Prints too dark

Hi all,

My screen is calibrated with a spyder 3 but when I get prints from my local processing place they are all a stop or so dark.

I supose the simple answer would be to turn the brightness down on my monitor so it matches the print but that would seem a compromise on everything else on the monitor. Any suggestions?


Aidan

No, that's right. Turning down the screen brightness is exactly what you have to do.

Which Spyder3 is it?

Agree with Damien. I used a Spyder 3 Pro for years and it does not have the ability to adjust luminance. You need to manually turn down screen brightness.

To give you an idea as to how much, I had to turn down my Dell 2209WA from the stock 60+% to 15%.

Thanks chaps Ill give that a go. It sounds like it might compromise everything else (movie watching etc)

Aidan

Which Spyder3 is it?

Exactly, the movies and everything else you see on your current luminance setting are ALL too bright by the same amount.

You get used to it very quickly; the eyes adapt. Dim the room lighting.

tzalman wrote in post #17303743
You get used to it very quickly; the eyes adapt.

Correct. Before long, you'll wonder how you ever tolerated it so darn bright.

tzalman wrote in post #17303743
Dim the room lighting.

NOT correct. Your room lighting should remain nice and bright.

Aspock wrote in post #17301597
My screen is calibrated with a spyder 3 but when I get prints from my local processing place they are all a stop or so dark.

First, how much do you trust your " local processing place"? I've had the same file come out too dark & too light when processed one hour apart? But never at my local Costco.

So I suggest that you look at the PDI_Target_AdobeRGB.jp​g test files at the bottom of: http://www.gballard.ne​t/psd/srgbforwww.html and make a print with one of them to be sure that you're starting out with a "good & normal" file.

It's a Spyder 3 Elite.

I have turned down the brightness until it matches a recent print - to my eyes anyway

When I run the calibration it suggests theat he target brightness is 90 cd/m and my current is 22.2 presumably because it feels my screen is too dark. I imagine if I turn this up, i'm back to where I started.

Aidan

PhotosGuy wrote in post #17304532
First, how much do you trust your " local processing place"? I've had the same file come out too dark & two light when processed one hour apart? But never at my local Costco.

So I suggest that you look at the PDI_Target_AdobeRGB.jp​g test files at the bottom of: http://www.gballard.ne​t/psd/srgbforwww.html and make a print with one of them to be sure that you're starting out with a "good & normal" file.

This. Walgreens is notorious for this. I needed a quick enlargement, it csme out dark, ran home made adjustments, massive overcorrection, printed the first file a second time and it wss spot on.

Woring in normal / indirect light I tend to set my screen to around 120cd/m and I find that great for editing - I think I'd find 90 a bit low and 22.2 impossible.

I agree. I think that the best solution all round will be to up the brightness as part of the workflow prior to printing.

At least then I can have something resembling a normal screen. I don't print that much.

Well, not nice and bright, but not cave-like either. Should be less than 32 lux. In my work area I need to slightly dim my lights.

This may help:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com …_my_prints_too_​dark.shtml