Prints

LewisHall

LewisHall

Suspended / Banned
Messages
567
Name
Lewis
Edit My Images
Yes
Hey don't know if anyone can help. I was just wondering if anyone could recommend a website to get some pictures printed as I tried photobox and the pictures came out really dark :S, also what are the best type prints etc as I want some b&w ones printed and coloured?

Thanks in advance :)
 
Karen said:
I always like ds colour labs
Click to expand...

Thanks will give it a try is there any particular printing type you think is best or use like Gloss, lustr, pearl etc? And for b&w
 
Have you tried Tesco or maybe asda (they cant be that bad)?
 
I've used both a local shop - Imagex - and Snapmad recently, though I'm about to try these people (Tam, the owner has advertised on here and has some offers for TP members).

Prints from Snapmad were of very similar appearance and quality, but Snapmad were much cheaper. I've had them on both matt/satin and glossy, and probably prefer satin finish. Just one further comment - if the images came out much darker than you expected and your monitor isn't calibrated, try to use the histogram to give you an idea of the spread of light/dark tones in the image and which areas will be out of range. Remember that on a monitor you see things by transmitted light, so dark areas may appear lighter and hold more detail than on a printed image which you view by reflected light.
 
Graham said:
Have you tried Tesco or maybe asda (they cant be that bad)?
Click to expand...
I did try asda before I put the picture on an sd card and memory stick they just wouldn't show up on there little machine thing
 
ancient_mariner said:
I've used both a local shop - Imagex - and Snapmad recently, though I'm about to try these people (Tam, the owner has advertised on here and has some offers for TP members).

Prints from Snapmad were of very similar appearance and quality, but Snapmad were much cheaper. I've had them on both matt/satin and glossy, and probably prefer satin finish. Just one further comment - if the images came out much darker than you expected and your monitor isn't calibrated, try to use the histogram to give you an idea of the spread of light/dark tones in the image and which areas will be out of range. Remember that on a monitor you see things by transmitted light, so dark areas may appear lighter and hold more detail than on a printed image which you view by reflected light.
Click to expand...
Thank you what do you mean the monitor on my computer isn't calibrated or camera? And will give it a try I don't usually use the histogram :| lol will give it a go though cheers :)
 
OK, I didn't mention anything about the camera: it's generally a given that images need manipulation after capture.

Your computer monitor is presumably not calibrated (mine isn't either) meaning that the way an image looks *on that monitor* is unique to that monitor only, and will look more or less different on another. I know that the monitor I'm using right now shows images brightly and a little cool, while my work monitor (factory calibrated Dell U2412M) is much more neutral and balanced. The idea of calibration is that a calibrated monitor should display an image more or less the same as any other calibrated monitor, and when printed, that image should look reasonably similar too (given the transmitted/reflected light thing). To make matters worse, many LCD panels (esp cheaper ones) vary enormously with the angle you look at the screen, so just moving your head a small amount can make the difference between light and dark. This is a big problem with the Samsung screen I'm using right now, and it makes editing images for others to look at or to print at very difficult indeed.

So if the images looked good on your monitor but came back dark, that suggests your monitor is set bright compared to a calibrated standard. To fix the problem you could buy a device that will calibrate your monitor, or you could lighten the images to what you *think* will compensate for the monitor showing the images as brighter than they really are. There's a lot of guesswork involved: you can get good results, but won't know until the pics come back.

HTH
 
monitors normaly turn up with eyeball burning brightness, and stuff we have had done by photobox turned out fine, but i did calibrate our screens years ago..
 
Hi Lewis

Did you get one of these prints with your first order??

http://www.photobox.co.uk/content/quality-advice/calibration

I have used Photobox for many years now and the reason my prints don't quite match is because I am too stingy to replace my very old and "un calibratable" monitor.

If your prints are "really dark" then it's a calibration issue which you will have to address, trying another printer probably won't help.

And don't forget you are comparing a screen image with a print, and unless the print is being viewed in properly set up lighting (normal interior domestic lighting is never going to be any good) it's very unlikely to match the screen. I found the best light to view prints in is normal overcast daylight, but hard to get that near the computer screen, in my house at least.

HTH

David
 
Last edited:
Willid1 said:
Hi Lewis

Did you get one of these prints with your first order??

http://www.photobox.co.uk/content/quality-advice/calibration

I have used Photobox for many years now and the reason my prints don't quite match is because I am too stingy to replace my very old and "un calibratable" monitor.

If your prints are "really dark" then it's a calibration issue which you will have to address, trying another printer probably won't help.

And don't forget you are comparing a screen image with a print, and unless the print is being viewed in properly set up lighting (normal interior domestic lighting is never going to be any good) it's very unlikely to match the screen. I found the best light to view prints in is normal overcast daylight, but hard to get that near the computer screen, in my house at least.

HTH

David
Click to expand...

Photobox apply an auto colour correct by default. Not normally a huge issue but on some sunset shots I had done by them they came back a full two stops brighter. (My monitor is calibrated and I did soft proof using there profiles). Not doing the auto correct is a special instruction that can be easily missed therefore they can be a bit hit or miss. I now use a lab that does all corrections manually.
 
Zabbage (sounds weird I know) have been really good for me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top