Printing, what did I screw up?

Alright, I just had a few test shots printed at CostCo and they look like crap. Can someone help me figure out what it is that I screwed up?

The process thus far:

1. Buy monitor - Dell 2408WFP
   
2. Buy calibrator - Pantone Huey Pro
   
3. Use calibrator - Selected D65 and 2.2 gamma
   • Checked calibration against a few "professional" images found here, looked fine.
   
   
4. Took pictures in RAW
   
5. Used ACR (16-bit sRGB) to import to PS CS3, tinkered with photo slightly
   • Spot healed a couple blemishes and scuffs on a wall
     
   • Reduced reflection from window behind shooter
     
   • Cloned out a wire
     
   • Added vignette
   
   
6. Downloaded printer/paper profile and installed on computer
   • http://www.drycreekpho​to.com …rofiles.htm#Kin​gofPrussia
   
   
7. View > Proof Setup > Custom
   • Device to simulate: Costco-PA-King of Prussia-Gls: 30-Apr-2008
     
   • Preserve RGB numbers: Off
     
   • Rendering Intent: Relative Colorimetric
     
   • Black Point Compensation: On
     
   • Simulate Paper Color: Off (tried on as well)
     
   • Simulate Black Ink: Off (tried on as well)
   
   
8. Checked for change, minor as expected
   
9. Saved as PSD
   
10. Flattened layers, converted to 8-bit color
    
11. Save as JPG 12 for printing

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Image looks okay here in PS.
Off course I don't know what it looks like there, nor how the print looks

Softproofing using perceptual or relative colorimetric with BPC hardly changes the image. Off course, turning on "simulate paper white" does, but that's to be expected.

If all is done right, the softproof (simulate paper white checked) should look very much like the print. (viewed under standard viewing conditions, so not a 25W tungsten bulb)
If it doesn't, something went wrong.

Google the phrase "Costco auto adjusting pictures" I've seen several reports of people asking Costco not to run their auto adjustment routine on their photos.

FedkaTheConvict wrote in post #5613019
Google the phrase "Costco auto adjusting pictures" I've seen several reports of people asking Costco not to run their auto adjustment routine on their photos.

Ooh... I think we have a winner here. I just opened the image up in PS and clicked "auto levels" and it adjusted the image to be almost identical to the print I received.

Still, if it's something I have to remind them of every time I'm not going to print there. Messing with someone's images really should be an option you have to select, not opt-out.

Does anyone know how the Shutterfly prints you pickup at Target come out?

EDIT: Nevermind on that Target question. After reading the Shutterfly FAQ on Target they've convinced me to just pay the $2 to have them mailed.

You can't go wrong with Mpix.

http://www.mpix.com/

You don't have to remind Costco to turn off auto adjust if you set it up correctly. My profile with them has it off no matter where I print (we have two stores close by). I pick up the prints as I've heard different stores have far different quality.

As to the profile you used - did you convert the image to the profile as stated in the instructions? Convert to the proper Costco profile, save without ICC profile.

I've not had a problem doing it that way.

And if all of that fails try White House - www.whcc.com - excellent pro quality printing (at higher prices).

FedkaTheConvict wrote in post #5613578
You can't go wrong with Mpix.

http://www.mpix.com/

Are their $0.19 "no color correction" prints any good? Shipping charges? Turnaround time?

EDIT: Found the answers for #'s 2 & 3 myself ($2.50 for 1st Class Mail, typically 24 hours). Any takers on the "quality" question?

Titus213 wrote in post #5613625
As to the profile you used - did you convert the image to the profile as stated in the instructions? Convert to the proper Costco profile, save without ICC profile.

Good one, yet if that wasn't done, then Costo does honor the embedded profile: If I assign the costo profile to the sRGB image (which would happen if the OP didn't convert *and* costo didn't honor the sRGB profile, and assumed the printers profile), the image goes quite dark and "muddy".

I for one am curious to the outcome

Titus213 wrote in post #5613625
You don't have to remind Costco to turn off auto adjust if you set it up correctly. My profile with them has it off no matter where I print (we have two stores close by). I pick up the prints as I've heard different stores have far different quality.

I didn't upload them over their web site, I sent someone into the store to upload using the kiosk. Do you setup a profile at the kiosk or is that something you can only do via their web site?

René Damkot wrote in post #5613770
Good one, yet if that wasn't done, then Costo does honor the embedded profile: If I assign the costo profile to the sRGB image (which would happen if the OP didn't convert *and* costo didn't honor the sRGB profile, and assumed the printers profile), the image goes quite dark and "muddy".

I for one am curious to the outcome

I embedded the sRGB profile when saving as a JPG and soft-proofed using the CostCo ICC as in step #7 of my original post (Is this not the correct way to prep images for printing?).

My image didn't go dark and muddy, but exactly the opposite, it completely washed out. As I mentioned above, the results of the print are almost identical to clicking "Auto Levels" on the image in PhotoShop.

Next time I'm over there I'll have the same images printed again and find out where the "Leave my images alone" option is located. Until then, I'm going to try the mpix suggestion as I emailed them when I started writing this post and already got a response with the ICC profile attached.

Thanks all.

It certainly sounds they did an auto-correct. I was merely pointing out that if they didn't honor the profile, the print would have been muddy.

I obviously don't know CostCo, as I live in the Netherlands, so I also don't know their instructions, but from the sound of post #6, you need to actually convert to their profile as a last step, and save without embedding (No good reason not to, and some against, but that's just MHO).

A few links about softproofing & the use of profiles in the link from my sig.

I've never used the kisok at Costco so I set my profile up online and it's used every time I log in. It also includes back printing.

Costco requests that you 'convert' to their profile and save as jpg with the embed ICC profile unchecked.

I've found their upload and pick up to be exceptional service. I have over 90 5x7s waiting there now.

If I had my druthers though I'd use White House. They are just a lot higher cost but equally higher quality and they offer a much broader range of printing.

Yeah, I think the problem here is that I didn't have anything to do with the printing process. Someone told me "Hey, I'm going to CostCo and can have your pictures printed." and I said "Sure, why not."

Anyway, I was just about to place an order with Mpix but noticed that they don't actually offer a glossy print, everything is matte. While that's good to know for the future when I want some 5x7 or 8x10 shots, I have no interest in matte 4x6 prints.

litkaj I have never printed at Costco but I cant imagine their kiosks being any different from the standard. When you put in your batch of photos for printing on all the ones I have used there is a check box that is auto checked for auto adjustments that you have to uncheck. This is probably what happened. The person you sent in to print did not un check the box.

FedkaTheConvict wrote in post #5613578
You can't go wrong with Mpix.

http://www.mpix.com/

I've used Mpix but this last order really upset me. Do you convert to srgb before you upload your files to them? Do you have them color correct because I did not on this last order and it doesn't match my home prints or monitor at all. Too green too blue cast.