Calibrated Monitor and Printing Differences

deadman_uk · 31 Dec 2013 at 16:59

I’m a part-time photographer and I take photos using the Adobe1998 colour profile. I edit my photos using Adobe Lightroom and I export as high-quality, 8-bit JPEGs (with sRGB as the colour space). The images look great on my monitor but when printed using Photobox, they always look darker and with a slight red cast to them. This is more obvious in some photos than others but they all experience it, no matter if I am printing a 6x4 or a larger 8x10, in matte or gloss.

I have a Hyundai W240D PVA monitor which I calibrated using an x-rite i1Display (80 cd/m2 luminance, 2.2 gamma). I selected 80cd/m2 luminance as that's what it detected when I selected 'measure'. I have automatic colour correction turned off in my Photobox account settings. I have viewed my photos on other monitors, and while they differ in appearance to my own, they are nowhere near as dark as when printed from Photobox.

What can I do? Am I using the i1Display incorrectly?

JRJ · 1 Jan 2014 at 11:53

I've used Photobox recently and noticed a red cast and darker images as you describe on the other hand I mainly use DSCL for prints and not had any problems with them, they also supply colour profiles on their website to match specific products.

I've also tried Snapfish which were terrible, a lot darker again than Photobox colours were very dull.

deadman_uk · 5 Jan 2014 at 17:29

DSCL does sound interesting. I downloaded their profiles and loaded them into Lightroom. It's certainly interesting. Any idea why DSCL prices are so much cheaper than Photoboxs? an 8x10 at DSCL is 50p but Photobox charges close to £1.50...

a1ex2001 · 6 Jan 2014 at 11:00

Classic photobox, I stopped using them several years back after recieving several orders of dark prints that bore no resemblence to my screen. I have used DSCL for all my online needs since without issue and amusingly have never had anything come out dark or colour cast using Boots or Asda when speed was needed.

DSCL can give you a bit of a kicking for postage especially on smaller orders but the packaging is always excellent.