Printed photos looks so flat
Mar 24, 2013 18:04:18 #
Here I go again asking questions about printed photos. Why do photos look so awesome on the computer until I get them printed ugh! I like tonget printed to make my scrapbbook albums and then I kinda disappointed with the results. Ttey don't look super sharp,yet they are definitely in focus. I had photos printed that I took at the Milwaukee zoo and they turned out fantastic. Since those I have never been excited about the results. I can't figure it out. They look flat or something. Anybody ever feel this way. I want to get good results. I am taking them to SAMs club. I know of several people that go there and are extremely satisfied. Maybe I'm too picky???
Mar 24, 2013 18:46:28 #
One of the most common problems that can result in prints that don't look like they do on the computer is a monitor that is not color calibrated. This means that the monitor has not been adjusted to show colors that will match a set standard. YFor example, your monitor may have the saturation set too high which fools you into thinking that the pictures are very vibrant when, in reality, they are not. There are several systems available to calibrate your monitor such as color-munki. Do a search on UHH and you will find many posts regarding this topic.
Other factors that may also be contributing to your problem may be the brightness level of the monitor or the JPG settings on your camera: i.e. "vivid", "Natural", "landscape", "Portrait" etc.
Other factors that may also be contributing to your problem may be the brightness level of the monitor or the JPG settings on your camera: i.e. "vivid", "Natural", "landscape", "Portrait" etc.
Mar 24, 2013 18:50:39 #
birdpix wrote:
One of the most common problems that can result in... (show quote)
Transmitted light from your computer monitor is much brighter to your eyes than reflected light from a print.
Mar 24, 2013 19:07:45 #
Have you tried printing yourself and comparing? I was unhappy with 3 different companies that I sent mine off to and dicided I liked my own printing best. My printer is not expensive, but as long as I stick with the recommended paper and ink (their brand, of course), I love the relults. I'd rather pay for my own ink than spend on poor quality work.
Mar 24, 2013 19:40:20 #
Mar 24, 2013 20:22:28 #
The single biggest reason people are disappointed in their prints, as pointed out by wlgoode, is you are viewing your monitor image by transmitted light, and your print by reflected light. Also, it seems most monitors are set to a brighter luminance than most people use to view their prints. Some of these people find themselves setting the "brightness level" of their monitor DOWN, sometimes as much as 50%!
I sometimes print on a material that used to be called "DuraTrans" where you view your print with a lightbox behind it. Fabulous!
I sometimes print on a material that used to be called "DuraTrans" where you view your print with a lightbox behind it. Fabulous!
Mar 24, 2013 20:29:12 #
I know on my laptop it is so bright and even the angle you have your screen on. I wish I knew how bright to have it set at and the angle of the screen. I will now research the monitor calibration in UHH. I have had tons of photos printed at sams and they are beautiful!! Its just lately it's been so bad. I have been doing all my editing in Lightroom 4. I'm so frustrated. I just want good prints.:)
Mar 24, 2013 20:29:27 #
I also figured out that it depends on what size I did my pp in. If I ask for a much larger print it may not have been processed by me for such a large print so I didn't see what affect enlargement would have on it.
Mar 24, 2013 20:56:38 #
ph0t0bug wrote:
I also figured out that it depends on what size I did my pp in. If I ask for a much larger print it may not have been processed by me for such a large print so I didn't see what affect enlargement would have on it.
I only printed 4 x 6's. they are clear, just really dull looking. I don't know if it the editing i've done in lightroom4, or what.
Mar 24, 2013 23:41:58 #
I am going to try and brighten the exposure in lightroom4 and see if that brightens it up my printed photo. I turned the brightness down on my laptop screen which did make my photos look dull. So maybe the higher exposure setting will help. The colors on my photos look pretty good comparing it to my screen it's just that the printed photos look so dull. Hopefully this will help. One of these days I will get the editing in Lightroom4 down, it can be so confusing sometimes
Mar 25, 2013 05:31:34 #
I find I often have to do two prints. I see how the first print comes out then asjust the exposure.Mostly it works.
Mar 25, 2013 06:34:37 #
Dgusty3 wrote:
Here I go again asking questions about printed pho... (show quote)
Aside from what was already mentioned, especially the calibration of your monitor,
Are you post processing them for printing or the web? Are you using the proper ICC profile for the paper and printer you are targeting? Such as Costco, Walgreen's, etc.,etc, ask them what type paper they use and printer, download the ICC profiles. Costco uses Red River Paper and actually, RR has a great site for how to prepare your photos for print along will the printer paper profiles... http://www.redrivercatalog.com/profiles/inkjet-printer-color-icc-profiles-red-river-paper.html
Mar 25, 2013 06:57:51 #
One additional point:
When editing your photos, try not to be in a brightly lit room. You don't want total darkness, by any means, but on the dim side, with no reflections on your monitor screen. As you've noticed, your angle of view to your screen is critical. When looking at a black screen, you should see your own reflection, looking yourself squarely in the eye.
When editing your photos, try not to be in a brightly lit room. You don't want total darkness, by any means, but on the dim side, with no reflections on your monitor screen. As you've noticed, your angle of view to your screen is critical. When looking at a black screen, you should see your own reflection, looking yourself squarely in the eye.
Mar 25, 2013 08:13:12 #
look at the color space that is used. If you are editing your photos in prophoto color space and then take them to a printer that prints srgb color space..the colors will be flat and dull.
i edit mine in srgb and adorama pix prints using the srgb color space.
might not be the right way to do it, but my colors always pop and I have had not a problem.
i had that problem earlier because most print houses do not print in prophoto color space.
if your editing program, open a ready photo and then change the color space to srgb......I would bet that the conversion looks like what you are seeing.
like I said, the method i am using might not be the right way, but it definitely works for me.
your monitor is not going to be that far off, even if it needs calibration.
i edit mine in srgb and adorama pix prints using the srgb color space.
might not be the right way to do it, but my colors always pop and I have had not a problem.
i had that problem earlier because most print houses do not print in prophoto color space.
if your editing program, open a ready photo and then change the color space to srgb......I would bet that the conversion looks like what you are seeing.
like I said, the method i am using might not be the right way, but it definitely works for me.
your monitor is not going to be that far off, even if it needs calibration.
Mar 25, 2013 08:19:52 #
Without getting to techy here try going to a different lab like mpix. .it may just be Sam that is the problem they could have changed something in print process.
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