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Expert printing tips for digital images
Summary: Digital printing. It has enabled photographers to take, view, edit and print images quickly and efficiently. However, there is a common problem that plagues both those who make prints from their home computer and custom photofinishers as well. Matching color computer monitor images and photographic quality prints requires calibrating the monitor and matching it to the printer’s ICC profile. PORTRAITSECRETS gives you some insight into the reasons for and methods to make wise choices about calibration of your monitor.
Why do my prints look dramatically different from
what I see on the monitor of my home computer? The answer is simple.
Your monitor is not profiled to match your printer. The process of
matching your computer monitor to your printer’s profile is called
calibration.
Background on "printing" what you "see"
Frustrations with prints from computerized output devices
like personal computer printers and even those in commercial photofinishing labs are not
uncommon. The source of the problem is that monitors differ in
brightness, contrast and even color rendition from monitor to monitor.
The fact that monitors emit visible light and prints reflect
visible light compounds the problem. Calibration of the monitor’s
rendition to the printer’s profile narrows the perceptible difference
to the satisfaction of most photographers.
An abundance of monitor calibration software packages is available in the marketplace. Serious home
printing enthusiasts and high-end commercial photofinishers
regularly calibrate their monitors to meet personal and professional standards. Consistency is paramount to quality control
in the printing process.
Calibration software and accessories
The best method of calibration is to purchase
software that includes a device that collects and records color
information from the monitor. The device is attached to the monitor's
screen during calibration and then removed at completion of the
process. Consult the calibration software instructions and adhere to their
recommendations to determine how often the monitor should be calibrated.
PORTRAITSECRETS uses a ColorVision product called Spyder. The software and device has been updated often and their current version is Spyder2PRO Studio.  | | Spyder2PRO Studio is the choice of PORTRAITSECRETS to calibrate monitors when printing photos requires strict standards. |
Their product information material offers product
descrition and justification for using their product specifically. If
you can look past the advertising hyperbole, the Spyder product tech sheet
provides sound reasoning for using a calibration device in general.
Quoting from the material..."Today,
all creative professionals understand that the cornerstone of the
digital darkroom is a calibrated monitor. Professional photographers,
graphic designers, ad agencies, publishers, and advanced amateurs now
realize that a color managed workflow begins with accurate, on-screen
color. Wherever color is critical, so too is a calibrated monitor. The
ColorVision Spyder2PRO Studio,
the next-generation of the award-winning Spyder product line, was
specifically designed to meet the needs of the new "digital" creative
professional.
ColorVision's Spyder2PRO Studio sets a new standard for professional monitor calibration. Combining the all new Spyder2 colorimeter and Spyder2PRO
software, this innovative and advanced product delivers unrivaled
calibration results for the demanding digital imaging professional.
The sleek, dual-phase Spyder2 hardware features precise calibration and highly accurate ICC profiles
for CRT, LCD and laptop displays. The new software and graphical user
interface provides ease-of-use previously unavailable in
professional-level monitor calibration products. FREE bonus software is
also provided in the package including nik Color Efex Pro 2.0 Standard
Edition, PANTONE colorist, and ColorVision DoctorPRO to enhance, edit,
correct, and specify colors on your images, screens, and printers. The Spyder2PRO Studio allows you to easily calibrate all of your monitors at a truly affordable price.
Spyder2's state-of-the-art optical
science and new light detectors deliver a five-fold increase in
sensitivity. A new filter pack system and patent-protected light baffle
further increase the accuracy of on-screen color. Improvements to the
calibration software utilize sophisticated gray balance and tonal
response algorithms to produce superior color images, including
exceptionally smooth gradient steps, life-like flesh tones and neutral
grays."
The SpyderPRO2 Studio retails
for under $300, but like all high tech equipment the prices fluctuates
depending on constantly developing software improvements.
Why color management?
Accurate rendition of color in pints is important
for you and the people who view your photographic work. In today's
digital world cameras, scanners, computers and printers are linked in
the workflow process. Color management assures a common ground for
these devices to translate digital information into a real product, the
photographic print.
If you use a custom photofinisher, calibration of your monitor to their ICC (International Color Consortium) profile
will assure you get the same results print after print. Those profiles
are displayed in tables that deifne the color space your printer will
print. From the intense reds to the deepest violets, the ICC profiles
explain what a printer will and will not print. Most custom
photofinishers will share their ICC profile information because it
provides optimum customer satisfaction.
Photofinsihers say “leave the printing to us”
For most, photography is a hobby, and you may decide
that the idea of “workflow” is too complicated for something that is
supposed to be relaxing. For that reason, PORTRAITSECRETS has embraced
the idea of building a good working relationship with a photofinisher.
Following their guidelines and suggestions and placing earned trust in
their capable hands might be a better solution for your photographic
printing needs.
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Good photographs begin with good light. In the digital photography world, the quality of light corresponds to the quality of the photograph. The dramatic light of the early morning and late afternoon can raise the quality of your images. In poorly lit situations use supplemental lighting from the camera's flash in the fill-flash mode.
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Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
Dear PS,
Adobe's Photoshop is very expensive at nearly $700, Is it worth it?
On the cheap in Oregon
Dear On the cheap,
Yes! If you plan to take creative steps in dealing with your images, photoshop and the lastest Creative Suite 2 are simply the best and most efficients image handling programs available. Is it "worth it" to you, that depends on what you hope to achieve with your images. I would suggest the Elements version of photoshop as an entry level position. Better yet, check a local computer store or even the Apple Store an invest a little time in attending a couple of their tutorial classes for a "test drive" of the program. Then you'll be better informed before you spend your money.
Thanks for your question,
Michael at PS
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