages. Mixed layouts for dynamic storytelling.
Filler Pages
Text-only or solid color pages — use as chapter dividers, opening quotes, or section breaks between different parts of your story.
Image Placement
Adding and Arranging Images
All image placement in the Book module is done by dragging from the filmstrip into page cells.
1
Drag images from the filmstrip into any page cell
The cell highlights when you hover over it. Release to place. LR automatically scales the image to fill the cell.
2
Drag between cells to swap or rearrange
Drag an image from one cell directly to another — they swap positions. Rearrange the entire book this way without rebuilding layouts.
3
Zoom and pan within a cell
Click inside a cell — a zoom slider appears. Drag the image to pan it within the cell frame. Controls what portion of the image shows.
4
The filmstrip tracks placed vs unplaced images
Placed images show a small page number badge. Unplaced images have no badge — easy to see what's still available.
Typography
Text and Captions
Three types of text in the Book module — each serves a different purpose in your book's narrative.
Page Text
A free text box anywhere on the page. Type chapter titles, story text, quotes, or location names. Drag to position anywhere on the spread.
Photo Text
Caption text tied to each image cell. Can auto-populate from metadata: image title, caption field, filename, or date. Appears below or overlaid on the cell.
Page Numbers
Automatic sequential numbering across all pages. Enable in the Page panel — they update automatically if you add or remove pages.
Text formatting: Font, size, color, alignment, tracking, and leading — full typography controls in the Type panel on the right. Choose fonts that complement your photography style.
The Cover
Cover Design
The cover is a special spread — front cover, spine, and back cover — shown as one wide panoramic layout at the beginning of the book.
Full-Bleed Cover Image
Use a single image that spans the entire cover spread — front, spine, and back. Your strongest image deserves this prime placement.
Title Text and Identity Plate
Add your book title, subtitle, and your name or logo. The spine title is especially important — it's what readers see on a bookshelf.
Spine Width Auto-Adjusts
The spine width is calculated automatically by Blurb based on your page count and paper type. Keep spine text minimal for thinner books.
Invest time in the cover. It's the first and last impression — readers judge a book by it. A strong cover image with clean, readable typography elevates the entire project.
Output
Exporting and Ordering
Three output paths — choose based on how you want to use the finished book.
1. Send Book to Blurb
Click "Send Book to Blurb" — LR uploads the book to Blurb.com. Complete your order on the Blurb website. Blurb prints and ships direct. You see real pricing before committing.
2. Export Book to PDF
Saves a print-ready PDF of all pages. Send to any local print shop or online printer. Also useful for digital sharing or client proofing before printing.
3. Export Book to JPEG
Saves each page as a separate JPEG image. Useful for sharing digital previews, posting spreads to social media, or creating a digital flip-book.
1
For PDF: set Book output to PDF in Book Settings, then click Export Book to PDF
Choose JPEG quality (high) and color profile (sRGB for most printers). LR generates one PDF with all pages.
Your Turn
Challenge + Recap
3-Part Challenge:
Create a 10-page book using Auto Layout with the "one photo per page" preset.
Customize three pages manually — change the layout template on each and add a text caption.
Export the book as a PDF and review it page by page.
Three Outputs
Blurb print-on-demand · PDF for any printer · JPEG for digital sharing and previews.
Auto Layout First
Run Auto Layout to place all images in seconds — then refine page by page. Never build from scratch.
Cover Design
Full-bleed image across front/spine/back. Title text. Spine auto-adjusts width. First impression matters.
Photo Text from Metadata
Auto-populate captions from title, caption field, filename, or date — no manual typing required.
Blurb Ordering
Click Send Book to Blurb — LR uploads, you complete the order on Blurb.com. Real-time pricing in Book Settings.
Export PDF for Any Printer
High-quality PDF with all pages. Send to any print shop or online service — not locked to Blurb.
Up Next — Series Finale
LR 48 — The Complete Lightroom Workflow
All 7 phases: ingest, cull, global edit, local adjustments, retouch, output, and archive. The complete professional workflow.