What a contact sheet does and when you need one

A contact sheet is a single page that shows thumbnail images of every photo in a folder, arranged in a grid. Photoshop creates it automatically — you point it to a folder of images, set how many columns you want, and Photoshop generates a PDF or new document with all the thumbnails printed at once. Each thumbnail can include the filename underneath.

Contact sheets are useful when you have dozens or hundreds of photos from a shoot and need to review them all at a glance without opening each one individually. Photographers use them to sort through work before editing. They also work as a quick visual index if you need to hand someone a printable summary of a folder's contents.

If you only have a handful of images or need to arrange them by hand, Photoshop's contact sheet feature may be overkill — you might just open each image in a tab and screenshot them. But if you're working with 50+ images, the automation saves hours.

Key Takeaways

  • Contact sheets work in Photoshop through the File menu under Automate, and you point it to a folder rather than individual files.
  • You choose the number of columns, whether to include filenames, and whether the output goes to a new document or a PDF file.
  • The process works the same way in Photoshop CC and Photoshop 2024, though the menu path may shift slightly between versions.
  • Contact sheets print best when you set the resolution to 72 or 150 DPI — higher resolutions make thumbnails too small to see.

Opening the contact sheet dialog in Photoshop

Start with Photoshop open but no document loaded. Go to File at the top left, then hover over Automate, and click Contact Sheet II. (In some versions it appears as just "Contact Sheet" without the II.)

A dialog box opens with several fields. The first thing you see is Source Folder with a Browse button next to it. Click Browse and navigate to the folder containing the images you want to include. Photoshop will read every image file in that folder — it does not matter what order they are in or what format they are (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc. all work).

If you want to include images from subfolders too, check the box labeled Include All Subfolders. Leave it unchecked if you only want images from the main folder you selected.

Setting the grid layout and thumbnail size

Under Document, you will see fields for Columns and Rows. The number of columns controls how many thumbnails appear side by side. The number of rows is usually calculated automatically based on how many images you have and how many columns you chose — Photoshop fills the page and adds new pages if needed.

Start with 4 or 5 columns for a standard 8.5 × 11 inch page. More columns mean smaller thumbnails; fewer columns mean larger ones. If you have 100 images and set 5 columns, Photoshop will create multiple pages to fit them all.

Leave Resolution at 72 DPI unless you are printing the contact sheet. Higher resolutions (like 300 DPI) make the thumbnails tiny and hard to see on screen. If you plan to print it, 150 DPI is a good middle ground.

Adding filenames and choosing the output format

Check the box next to Use Filename if you want the filename printed below each thumbnail. This is usually helpful — it lets you identify which image is which when you are reviewing the sheet later. The filename appears in a small font below each thumbnail.

At the bottom of the dialog, you will see Flatten Image. Leave this checked. It merges all layers into one, which makes the file smaller and easier to handle.

Photoshop creates the contact sheet as a new document by default. You can then save it as a PSD file, export it as a PDF, or print it directly. If you want Photoshop to save it as a PDF automatically, some versions have a "Save As PDF" option in the dialog — check your version's documentation. Otherwise, create the document first, then go to File > Export As and choose PDF format.

Running the contact sheet and reviewing the result

Once you have set your folder, columns, resolution, and filename preference, click OK. Photoshop reads the folder and builds the contact sheet. This can take a minute or two if you have many images — you will see a progress bar.

When it finishes, a new Photoshop document opens showing all your thumbnails in a grid. Scroll through to make sure all images are there and the layout looks right. If the thumbnails are too small or too large, you can close this document without saving and run the contact sheet again with a different number of columns.

If you are happy with it, save the document. Go to File > Save As to save it as a PSD, or File > Export As to save it as a PDF or JPEG. PDF is the best choice if you want to email it or print it — it preserves the layout across different computers.

Troubleshooting common contact sheet problems

If Photoshop says "No images found," the folder you selected either has no image files or contains only file types Photoshop does not recognize. Make sure your images are in a standard format like JPEG, PNG, or TIFF. Also check that you actually clicked Browse and selected a folder — if you just typed a path, it may not work.

If the thumbnails are too small to see, your resolution is set too high or your column count is too high. Run the contact sheet again and lower the DPI to 72 or reduce the number of columns to 3 or 4.

If some images are missing from the contact sheet, they may be in a subfolder. Go back and check the Include All Subfolders box, or move all images into the main folder and try again.

If the filename text is hard to read, that is normal — Photoshop prints it small by design. You can edit the text after the contact sheet is created by using the Type tool, but this is tedious for many thumbnails. Most people just accept the small filenames or zoom in on the PDF to read them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit the contact sheet after Photoshop creates it?

Yes. The contact sheet is a regular Photoshop document, so you can use any tool to edit it — crop it, add text, change colors, or delete thumbnails you do not want. However, if you need to regenerate it with different settings, it is usually faster to close it without saving and run the contact sheet command again.

What if I want contact sheets for multiple folders?

Run the contact sheet command once for each folder. Point it to folder A, create the sheet, save it. Then go back to File > Automate > Contact Sheet II, point it to folder B, and repeat. There is no batch mode that does multiple folders at once.

Can I use contact sheets with RAW files from my camera?

Yes. Photoshop can read RAW files and will create thumbnails from them. However, the process is slower because Photoshop has to process each RAW file. If you have a large folder of RAW images, expect the contact sheet to take several minutes to build.

Is there a way to sort the images before making the contact sheet?

Photoshop reads images in the order your operating system lists them, which is usually alphabetical by filename. If you want a different order, rename your files with numbers at the start (01_photo.jpg, 02_photo.jpg, etc.) before running the contact sheet. Photoshop will then arrange them in that numbered order.

Can I make a contact sheet in Lightroom instead of Photoshop?

Lightroom has a Print module that can create a similar grid of thumbnails, and many photographers find it easier to use. However, Lightroom's output is designed for printing rather than creating a standalone document. If you need a PDF or image file of the contact sheet, Photoshop's method is more straightforward.