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Contact Sheets

Victor
  • Updated

In Capture One 16.7.0, the new Contact Sheets tool lets you create customizable grid layouts of multiple images for client proofs, catalogs, and reference sheets. Export as JPEG or PDF with full control over dimensions, layout, and spacing. This feature is perfect for client previews, proofing, and archiving visual work in a clean, structured format.

The 16.7.3 update focuses on branded presentation and professional delivery: you can now add a cover page and custom header and footer images to carry your studio or client identity through the export, display star ratings and color tags below each thumbnail, and your last used settings are preserved when you reopen Contact Sheets. Export quality has also been improved.

Version 16.7.4 add a few improvements for existing features of Contact Sheets. PDF exports now generate smaller file sizes for easier sharing and archiving; cover, header, and footer images stay in place so you don’t have to add them again, and export quality has been improved for clearer, more consistent results.

Contents

What is a Contact Sheet?

A contact sheet is a grid-style layout of your selected images, designed for easy viewing, sharing, or printing. It's a useful tool for presenting image collections to clients or collaborators, with flexible export options like JPEG or PDF. With support for custom headers, footers, and a cover page, you can also apply your studio or client branding to every export, turning a contact sheet into a polished, professional deliverable.

How to Export to Contact Sheet

  1. Select the images you want to include in the contact sheet

  2. Go to File > Export to Contact Sheet or right-click any image > Export to Contact Sheet.
     

  3. In the Contact Sheets dialog, adjust your layout (like margins, grid dimensions, and spacing) and background color.
  4. Toggle Show Name if you want filenames displayed.

  5. Select your output format in the Export dropdown menu: PDF or JPEG.
     

  6. Pick the output destination folder and a filename. The filename is auto-generated as: DocumentName_CS_MM-DD-YYYY

     

Layout control options

When setting up your contact sheet in Capture One, you can customize:

  • Page layout – Define page size and orientation. Use the following options to get layout fit for your purpose:

    • Size – Set the page resolution in pixels. Default resolution is 2000 × 3000 pixels. You can set the range starting from 600 - 10000 pixels for each dimension. You can also use arrow keys to adjust in 100-pixel increments
    • Aspect Ratio Lock 
      - You can click the lock icon to lock aspect ratio
      - When locked: changing one dimension automatically adjusts the other proportionally
      - When unlocked: set width and height independently

    • Margins – Adjust spacing around the grid (both vertical and horizontal).

      - Horizontal: Left and right edge spacing (marked with horizontal arrow icon)
      - Vertical: Top and bottom edge spacing (marked with vertical arrow icon)
      - Range: 0 - 20% of page dimension
      - You can adjust in 10-pixel increments using the arrow keys

    • Color - Pick a color of the background. Use preset White or Black colors or choose yours with a color palette. Click outside the picker to close it. Text color automatically adjusts based on background brightness. 

  • Grid

    • Dimensions – Set how many rows and columns per page. You can set up to 10 rows and columns, the default setting for both is 2.
    • Spacing – Control space between images. You can set Spacing within the range of 0 - 5% of page dimension. You can adjust in 10-pixel increments using the arrow keys. 

  • Images

    • Name – Toggle display of filenames under each image. This will override the existing Spacing to fit the text.  Font size is 12px. Note that:
      - Long filenames are truncated with ellipsis.
      - Text color adjusts automatically for contrast.
    • Rating and color tag – Display each image's star rating and color tag below the thumbnail, alongside the image name, so clients can see your selections directly on the contact sheet.

  • Header and footer images

    • Upload custom images, such as your logo or client branding, to use as headers and footers on each page of the contact sheet.

    • Position these header and footer images in the layout with Arrangement so they appear where you need them on the page.

    • Use Image Height to define the size of header or footer images. 

  • Cover page

    • Insert a single image as a dedicated cover page for your contact sheet export. The cover page appears before the grid pages, making it a natural place for a studio logo, project title, or branded image you want clients to see first.

    • The cover page appears before the grid pages and can be used for branding or a client-facing title page.

Preview


The right panel shows your contact sheet exactly as it will export:

- Updates automatically when you change settings.
- Multiple pages display stacked vertically.
- Scroll to view all pages.
- Images maintain their aspect ratios and center within grid cells. 

Export formats

Contact Sheets v2 (16.7.3) improves export rendering for both JPEG and PDF, so images and text look clearer, especially at larger page sizes.


JPEG

- Single page: Downloads as .jpg file
- Multiple pages: Downloads as .zip archive containing numbered files (filename-1.jpg, filename-2.jpg, etc.)
- Maximum quality (1.0)
- sRGB color space

PDF

- All pages in a single .pdf document
- Orientation auto-detected from page dimensions
- Includes metadata (title, creator, color space)
- IMPORTANT: PDF colors might render differently depending on the PDF viewer that will be used to open the PDF. We suggest using a browser to open the PDF or use JPEG format.

FAQ

What file formats can I export the contact sheet to?

You can export the contact sheet as a JPEG or PDF file.

How is the order of the images is defined? Can I change it?

Image order is determined by selection order in Capture One. Make sure to select images in the correct order before you export them to Contact Sheet.

Can I print a contact sheet directly from Capture One?

No, not directly from the Contact Sheet dialog; however, you can print after you import this back to Capture One from the Print dialog, or export the contact sheet and print it using another application.

Will my Contact Sheet settings be kept between different sessions/catalogs?

Yes. Your last used Contact Sheet settings are preserved when you reopen the dialog, so you can reuse the same layout and export options without setting them up again.

Can I add my studio logo or branding to a contact sheet?

Yes. Use the Header and footer images options to upload a logo or branded image that appears on every page of the export. For a branded opening page, add a Cover page image that clients see before the grid. Both options are in the Layout control options section of the Contact Sheets dialog.
 

 

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