D0r1neK Loc: Connecticut

I use aperture to adjust the color in my photos. After tweaking it to perfection I brought my file to Ritz Camera. When I received the print , I was shocked to see how different the colors were from my original photo. I was told the print will not look exactly the same as it does on your computer screen. Has anyone run into this problem and is there a way to print photos that look like the photos on my computer?

Bob.J Loc: On The Move

Correct me if I'm wrong but aperture doesn't adjust color, it adjusts depth of field & exposure. Sounds like your having exposure problems. I'd invest in a photo printer ($150) and calibrate your monitor and printer to match the camera. Besides it gives you much more control, saves gas too :-P

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

Almost but not quite - it caught me for a second too. I think the OP meant he was using the Apple program "Aperture", not the 'aperture' you and I think of as a noun meaning the opening in the lens iris that lets in light. So, you're right - 'aperture' adjusts depth of field and exposure, but "Aperture" can adjust color. Leave it to Apple. They're as bad as Microsoft sometimes - think they have a monopoly on every 'word' in the English language...:)

Bob.J Loc: On The Move

Yup, I'm sure you're right, I'm NOT an "Apple" guy, but that's another story :thumbup:
The poster should have capitalized Aperture

D0r1neK Loc: Connecticut

Sorry I did mean the Apple Program Aperture.

Bob.J Loc: On The Move

The other half of the answer still applies, get a printer...

northshore Loc: St. Paul, MN

I have found significant differences between local photo printers (Walgreens, CVS, Target, Costco) in color cast-- haven't tried Ritz. I've been happy with Target, but only use them for minor printing. For my professional printing, I use White House Custom Color.

dogzrule Loc: Arizona

I worked in one hour photo labs for years....machines that print photos will adjust accordingly, so that means, things get messed up...also, the people who work the machines may not have "the eye" or they're just hired blow joe off the street who needs a job and just doesn't have any photo experience (believe me, I had to work with those types). Anyway, you always take the chance of walking into a photo lab with your photos, who knows how they'll turn out. I recommend getting to know your photo lab employees, talk to them and let you know you like the final print....also, in the age of digital, you can do post processing, get your shots the way you like them, and thats how you should get them in the final print. That's how it works for me.

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

Since you cannot control the machinery/process that produces the paper print, you need to adjust your computer screen to more closely match the output of the printer.

For the average person this is strictly a testing process ... get a test image printed, then compare the paper image against the computer image. Keep in mind that the viewing processes are different, reflected light from a paper and light from a monitor. Ultimately you'll find a happy medium that will be pleasing to your viewing standards. This might involve changing the brightness or contrast of every print before you get it printed.

You can do this test with every print service you might use, local or online. After you decide which service produces the best results, then you can fine tune everything to get the results you like the best.

Also, every viewer is going to see colors differently, cause we all have different eyeballs. What looks great to you might look too "blue" to your spouse, or too "red" to your child, or too "green" to your office mate.

Even the kind of light you use to view the prints will affect the color perception. A print will look one way under florescent light, and much different under incandescent light; not to mention the effect of sunlight.

Good luck!

wingincamera Loc: Spanaway, Washington

You might try sending a photo to two or three different photo labs for comparison. Where I live I found that the local Costco store is very good, and pricing is good to. Of course you have to be a member..

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

All the above is going to help, but realize, a print will NEVER look exactly the same as your monitor.
The monitor is projected light and the print is reflected. So even though they will not be identical, the monitor should give a realistic approximation of your prints.

GT

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I have tried a few different printing sources, and like Target the best. All equipment, chemicals, and paper are Kodak. At the photo counter, you upload and crop your own photos before submitting. The final prints look exactly like monitor images at upload. I print 4x6 and 8x10 very reasonably.

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

I never even considered Target, I'll have to give thema try! Thanks for the referral!

GT

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

Tweak your images at home, but do NOT crop. Load tweaked JPGs onto a flash drive. Cropping can be executed on the monitor at the counter. 4x6 is a different proportion than 8x10, so only crop on the monitor without altering your stored JPG.

GTinSoCal Loc: Palmdale, CA

Thanks for the heads up, but I don't crop my images at all, I add a mat to maintain the ENTIRE photo.
I've been happy with Costco, but it is nice to have more than on option :-)