So my local printer is telling me...

[Dave.H]

Here's the story:

I changed the PP on an 8x10 I did not too long ago. There was a discussion here:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=540250

The first time I had the 8x10 processed it came out just like how the original looks on my screen. So I went to have the new edit processed and it looks NOTHING like what it looks like on my screen. The Saturation , hue and whitebalance are all off. So I talked to the guy, this the same company I printed with before only a different branch, he said they don't do anything to the photos and that it was because I shoot in RAW. That when I convert it screws something up and the machine won't match the screen no matter what. Now I am comparing the print to the exported JPG on my thumb drive that I took there. The JPG looks just like I wanted it to look and the print is AWFUL. So I left there scratching my head that, well maybe I did something wrong. But I have NEVER had this issue and my process hasn't changed. He told me he stopped shooting in RAW because they never looked right. To me that sounds like a bunch of garbage. I understand it may not look just like my edited RAW or TIF but it should look JUST like my jpg.

So I called the other store where I usually guy and he seemed puzzled said that there is no reason that should matter. He also said the machine has some smarts to it but they can turn that off and they are supposed to look at the pictures and judge anyway. I am gonna go over there after work and show them the print and the jpg and see what they can do for me.

Is that a load of crap or is there some truth to this?

[aram535]

I would switch to a new printer.

If your monitor is calibrated AND you get the printer profile from the printing place, there is no reason for the print not to come out pretty damn close to what you see on the screen. The only way I can see it being different is that if the paper or finish you use could change the outcome.

[-Douglas-]

sounds like that guy was full of $hit and didn't want to take the time to deal with you.
very poor customer service, especially since you already had a good quality print at the other location. You didn't change the color space in PP compaired to the better print did you?

[gooble]

What's RAW have to do with it? Are you giving them RAW files?

[Dave.H]

I would switch to a new printer.



Done!

sounds like that guy was full of $hit and didn't want to take the time to deal with you.
very poor customer service, especially since you already had a good quality print at the other location. You didn't change the color space in PP compaired to the better print did you?

Kinda what I thought but I wasn't sure if I was missing something. Nope still using the same method and color space I have used for the last year

What's RAW have to do with it? Are you giving them RAW files?

That was my question, Sure a 16bit raw file will have more color than an 8 bit jpeg but I gave them jpegs and a jpeg is a jpeg.....


So long story short I stopped by their main location after work, this is where I usually go and will continue to go to but the other spot was right by work and I figured "what the hell, its the same company". Boy was I wrong. I talked to the lady that runs the print shop and she remembered my photo from the first time I had it printed, she ran me a new one in about 5 minutes and we talked for a while. I could tell she was holding back the couple of times she rolled her eyes when I told her what they told me, including when I asked the guy why they can't just turn off the processing in the machine and he said it wasn't possible. Anyway I said this would be short, problem solved I'll continue to go to the big branch that knows what they are doing. She offered to put my name on her list of people's pictures not to mess with :D

Thanks. I was just confused when I left that place at lunch and thought maybe I did something wrong/different. :p

[poloman]

Glad you got it sorted out. Hopefully, the woman you talked to made a print for you at no cost.
The guy with the RAW thing was blowing smoke up your posterior orifice. I hate that crap! If I were you, I would take the correct print in to show him. Suggest that perhaps he needs to work on his technique a little.
This guy is dangerous. Not only producing bad work but misinforming people. Better yet, write a letter to the president of the company and deliver praise where it is due and deliver retribution where it is due. I am sure the president of the company will want to know.

[René Damkot]

First off: That guy didn't know what he was talking about.
Second: In the thread you linked, the image was AdobeRGB.

Could it be that you used to shoot in sRGB, and now shoot Raw and have the color space in the raw converter set to AdobeRGB?

If the lab doesn't convert that right, it will make a difference in saturation and color (prints looking dull).

Have a read in the link from my sig.

[Dave.H]

First off: That guy didn't know what he was talking about.
Second: In the thread you linked, the image was AdobeRGB.

Could it be that you used to shoot in sRGB, and now shoot Raw and have the color space in the raw converter set to AdobeRGB?

If the lab doesn't convert that right, it will make a difference in saturation and color (prints looking dull).

Have a read in the link from my sig.


As for the Adobe versus sRGB thing it is sorted out now. The photos I uploaded where NOT the same ones I took in for prints. I for some reason was not thinking the day I uploaded them as I explained over there as to why those are Adobe and no sRGB. The ones I took in yesterday I exported from lightroom yesterday AM in sRGB (I just went back and double checked) and it was the exact same file on my pen drive for both prints. That certainly would have been embarasing if it wasn't. :oops: Sorry for the confusion there.

Thanks for the tips thought!

The prints I got from this guy were anything but dull. They were way overly saturated. It looked like she had lipstick on and she looked pretty tan.

And yes the new print was free.

I might write a letter, not so much to point out the flaws but I really appriciate the time this lady spent with me working this out and her knowledge on the subject. As for him, I won't go back in that store again even if it is closer.

[prime80]

I might write a letter, not so much to point out the flaws but I really appriciate the time this lady spent with me working this out and her knowledge on the subject. As for him, I won't go back in that store again even if it is closer.

Please do write the letter, and please do point out the flaws, as well as the excellent CS you received from the other lady. I can almost guarantee you that if they really care about their stores, they will want to hear about both encounters in full detail. Just think if someone went only to the "bad" store...they would get crappy prints and then never use any of the stores again. As an owner or manager, I'd really want to get that situation sorted out pronto.

[davidcrebelxt]

Don't think I saw it in your posts anywhere (if it was, sorry.)

But, what store did you take it to? Just curious.

[aram535]

I almost never write letters, I have known way too many people in the service industry to know that the "bad" letters just get dumped. "good" letters usually earns the person some sort of reward so its a way of "tipping" if you had not done it already.