Getting copies of your developed & processed images (whether they be JPEGs, PSDs, TIFFs) or your original RAW files out of Lightroom is just as easy as getting your untouched originals in to the application: simply select which files you want and select File → Export from the menu.

And in much the same way that Metadata & Develop Presets can save you some work by getting a jump on developing and cataloging your images as they are added to your library, Export presets and actions can save you some effort by saving you from rummaging through your folders and performing the same basic actions on your images every time they’re created.

In his previous post, Derrick mentioned how, in order to get his images out of Lightroom and up on Flickr, he has set Flickr Uploadr as Lightroom’s external editor (your application of choice can be specified in the “External Editing” tab in the preferences window).

You can also open your processed images in Flickr Export by adding it to Lightroom’s export actions; export actions can be simple aliases (for those running OS X) or shortcuts (for those running Windows). You can even plop in Photoshop droplets! Simply drag an alias (or shortcut) into Lightroom’s Export Actions folder (\Application Data\Adobe\ Lightroom\Export Actions on Windows; ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Lightroom/Export Actions on a Mac):

You can go directly to the folder by choosing “Go to Export Actions Folder now” from the dropdown in the “Export” dialog box; for example, this is how the selection box appears in Lightroom…

And the corresponding folder in the Finder:

My favourite export action on a Mac is to have my exported images open in LaunchBar, from which I can send them pretty much anywhere immediately:

What’s yours?