Colour print Vs LCD

[louiep83]

I have sent some wedding photos (JPG) to the pro lab for proof printing and they come back a bit darker than what my LCD is showing. My LCD is calibrated.
I've ask the lab not to perform any adjustments, so it's a N N N N at the back of the picture.

I could have adjusted the image a little brighter or exposed a bit more, but than the print might look ok and the JPG files will be too bright.

Any body has any experience with this issue?

Thanks in advance
Louie

[Epix]

I too recently had some photos sent back from the lab that came out darker than I was hoping, but otherwise pretty good. Not sure what to do.

[tim]

I replied to your PM about this. I think this is common, screens are backlit and prints aren't, that's why the look a bit darker. Personally I turn my LCD brightness down a little after calibration, then do some test prints so I know what to expect. I also trust my histogram more than the brightness on the screen - that's more for color.

[louiep83]

Thanks Tim for the reply.
Just came back from the lab for my 5th trial run.
I'll try to recalibrate my LCD and turn it down a bit.

One question: the labs have the ability to adjust the print and sometime the result are better, does any of the Pro photog actually let the lab do its magic and not worrying about these issues at all?

Thanks

Louie

[Damo77]

Conventional wisdom suggests that LCDs should be calibrated to a luminance of 120-140c/m2, but I think this is too bright. I like 100.

There's another school of thought that your monitor should be the brightest thing in the room - ie have a very dim room. I think this is bunkum. If your lighting is dim, your screen appears brighter, and it's impossible to view your prints. Then you need to fork out for a viewing station, and I for one can't afford/justify that. I say, work in a nice light room. Even lighting 24/7, of course, not sunlight.

Oh, one other thing. When you're comparing your prints to your screen, it's impossible to hold the print up beside the screen. You kind of have to hold the print in your lap, and look up and down, to give your eye a chance to adjust. (The human eye is a rotten judge of light and colour!)

I'm sure you know all these things, just thought I'd add my two cents.

[tim]

Yes I regularly let my pro lab do their job - ie color and density correction. The only reason I don't do it all the time is cost. My albums are 80% color corrected by the lab, to ensure consistent color across the whole album.