Fix your colour profile
IF you’re using an Apple computer, do yourself a big favour right now by re-calibrating your display to at least set the gamma value to 2.2 instead of the Apple default of 1.8.
In the old days of B&W printing, gamma 1.8 was ideal as it produced a smooth grayscale. Nowadays, the darker gamma 2.2 is the de-facto standard, as most browsers adhere to the sRGB profile defined by HP and Microsoft and specifying 2.2 as the gamma setting. Not only browsers, but also printers and mini photolabs. The sRGB colour profile is so widespread that even Apple now recommends using the gamma value of 2.2.
Gamma 1.8 is brighter than gamma 2.2, meaning that images that look correct with a gamma 1.8 colour profile will be darker when viewed with another profile. So, pictures that are vivid under gamma 1.8 will have washed-out colours in prints and browsers. (Actually, Safari displays images correctly because it can process embedded colour profiles; Internet Explorer and Firefox do not, although the next version of Firefox will.)
Now, I’m a bit peeved because all the prints that I ordered from Photobox came out dull, which hinted at the incorrect calibration of my display. Not only do I need a new set printed, but I also have to edit and replace my Flickr pictures, as they are much darker than I intended.
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I was thinking, can you send just one or two photos you think would be problematic and see how they turn out before sending more?
I usually go to a place where they have the self-service machines, but the photos get sent to the lab instead of being printed on the spot. I’ve been told that they don’t apply colour correction to digital pictures submitted at these machines (who knows if they do:-).
On the bright side, even if I have printed 100s of pictures, if I am not satisfied, I can always say I don’t like them, and I don’t have to pay :-)
I’ve also noticed that pictures look different on different monitors and therefore makes picture editing more difficult.
It would be cool to have something like that: http://www.colorvision.com/index_us.php
Comment by Patrick Ng — Friday, 29 February 2008 13:01 GMT #
Yes, you can have guide prints, but you then lose the benefit of volume orders. If you are making an important print (for framing, for example), then maybe it’s worth doing that.
The self-service kiosks produce very poor print-outs. They use generic profiles to suit a large range of cameras. The mini-labs are much better; in fact, self-service kiosks in some stores are just there for you to set up your order while the prints themselves are done on a mini-lab behind the counter.
Yes, apparently no colour correction is applied. This is why it is important to soft proof your pictures before you send them to the printer. This can be done by converting to the profile of the target printer and adjusting the resulting picture.
I have my eyes on a Spyder2 Express myself :-)
— Eddy
Comment by Eddy — Friday, 29 February 2008 22:36 GMT #
You’re right. The right lab can make a huge difference.
If you have more than one monitor to calibrate, then the Spyder2 can be better amortized :-)
I’ve seen quite a few people with expensive DSLR and expensive lenses. However, when I asked them if they have calibrated their monitors to produce acurate colours, I did not get a single positive answer.
Personally, if I was going to invest $4000 in camera equipment, and my time to taking and editing photos, I would make sure I get a good and properly calibrated monitor first. You seem to think the same way. Maybe we have some kind of Obsessive-Compulsive disoder :-)
Comment by Patrick Ng — Saturday, 1 March 2008 02:14 GMT #
Once you have calibrated your workflow at home and if you’ve never done it before, I suggest you contact an imaging centre such as Metro – they will provide you with ICC profiles in which they deal and you can then be sure to have an end-to-end colourspace proofing.
The printed results compared to the previous “uncalibrated” workflow will be stunning, and the whole thing is quite fun.
Comment by clarel — Sunday, 2 March 2008 01:25 GMT #
I bought the Spyder2Express bundle and “upgraded” it with ColorEyes Pro calibration software. The before/after difference on my monitors is like night and day.
Photobox.co.uk has links to the ICC profiles used on their printers. I have yet to try a new set of prints after proofing the pictures on my calibrated screen, but I have high hopes.
— Eddy
Comment by Eddy — Friday, 21 March 2008 19:06 GMT #
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