Brightness of Screen V Brightness of Printed Image

[Graham004]

Due to my location I process images in photoshop on a laptop. Once I've adjusted various settings to enhance the picture it looks fine on the screen (I tilt the screen to see different lighting effects). I tend not to use the auto settings but make alterations from what I see. I print the image on A4 and it appears darker than I would have expected. If I send the same image to a automated consumer outlet it appears very much darker. If I use the enhancer on the shop kiosk this lightens the imaged and appears almost normal. Personal enlargements are better. My question is, without calibration on my monitor / laptop screen is it usual to have fairly darker printed images than what appears on the screen or should I use automated photoshop settings or finally am I going blind?

 

[Craikeybaby]

Without your monitor AND printer being calibrated there will be a difference between what you see on screen and in print. It could be lighter or darker in print depending on your setup.

Obviously with your processing being done on a laptop it is hard to tell which angle is correct (this would be the same with a calibrated display).

It is also hard to compare screen and print because one is reflecting light and one is emitting light, so even the temperature of the light you are viewing the print under could change how it looks...

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

What you are seeing is normal for an uncalibrated laptop screen.
Laptop manufacturers make their screen as bright and punchy as possible, it makes writing emails, and surfing a lot easier even though it means sacrificing true photographic colours and tones.
The result is that a 'normal' laptop screen shows a huge amount of shadow detail and has a blue cast. Hence prints prepared on a laptop screen are very dark with blocked out shadows.

The solution is to get your laptop screen calibrated. There are quite a few solutions but I'd suggest a Spyder as it reasonably priced and seems to work well.

Some people will tell you a laptop screen is not really up to photo editing - it is, but with a few caveats.
Once your screen is calibrated you need to view it exactly square-on; they are getting better but they do tend to be very sensitive to viewing angle.
They do not have a wide gamut - this means that bright colours may not be accurately represented. For graphic design this is a killer but for landscape photography it really isn't a significant problem except for those vivid nasty summer greens.

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

Once you have got your screen sorted then it is time to have another look at the prints.
My experience demonstrated time and time again is that a photo quality Epson printer with Epson Inks and photo quality Epson paper will be so close to a calibrated screen that the remaining differences will all be down to illumination of the print.

When comparing against a screen prints should be viewed under daylight - never under tungsten.
Light coming in a north facing window will change colour as the say goes on and whether there is cloud - This makes a small but noticeable difference when comparing against a calibrated screen but it will still be a million miles better than a tungsten bulb.
Best solution is to buy a daylight bulb. Don't hold the print too close to the bulb or the shadow detail will appear clearer in the print than on the screen. There will be a distance where the shadow detail matches; alsways use that distance to view your prints.

Finally, Some paper and ink combinations change colour dramatically as the ink dries.
Last weekend a friends Epson 1290 was producing vivid red prints but 40 mins later looked perfect. Not all inks and papers do this but be aware....

 

[Graham004]

Thank you for such technical, informed and speedy responses. Will take all into consideration.