Prints - losing shadow detail?

[tim]

I've just compared some recent prints from my lab to my screen (LCD, calibrated with Monaco). On the screen I can see details in the shadows, of the grooms suit. On paper (Fuji lab, matte paper) the suit looks solid black. As per my request they don't make any changes or corrections before printing.

Any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions? I'm following up on an ICC profile but I don't think they have one. Another lab I use does, so i'll do the same test with them to see what happens.

[tim]

Anyone? The machine is a Frontier.

[René Damkot]

There are a few frontier profiles (for New Zealand) here: http://www.drycreekphoto.com/. (Click 'view the database').
Might help.

[coreypolis]

is this a recent problem or all along? printers are usually the bottle neck of dynamic range, often not getting more than 4-5 stops.

[tim]

Thanks Rene. I've got a half dozen profiles installed, including ones I found on dry creek photo. None of them simulate how the photo looks on paper. It's probably a lack of dynamic range, but it's all coming off the blacks, not the whites.

I've never really done a close comparison of the images dark areas to my monitor before, just checked the skin tones are reasonably accurate, and that the other colors match.

[René Damkot]

I assume you are using soft proofing to compare print to screen?
Do you soft proof using the same settings (rendering intent, black point compensation, simulate black ink) as you (or they) use when converting to to the frontier profile?
Curious to the outcome...

[tim]

They don't have an ICC profile for their frontier unfortunately. I have no idea how they do their conversion, not sure the operator knows a lot about the technicalities of color. They do a test print, then somehow adjust the monitor to match. I refused to do that, i'll process to a standard then have them do whatever else is required. Right now they're sending them through with no corrections, which is probably a mistake, given how little I know about printing.

I'll get some test prints done, and report back once I have a solution.

[PhotosGuy]

printers are usually the bottle neck of dynamic range, often not getting more than 4-5 stops.
Tried these? Layer Masks; A quick fix
Airport runway shoot (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=117950)
RAitch Tutorial - Burn and Dodge with a Layer (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=1180033)

[tim]

I can easily compress the dynamic range using ACR, I just want an accurate preview so I know what i've done. The ICC profiles don't work very well, i've found.