Firstly I'm new to photography and haven't really got a clue what I'm doing, but have managed to take a couple of photos of the girls that I'm happy with. When I go to print them on my really cheap printer they look nothing like they do on screen, they are a lot darker. If I go to somewhere like Asda and have them printed on their hi-tech equipment is it likely to come out the way I see it on the screen? If not how do I get to print them the way they look on screen?
Printing photos
- Thread starter mollymoo
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Soldato
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Sooo many things to consider when printing out photo's.
1: Calibrate your screen (you can do a quick calibration online to get fairly close to where your screen should be).
2: Set the colour profile on your camera to SRGB
3: Set the colour profile on your printer to SRGB
4: Make sure any imaging software you are using (Photoshop/PS Elements/GIMP) are also using SRGB
If you went to somewhere like ASDA/Boots etc it should look more like you expected as I'm fairly sure you've got a calibration issue.
Here's a link to a calibration screen. It's basic, but I'm sure it'll improve your results. Make sure the box that says 100% is white, and the one that says 3% you can only just see.
Calibration screen
1: Calibrate your screen (you can do a quick calibration online to get fairly close to where your screen should be).
2: Set the colour profile on your camera to SRGB
3: Set the colour profile on your printer to SRGB
4: Make sure any imaging software you are using (Photoshop/PS Elements/GIMP) are also using SRGB
If you went to somewhere like ASDA/Boots etc it should look more like you expected as I'm fairly sure you've got a calibration issue.
Here's a link to a calibration screen. It's basic, but I'm sure it'll improve your results. Make sure the box that says 100% is white, and the one that says 3% you can only just see.
Calibration screen
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Screen brightness is a key thing in this too, if you don't have a fancy screen calibrator I'd start by wacking the brightness of your screen down to about 50% this will likely give you a much more accurate reflection of your output.
Modern backlight LCD screens are way to bright at default settings and gives a false impression of exposure.
Modern backlight LCD screens are way to bright at default settings and gives a false impression of exposure.
Caporegime
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I have always had this issue but there are a few fundamentals you need to do.
First is to have a decent screen to begin with, these days a IPS screen is a must, a 10-bit one even better. Higher bit the better.
Second is have the correct colour profile between your photo and the printer (company) you are using. Most uses SRGB.
Third is calibration, you can do this with a Sypder or other equipment.
Lastly, I wouldn't go to a supermarket. Upload them to DS Colour labs instead.
First is to have a decent screen to begin with, these days a IPS screen is a must, a 10-bit one even better. Higher bit the better.
Second is have the correct colour profile between your photo and the printer (company) you are using. Most uses SRGB.
Third is calibration, you can do this with a Sypder or other equipment.
Lastly, I wouldn't go to a supermarket. Upload them to DS Colour labs instead.
50% is generous even, on my IPS screen I have the brightness down to like 30%.
People don't realise how overly bright standard TVs and monitors are compared to the standard 120cdm/2.
Thanks for the advice. I'll look into it all, hopefully by the end of tonight it should be somewhere closer. It's hard work this photography
If you have the screen calibrated and tuned appropriately then you should find that even the cheaper places do a reasonable job for personal uses.
I used snapfish to print some table cards and things for my wedding and the quality is great. Snapfish seem to do consistently well in reviews, have some of the best prices and a good website. If you were printing professionally then something like Loxley is the way to go.