should i of selected "colour correct"?

neil_g

neil_g

Messages
30,364
Name
Neil
Edit My Images
No
before i start id like to point out that im not bashing anyone nor do i want to turn this into a bashing thread, i just want to figure out what (probably me) gone wrong. cheers.

just had a load of prints done by loxley and while most have come out very nicely indeed quite a few where they are largely darker content have turned out much darker than maybe they should of done?

now i run a calibrated screen so selected not to colour correct when submitting the batch but i cant help wondering in hindsite if i should of chose the other option?

i know loxley are moving this for the rest of the week so im not sure i can get hold of anyone to ask there, but in the meantime what option do you guys select?

thanks in advance.
 
I do find Loxley prints a touch more saturated and darker than when i get prints from DSC Labs, where the DSC prints are identical to what i see on screen.
 
just had a load of prints done by loxley and while most have come out very nicely indeed quite a few where they are largely darker content have turned out much darker than maybe they should of done?

now i run a calibrated screen so selected not to colour correct when submitting the batch
Click to expand...

I run a lab and dark files are very common.

There are a number of reasons..

1 - you have used a Spyder 2... they don't correct the density - only the colour - so unless you have calibrated the brightness against a reference image it will be too dark.

2 - The ICC who made up the standards specify the amount of light to illuminate the print - which is much more than the average domestic setting

3 - Your work area is too dark. If your working enviroment is dark your screen will appear brighter - so you will again try to darken the image.

Your monitor will be very bright (unless you have a calibrator that corrects this) as the default is around 300 cdm2 - and the ideal is about 110 cdm2.

A quick check - download this file

http://www.samsphotolab.com/roesbitsandbobs/PDI_Target-DCP-small.jpg

Look at this with Photoshop - particulary the grey boxes down the left hand side. Can you see clear differences between 100, 95 and 90 - and you can just make out the 0, 5 and 10. Then your screen is fine. If you see clear differences between , 5 and 10 and the 90, 95 and 100 have little or no difference - then your screen is too bright.

Then with this file open - compare to your own files - are your images darker or much darker - then again your monitor is too bright, or you working enviroment is too dark for the current settings....
 
I think my screen must be cattle trucked cos I can see no difference between 95 and 100 no matter what I adjust it to :(
 
On my first order to Loxley I didn't tick the "colour correct" option and got a few dark prints. These were my first prints externally done for a few years and it was my fault. But I called them and they said "tick the colour correct box next time" and then reprinted the whole set free of charge for me.
 
I always choose colour correct with Loxley.
 
David, could you please post that as a tutorial because the number of times it happens is on the increase as I notice more people asking the same question.

(Not to take anything away from the OP but I've read the same problem about a dozen times with various labs and even home printers so it would be most useful to have such sage advice where it is easily found) :)
 
AliB said:
David, could you please post that as a tutorial because the number of times it happens is on the increase as I notice more people asking the same question.

(Not to take anything away from the OP but I've read the same problem about a dozen times with various labs and even home printers so it would be most useful to have such sage advice where it is easily found) :)
Click to expand...

Funny how often 'sage advice' comes from a 'David' :D

DD
 
trencheel303 said:
I think my screen must be cattle trucked cos I can see no difference between 95 and 100 no matter what I adjust it to :(
Click to expand...

well the hardest to see is 0 and 5 but can just make out a line between them, all the others I can see clearly I have calibrated with a Spyder 3
 
neil_g said:
before i start id like to point out that im not bashing anyone nor do i want to turn this into a bashing thread, i just want to figure out what (probably me) gone wrong. cheers.

just had a load of prints done by loxley and while most have come out very nicely indeed quite a few where they are largely darker content have turned out much darker than maybe they should of done?

now i run a calibrated screen so selected not to colour correct when submitting the batch but i cant help wondering in hindsite if i should of chose the other option?

i know loxley are moving this for the rest of the week so im not sure i can get hold of anyone to ask there, but in the meantime what option do you guys select?

thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Do you have there Profile for the paper and printer?
If you know what model they have you can down load it from the makers if they do not supply it them selves.
I had this once with a local shop for got to put the right Fuji profile
 
well to be honest its jessops prints to the rescue.. i need the prints for a presentation at the weekend and theyve come out spot on to what my screen has shown.

chaz - i dont, but im going to contact loxley anyway and find out what went wrong so will mention that.

like i say im not bashing anyone, id like to use loxley in the future i just want to figure out whats gone wrong here.
 
snappingsam said:
A quick check - download this file

http://www.samsphotolab.com/roesbitsandbobs/PDI_Target-DCP-small.jpg

Look at this with Photoshop - particulary the grey boxes down the left hand side. Can you see clear differences between 100, 95 and 90 - and you can just make out the 0, 5 and 10. Then your screen is fine. If you see clear differences between , 5 and 10 and the 90, 95 and 100 have little or no difference - then your screen is too bright.

Then with this file open - compare to your own files - are your images darker or much darker - then again your monitor is too bright, or you working enviroment is too dark for the current settings....
Click to expand...

thanks for that i'll check this out after dinner :)
 
snappingsam said:
A quick check - download this file

http://www.samsphotolab.com/roesbitsandbobs/PDI_Target-DCP-small.jpg
Click to expand...

okay here we go..

Look at this with Photoshop - particulary the grey boxes down the left hand side. Can you see clear differences between 100, 95 and 90
Click to expand...

i can see clear differences

and you can just make out the 0, 5 and 10. Then your screen is fine. If you see clear differences between , 5 and 10 and the 90, 95 and 100 have little or no difference - then your screen is too bright.
Click to expand...

i can just about see the difference between the steps

Then with this file open - compare to your own files - are your images darker or much darker - then again your monitor is too bright, or you working enviroment is too dark for the current settings....
Click to expand...

one of the images that came back too dark still looks fine on screen..
 
you may have to submit one or two to several other printers
smallish prints would do
then assess what the possible causes are
do you use a laptop
i do and there is a certain vertical angle i view at to assess whether a jpeg is suitable to go to print
when you have jpegs which print open them with your new work in your pp and cascade it to check...the successful one becomes your 'benchmark'
 
i would have a couple of shots printed elsewhere say at 6x4 to assess the source of the problem
i sometimes load up a successful previous printed jpeg in cascade with new work in pp to use as a benchmark...having a laptop and viewing at certain angles can give a 'false' appearance at times
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top