Printing Photos... Hints, Tips, Image Preparation, Etc

68lbs

68lbs

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April 2008
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Ok, in true digital style, I've never printed any of my pics. In fact, I've never even prepared one for anything more than showing at 800px on the web. I'm thinking I might get a couple of shots printed to brighten up my boring office walls. But I'm pretty clueless on where to start.

We've got an old printer, but I thought I'd use a third party. I've done plenty of print work in the past, but that's all cmyk, Pantone spot colours, and lpi.

So, in no particular order, if I was wanting to get an image printed at say A4 size...

1. Image size? 3,500 pixels longest edge is approx 30cm at 300ppi. Or is more/less ok?

2. Colour calibration? What do I need to do here? My home monitor is calibrated, but how do I ensure the print will match?

3. File format? Jpeg, RAW + the data file, tiff? Stuck on a CD, or do companies accept email, web based upload?

4. Who? Adsa, Jessops, or someone more specialised? If so, who and any recommendations?

5. Paper type? I believe even this can affect results. Anything I should be looking/asking for?

6. File prep? Should I be viewing at 100% and sharpening to suit, or should I view on screen at what would look like full size if I held a piece of A4 paper upto the screen? (do you understand that?)

7. Anything else I should be aware of, or advised of?
 
TogsPrint - the user LeeP off here.

I've not actually recieved a printed product from him yet but its in process as we speak :)

Lee was spot on over the phone and spend a good while answering my questions and even offered to process my file for me (it involved interpolating and dividing a larger image into 4). I don't doubt for a moment that the canvas prints he's doing for me will be perfect from other recommendations made on here :thumbs:
 
removed - wrong thread... damn tabbed browsing...
 
68lbs said:
1. Image size?
2. Colour calibration?
3. File format?
4. Who?
5. Paper type?
6. File prep?
Click to expand...

1. I used to just output at max res and be done with it. But since LR introduced better output sharpening I now output images at the 300dpi at the print size and find I get much better detail in the prints, even if it means increasing the pixel size beyond the original.

2. In theory if the printer is setup correctly (and you are) then they should match. You may find the prints look darker alongside the screen but that's to do with light levels, the screen is a light source and chances are you're viewing the print in dim light (relative to the screen). Unfortunately that's only theory and you may find some slight differences and it really depends how fussy you are. Unless it's a commercial job I doubt the client would notice or care.

3. I use jpeg at 100% and upload them, if it's a big job I leave it running overnight.

4. DSCL are pretty good for service and results on "standard" stuff, for higher quality LeeP is worth a shout.

5. DSCL use fuji and generally you don't get a choice with most online printers. I think LeeP has a selection though.

6. Sharpening is important. For print you generally need more than for screen. Adobe made life easy with LR2, before that I used QImage which is a printing app but can also export to a file with the output sharpening applied.
 
Many thanks, that's exactly the sort of thing I was after. Will try DSCL tonite as a starter ad see what things come out like :)
 
Hi

Just replied to your email. Give me a shout if you need any more pointers :)

Lee
 
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