help! my photos are all wrong. - DPChallenge Forums

12/18/2004 08:14:05 AM · #1

okay, I have been using a website to calibrate my monitors, and I have always been pretty close I thought. I took some pictures to walmart and they printed out WAY too bright, to the point that it is almost impossible to tell who's face is in the picture. They look fine on my monitor. I know that it isn't always exact, but I am not able to get my monitor bright enough to recreate the horrible results that walmart produced. Thing is, I then went to CVS and the prints came out the same way. Obviously I am doing something wrong. I have NEVER had problems with this. I am usually very close as far as brightness and contrast goes. Any suggestions? I am also linking the photo. Please let me know if the faces look blown out to you. I appreciate the help.

drake

the photo is

bpickard

Fujifilm FinePix S3000

12/18/2004 08:19:15 AM · #2

Looks fine to me. Definitely the same file?

12/18/2004 08:22:05 AM · #3

well, this is the same jpg, just resized for web, but they both look basically the same on my monitors. I don't understand why they would be consitantly WAY blown out. I have always had good luck with walmart, and a second photo lab came up with the same results. I am baffled, and kind of stuck, because now I don't feel comfortable editing more to take to print because I can't trust what I see for some reason.

any other comments or suggestions?

drake

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/18/2004 08:22:22 AM · #4

If you get the same result from two printers then you probably have embedded a color profile which is a mis-match to whatever they are using.

If it's convenient to have prints made, I suggest you make up a test image with both a previously printed photo and some test patches of known color value and see what you get. Also, take them a file you've previously printed successfully there. It's possible they have changed settings or chemicals since the last time you printed there.

efren

Canon EOS-7D

12/18/2004 08:22:32 AM · #5

looks fine on my screen too!

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/18/2004 08:24:39 AM · #6

Check this current thread also, and you might try searching the forums for "profile" or similar ... there have been numerous discussions on these issues.

vince31874

12/18/2004 08:26:03 AM · #7

Looks fine on my end.

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/18/2004 08:32:08 AM · #8

when saving to jpg does the color management info carry over? I had mine set to srgb, what do printers prefer? I am going to try setting to adobe rgb 1998 and do a test print. Do you think I'm on the right track?

drake

Rankles

Canon EOS-600D/T3i Rebel

12/18/2004 08:35:35 AM · #9

I ordered some prints a while back, and they all came out overexposed, not just brighter than on my monitor, but details were overexposed. I oticed that this effect was gained from clicking 'auto levels' on photoshop. Upon enquiry, I found out from the company that they use auto correction for pictures so that they appeal to snapshot family photographers.

I recommend you make sure they don't use auto correction on your pictures.

vontom

Canon EOS-20D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

12/18/2004 08:37:28 AM · #10

I would be that walmart/costco/wherever has their machines set to auto-fix exposure (perhaps). Your photo, overall, is very dark, so if they try to fix it (to that magic 18%)your highlights would get way blown out. For anything that doesn't specify a color profile, i believe sRGB is the standard.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/18/2004 08:38:43 AM · #11

Originally posted by fstopopen:

Call them and ask if they use a profile, and which one for the printer they'll be using for your prints. I believe Costco is using profiles developed by Dry Creek Photo -- there's lots of info there on profiles and preparing images for print, including a table of "slightly oversized" settings to make the photos so the very edges don't get cropped off.

Message edited by author 2004-12-18 13:39:06.

Spork99

Canon EOS R8

Canon RF 16mm F2.8 STM

12/18/2004 08:50:30 AM · #12

Originally posted by fstopopen:

I took some pictures to walmart

I then went to CVS

Therein lies your problem......

Phobos

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

12/18/2004 08:54:03 AM · #13

Looks fine in Spain! ...those Walmarts... omg... :P

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/18/2004 09:08:22 AM · #14

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by fstopopen:
I took some pictures to walmart

I then went to CVS

Therein lies your problem......

I've never been to those places, but the prints I've gotten from my local Costco have ranged from good to perfect. I usually print on the Fuji Lustre paper at 150-300 dpi. Ritz Camera does a decent job too, although they seem to come out just a little darker there.

jemison

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/18/2004 09:30:44 AM · #15

try telling them to print *as is* ie. make NO adjustments.

blemt

Nikon D70

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

12/18/2004 10:04:14 AM · #16

Okay, you are sending them as regular jpeg files? Not tiff?

Find your local Ritz/Wolf. Go in, ask to speak to the store manager or lab manager. Explain the problem you are having and ask if they can do a test print for you to see if it's something in the file or elsewhere.

Just don't ask em this week. ;)