WYSIWYG - How to get prints that you see on the computer in print.

Michael Batten

Michael Batten

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Michael
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Good afternoon,

I recently received an order from DS Colour Labs and the quality was excellent although a little dark. As I don't print at home how can I ensure that what I send will be printed as I see it on the computer, or as close as? (hope that makes sense).

Thanks

Michael
 
Hello Micahel
First you need to calibrate your monitor, would recommend http://www.datacolor.com/photography-design/
Then, as the image you see on your monitor is projected light and the image you see in a print is reflected light you will need to dial in a little compensation to your images before sending to print, unfortunately, from my experience there doesn't appear to be a hard or fast rule on this, as each image to be printed differs in its intrinsic exposure, but I typically aim to add 20-30% digital brightness increase to my images and the printed result is almost always very very close to what I saw on screen without the brightness boost!

There might be a more scientific way of handling brightness, but trial and error has seen me get pretty accurate and comfortable with it. But, I'd be keen to read others methods.

Regards
Geoff
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Are you set up for sRGB?
If so then it sounds like your monitor needs calibrated which should get you prints that closely match what you see on screen.
 
Geoff Moore said:
Hello Micahel
First you need to calibrate your monitor, would recommend http://www.datacolor.com/photography-design/
Then, as the image you see on your monitor is projected light and the image you see in a print is reflected light you will need to dial in a little compensation to your images before sending to print, unfortunately, from my experience there doesn't appear to be a hard or fast rule on this, as each image to be printed differs in its intrinsic exposure, but I typically aim to add 20-30% digital brightness increase to my images and the printed result is almost always very very close to what I saw on screen without the brightness boost!

There might be a more scientific way of handling brightness, but trial and error has seen me get pretty accurate and comfortable with it. But, I'd be keen to read others methods.

Regards
Geoff
Click to expand...

Thanks Geoff, I think you're spot on with the calibration of the monitor.

stupar said:
Are you set up for sRGB?
If so then it sounds like your monitor needs calibrated which should get you prints that closely match what you see on screen.
Click to expand...

Thanks Stuart. I am, I edit in AdobeRGB in Photoshop then output to sRGB.
 
Two things result in "dark" prints... the monitor brightness set too bright for the ambient levels (very common), and not soft proofing with a paper type/printer profile. Since DS does not provide soft proofing profiles I would suggest using a "generic" paper profile, anything of similar type should get you closer (i.e. mat/glossy/pearl/rag/etc).
 
I use them for printing along with many others at the camera club we all brighten the image a touch before sending even the peeps that do all the monitor calibration and profiling.

Funny thing is, if I just want a 7x5 or 8x6 nothing to special. I whip down to the self service machine in Max Spielman and get them done, they print out very very close to my screen without me doing any brightening.,

Gaz
 
Why not sent a few Samples of the same Photo with different settings to see which one you prefer when you get them back.?
 
stryvya said:
Why not sent a few Samples of the same Photo with different settings to see which one you prefer when you get them back.?
Click to expand...
That sounds sensible and cheap enough to do.

First, though, DSCL have print profiles available from their website for their paper range. You can soft proof your srgb image with these (if you don't know what that is then google it or look it up in the help files of your photo app). But display brightness comes first, followed by a colour check (rgb balance) however that might be done - there might be a rudimentary method embedded in your graphics driver software.

You might find, for example, that your image needs a tweak of contrast to print correctly on a given paper. For a run on that paper you might then set up a shortcut key or 'action' Play around, but try to be methodical.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/monitor-calibration.htm

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/beware-of-the-colour-management-tar-pit/

http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/
 
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The number one task: calibrate. I also completely agree with soft proofing and sending samples to see what they actually look like once printed. It can give you an idea on possible adjustments that need to be done.
 
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