Photo printing - lab or printer?
Discussion
Some advice needed, please!
Have been fiddling around with SLRs for about a year now, and have got to the point where I would quite like to print some photos out with a view to maybe framing them. I haven't got a photo printer, but thought I would try Kodak as seems to be a good, cheap way of doing some of the larger prints.
But oh dear. I got back a B&W print that is a slightly washy abstract of a beach with people on it - bordering on the overexposed but the effect is to kind of blur the horizon. No problem viewing the level of detail on a monitor, but when the print came back I thought at first they had forgotten to print on it. There were a few black marks in places that correspond to people, but that's about it. Tried a few other prints through Kodak, and the results are not remotely close to the originals I uploaded.
So, is this typical of ordering prints? I realise that to really nail it I need to colour correct, but that would be impossible with the online systems. Are there photo printing services out there that could do this, or would I be better off buying a printer? Would quite like to print up to A3, but don't really want to spend a few hundred for only a few prints, and a fortune in ink. What do people here generally do?
Have been fiddling around with SLRs for about a year now, and have got to the point where I would quite like to print some photos out with a view to maybe framing them. I haven't got a photo printer, but thought I would try Kodak as seems to be a good, cheap way of doing some of the larger prints.
But oh dear. I got back a B&W print that is a slightly washy abstract of a beach with people on it - bordering on the overexposed but the effect is to kind of blur the horizon. No problem viewing the level of detail on a monitor, but when the print came back I thought at first they had forgotten to print on it. There were a few black marks in places that correspond to people, but that's about it. Tried a few other prints through Kodak, and the results are not remotely close to the originals I uploaded.
So, is this typical of ordering prints? I realise that to really nail it I need to colour correct, but that would be impossible with the online systems. Are there photo printing services out there that could do this, or would I be better off buying a printer? Would quite like to print up to A3, but don't really want to spend a few hundred for only a few prints, and a fortune in ink. What do people here generally do?
dgb00 said:
Some advice needed, please!
Have been fiddling around with SLRs for about a year now, and have got to the point where I would quite like to print some photos out with a view to maybe framing them. I haven't got a photo printer, but thought I would try Kodak as seems to be a good, cheap way of doing some of the larger prints.
But oh dear. I got back a B&W print that is a slightly washy abstract of a beach with people on it - bordering on the overexposed but the effect is to kind of blur the horizon. No problem viewing the level of detail on a monitor, but when the print came back I thought at first they had forgotten to print on it. There were a few black marks in places that correspond to people, but that's about it. Tried a few other prints through Kodak, and the results are not remotely close to the originals I uploaded.
So, is this typical of ordering prints? I realise that to really nail it I need to colour correct, but that would be impossible with the online systems. Are there photo printing services out there that could do this, or would I be better off buying a printer? Would quite like to print up to A3, but don't really want to spend a few hundred for only a few prints, and a fortune in ink. What do people here generally do?
Firstly there is a huge variation between photo printing companies, some better than others. Do a search and you will find a few reviews. Secondly its not as simple as seeing the photo on the monitor and expecting it to look like that. The monitor needs to be calibrated properly and even then its a different medium so it will never be the same.Have been fiddling around with SLRs for about a year now, and have got to the point where I would quite like to print some photos out with a view to maybe framing them. I haven't got a photo printer, but thought I would try Kodak as seems to be a good, cheap way of doing some of the larger prints.
But oh dear. I got back a B&W print that is a slightly washy abstract of a beach with people on it - bordering on the overexposed but the effect is to kind of blur the horizon. No problem viewing the level of detail on a monitor, but when the print came back I thought at first they had forgotten to print on it. There were a few black marks in places that correspond to people, but that's about it. Tried a few other prints through Kodak, and the results are not remotely close to the originals I uploaded.
So, is this typical of ordering prints? I realise that to really nail it I need to colour correct, but that would be impossible with the online systems. Are there photo printing services out there that could do this, or would I be better off buying a printer? Would quite like to print up to A3, but don't really want to spend a few hundred for only a few prints, and a fortune in ink. What do people here generally do?
True, but to properly calibrate the monitor to the printer it would be a bit awkward, since I would have to use calibration prints done by Kodak and that would start getting irritating.
Have read quite a few reviews, and none really match each other. I was wondering what people on here use? It seems that Photobox is quite popular.
Have read quite a few reviews, and none really match each other. I was wondering what people on here use? It seems that Photobox is quite popular.
Major Bloodnok said:
As long as your monitor is properly calibrated, and you save the file in sRGB colour space, Photobox should give you pretty good results. I've just got about a dozen A3 prints from them, and they're very good.
Any experience calibrating a monitor properly without a printer? There are some software kits available but they don't seem to be very cheap, and the hardware versions like the ColorMunki are eyewatering! Will give PhotoBox a go when I have calibrated the monitor. Think it might be easiest if I get them to print a calibration photo then manually calibrate the monitor from that. I suppose an advantage of the self photo printing method is that it is a bit easier to do.
I used to use Photobox but found their quality to be variable. Now, for all client prints I use Loxley Colour. They have a downloadable Java application called ROES (Remote Order Entry System) for uploading image files. They deliver prints within 2 working days and quality (so far), has been excellent. The downside; they're much more expensive. I just put the cost of the prints up to compensate though!
Ed ...
Ed ...
A couple of years ago I spent many hours trying to find a cost effective way of getting decent prints. Here's what I learned (most of this has been mentioned already):
1. INVEST in hardware monitor calibration. I use an Eye One Match or something. Using software calibration such as Adobe Gamma or trying to match a calibration print is never, ever going to be as good as hardware calibration.
