Printing digital photos.

[Slowhand]

I have loads of photos stored on my pc which I would like to print.
I use Photshop for making any changes [levels, brightness etc....the usual sort of thing], however I find that the image I see on my pc screen is sometimes a lot darker than the prints I make.
I find that I waste a lot of photographic paper doing "test" prints before I settle on the right conditions.

Is this a common situation, or is there some software or a "gizmo" to use to make it "What you see is what you get?"

[ukwdwnut]

i think it would be cheaper to burn them to a cd and get them printed somewhere terry, as you would use a lot of ink printing them in the best quality the printer would use, also a lot of the photo quality paper :)

[Slowhand]

I take your point Mick, but even then, would not the same apply?
Even though i am happy with what I see on the screen, sometimes the print appears as though it needs more "doctoring".:blush:

[Keith]

It's a common situation... in fact it's the same for everyone unless they're lucky.

There are calibration devices you can get but they're a bit costly. (they do work though).

I don't print much at home now, I use a pro lab who provide me with a profile for photoshop which has been tuned for their printer. That works out well and I'm sure I have a profile for one of the consumer labs on the internet too.. I'll have a look.

You may also find a kind of rough photoshop profile for your printer either on the cds that came with the printer or on the web.

Yes though, it's a very common problem.

[Slowhand]

Thanks Keith.
At least I can take some comfort in knowing that it`s not only me who has the problem!

[ukwdwnut]

i think thats a common thing that happens terry i get the same, have you played around with the settings like these below

[triciacarole]

I find that the cost of the paper and ink is quiet expensive and use an on-line company called photobox (I think) prints come out well and its not too expensive :)

[Slowhand]

i think thats a common thing that happens terry i get the same, have you played around with the settings like these below

Can`t say that I have Mick...all I`ve done so far is to click on the "best" tab on the printer properties section. I haven`t ventured into the advanced tab yet!
Actually, I don`t know if I have one!:blush: I`ll check it out to-night...it is a HP printer though... maybe the 970c..so I`ll give it a whirl, thanks.

[Keith]

I find that the cost of the paper and ink is quiet expensive and use an on-line company called photobox (I think) prints come out well and its not too expensive :)

photobox is great actually yeah :) or if you want expensive but truly excellent http://www.peak-imaging.com/

[ukwdwnut]

Can`t say that I have Mick...all I`ve done so far is to click on the "best" tab on the printer properties section. I haven`t ventured into the advanced tab yet!
Actually, I don`t know if I have one!:blush: I`ll check it out to-night...it is a HP printer though... maybe the 970c..so I`ll give it a whirl, thanks.

mine is the 970cxi professional so it might have more advanced features i dont know, all i know is it cost me 200 smackers :doh: :cry: :lol:

[triciacarole]

all i know is it cost me 200 smackers :doh: :cry: :lol:

:faint: .

[Mickeymac]

Slow,

If you get them printed by a photo service, I find that the quality doesn't degrade as rapidly as home-printed pictures, if that helps. :hehe:

[Keith]

tis true indeed...

A few printers now have excellent longevity, but usually at the upper end... at the normal end of things, the prints don't last nearly as long as a proper photo lab prints would

[triciacarole]

Have a look around some companies have special offers to get customers to try their photo service, photobox did when I joined them and I think Jessops does too, nothing to lose really :)

[ukwdwnut]

:faint: .


at the time (2 yrs ago) the print quality was excellent)still compares to the ones out now really from the ones ive seen prints from imo :)

[triciacarole]

Heres an offer for photobox (http://www.photobox.co.uk/phc60E7C481/index.html) and one for Jessops (http://www.jessopsphotoexpress.com/wpp/jessopsphotoexpress/welcome.jsp) :) , although I am sure many other companies do them.

[jimfortk]

I started using walmart.com to print my digital pictures. They are very inexpensive and can be picked up in an hour. This is actually quite time-saving because their web site has a photo editor built in, and you only make one trip out to pick up the prints, as opposed to a trip out to deliver the media and another trip to pick up the prints. And I am always going to Walmart anyway, so its not like an extra trip. Sometimes I think I live there.

One more thing to mention. You can have your prints made at any Walmart. That means while you are in Orlando you can pick them up there the same day you upload them.

[sezzy]

Slowhand, Tesco's photo labs do 50 dig prints for £5 (4x6) or £7 for 50 (5x7). You can alter each pic colour, darkness, red eye etc same as at home but sooo much cheaper. Quality is good providing your pics are!

[Mermaid]

Slowhand, Tesco's photo labs do 50 dig prints for £5 (4x6) or £7 for 50 (5x7). You can alter each pic colour, darkness, red eye etc same as at home but sooo much cheaper. Quality is good providing your pics are!

I was happy with the quality too......they were doing an offer 50 for £5 or 15p each...which I believe is quite reasonable.

[Keith]

I love tesco I really do <G> but their processing has been awful whenever I've tried it :(

Boots has been about the best on the high street for me.

[triciacarole]

Didn't know Tesco did it, has anyone got the link I think I will give them a go :)