Resampling for printing — Workflow

The ideal resampling workflow for me would be as follows:

1. I select the images I want to print
2. I click the tab for the “the Print” module in Lightroom
3. I pick the print size, the printer, and the output resolution.
4. Lightroom analyzes the image, and presents me with a menu of resampling algorithms, some of them internal, and some of them third-party programs that are made to work with Lightroom. From its analysis of the image, Lightroom recommends one of the resampling algorithms.
5. I accept Lightroom’s choice of resampling algorithm override that choice by picking from the list.
6. When I press “Print One”, Lightroom invokes the chosen resampling algorithm before it sends the image to the printer, then erases the temporary file.

Unfortunately, that workflow is not available. I can have a workflow that works pretty much the same way if I’m willing to accept Lightroom’s not-very-good printer resampling algorithm. If that’s not okay, I can do one of the following:

• Export the image from Lightroom for editing in Photoshop or another image editor, either with an explicit export or by using the “Edit in [your favorite image editor goes here]”. Once I’m in the image editor, I can use Perfect Resize, or one of the bicubic resampling algorithms that are native to Photoshop. When I close the image editor, Lightroom will automatically import the image, and I can print it from Lightroom. Then I have to go back and delete the resampled image.
• Export the image from Lightroom directly to Perfect Resize, then proceed as above.
• [This bullet is wrong; see the comments to this post and the next post] Export the image from Lightroom to Photoshop or some other image editor. Once in the image editor, change the color space to the printer color space, and save the file. Open Qimage, configure the printer driver, picked the resampling algorithm, and let Qimage send the file to the printer. Don’t forget to go back and delete the file with the image in the printer color space. All of the color space machinations are due to the fact that Qimage won’t do its own color space transformations, and requires that they be done in the printer driver. The Epson printer driver does not do a good job with color space transformations, and makes it hard (maybe impossible) to use your own profiles.

All the extra steps take some of the fun out of printing. If anybody has suggestions for more efficient workflows that still allow nearly-optimal resampling, please let me know.