2. Send a bunch of test prints to different companies. You will be shocked at the variability. Pick and use what you like the best. My faves for 'bulk' printing of small sizes is DS Colour Labs and for large prints its Peak Imaging. I have also seen and been impressed with Loxley. I found Kodak to be pretty poor, as were Photobox (who despite messing up regular prints make lovely calendars... go figure).
3. Lastly, and most importantly, DO NOT expect the images from a monitor, albeit calibrated, to be exactly the same as the print. There are many, many, many scientific reasons for this (colour gamuts, paper white point, transmitted vs reflected colour etc etc etc). Remember that the print doesn't have to match the monitor exactly to still be a fantastic and enjoyable print.
4. Make prints, mount them and enjoy!
Hope this helps
1. INVEST in hardware monitor calibration. I use an Eye One Match or something. Using software calibration such as Adobe Gamma or trying to match a calibration print is never, ever going to be as good as hardware calibration.
2. Send a bunch of test prints to different companies. You will be shocked at the variability. Pick and use what you like the best. My faves for 'bulk' printing of small sizes is DS Colour Labs and for large prints its Peak Imaging. I have also seen and been impressed with Loxley. I found Kodak to be pretty poor, as were Photobox (who despite messing up regular prints make lovely calendars... go figure).
3. Lastly, and most importantly, DO NOT expect the images from a monitor, albeit calibrated, to be exactly the same as the print. There are many, many, many scientific reasons for this (colour gamuts, paper white point, transmitted vs reflected colour etc etc etc). Remember that the print doesn't have to match the monitor exactly to still be a fantastic and enjoyable print.
4. Make prints, mount them and enjoy!
Hope this helps
DJ_AS said:
A couple of years ago I spent many hours trying to find a cost effective way of getting decent prints. Here's what I learned (most of this has been mentioned already):
1. INVEST in hardware monitor calibration. I use an Eye One Match or something. Using software calibration such as Adobe Gamma or trying to match a calibration print is never, ever going to be as good as hardware calibration.
2. Send a bunch of test prints to different companies. You will be shocked at the variability. Pick and use what you like the best. My faves for 'bulk' printing of small sizes is DS Colour Labs and for large prints its Peak Imaging. I have also seen and been impressed with Loxley. I found Kodak to be pretty poor, as were Photobox (who despite messing up regular prints make lovely calendars... go figure).
3. Lastly, and most importantly, DO NOT expect the images from a monitor, albeit calibrated, to be exactly the same as the print. There are many, many, many scientific reasons for this (colour gamuts, paper white point, transmitted vs reflected colour etc etc etc). Remember that the print doesn't have to match the monitor exactly to still be a fantastic and enjoyable print.
4. Make prints, mount them and enjoy!
Hope this helps
Thanks for the advice from everyone. I will research hardware calibration a bit more thoroughly and splash the cash with that instead. I had never expected the monitor to match the printed version, but previous print outs using other printers with that monitor had been reasonable - I was just surprised how far out the Kodak prints were. 1. INVEST in hardware monitor calibration. I use an Eye One Match or something. Using software calibration such as Adobe Gamma or trying to match a calibration print is never, ever going to be as good as hardware calibration.
2. Send a bunch of test prints to different companies. You will be shocked at the variability. Pick and use what you like the best. My faves for 'bulk' printing of small sizes is DS Colour Labs and for large prints its Peak Imaging. I have also seen and been impressed with Loxley. I found Kodak to be pretty poor, as were Photobox (who despite messing up regular prints make lovely calendars... go figure).
3. Lastly, and most importantly, DO NOT expect the images from a monitor, albeit calibrated, to be exactly the same as the print. There are many, many, many scientific reasons for this (colour gamuts, paper white point, transmitted vs reflected colour etc etc etc). Remember that the print doesn't have to match the monitor exactly to still be a fantastic and enjoyable print.
4. Make prints, mount them and enjoy!
Hope this helps
Hi Everyone!
I came across this site and topic completely by accident, and hope you don't mind me replying and don't think I'm spamming!!!(coz im defo not!!!)
I work for an online photo processing company, we don't just churn out holiday photos!! We have a lot of photographers, wedding, portrait and so on, who rely on us for quality prints, from film as well as digital. So, to put it bluntly, we "do" give a s
t about peoples's photographs!
Anyway, I think you should give us a try! (keeps me in a job!!) We are always to happy to reprint pictures if you are not satisfied, unlike most online companies, and are proud to offer a more personal service.
So either click on www.PhotoFilmProcessing.co.uk or send us an email at sales@PhotoFilmProcessing.co.uk and introduce yourself! If you do contact us or send an order, please mention "Geraldine" to receive 10% off! Trust me, this will happen because I'm in control of the accounts/invoices!
Hope to hear from you soon,
Steve
I came across this site and topic completely by accident, and hope you don't mind me replying and don't think I'm spamming!!!(coz im defo not!!!)
I work for an online photo processing company, we don't just churn out holiday photos!! We have a lot of photographers, wedding, portrait and so on, who rely on us for quality prints, from film as well as digital. So, to put it bluntly, we "do" give a s
t about peoples's photographs!Anyway, I think you should give us a try! (keeps me in a job!!) We are always to happy to reprint pictures if you are not satisfied, unlike most online companies, and are proud to offer a more personal service.
So either click on www.PhotoFilmProcessing.co.uk or send us an email at sales@PhotoFilmProcessing.co.uk and introduce yourself! If you do contact us or send an order, please mention "Geraldine" to receive 10% off! Trust me, this will happen because I'm in control of the accounts/invoices!
Hope to hear from you soon,
Steve
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