How do you get great prints from a lab???

[Escapism]

Hi all,

Not 100% sure how to ask this question...so I shall fumble my way through and hope people understand.

I am currently in need of a high end level of printed photographs in the size range of either 6x8, 8x10 or 8x12 (so nothing radical). As I see it i have 2 options, buy a printer or get them done at a photo lab.

Now the printer option is appealing as I can then "play" around and experiement to be sure I am getting the exact print that i want (just like in my black and white days, where endless test prints assured that the final print was exactly as i wanted). However, to get the type of quality I am after I will have to spend at least $500 to $1000 plus running costs. Now thats not a problem...BUT...

I could try and make my local pro lab work. They charge bugger all for each of the 3 print sizes I mentioned, they deliver (and accept email orders) and they take care of the blocked printers, paper supply etc etc. So I am going to go with this option...now on to my question (phew long winded isnt it...)

How do you all go about making sure that the image you see on your monitor arrives back as a printed image looking exactly the same? Calibrate my monitor...to what though, is there a photo lab standard? Is it trial and error, do you "learn" how to present your images to your lab? Do you send off for a 4x6 in various combinations of exposure and colour balance to see which looks the best then go with that (ie a test print)? Can you speak to your lab and get them to help?

I find this very puzzleing and would really appreciate some feedback and advice based on your own experience.

Cheers

Escapism

[Yi-P]

I'm not a print expert, but here is what I will do:

Ask your pro lab to supply you with their printer's ICC printer colour profile.

Copy your received ICC profile from the lab into your system colour profile directory (C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\color).

In photoshop, load the ICC profile as your soft proof profile (view-> proof setup -> custom) -- check on perceptual rendering intent. With a calibrated monitor and a bit of guessing, you are actually looking at what will be printed out of the machine.

After done all these, you must activate soft proof colour mode by selecting (view -> proof colors).

I hope this helps...

[Escapism]

Mate, that is exactly the information I was looking for. I had no idea I could approach my lab for that sort of info. I will contact them tomorrow.

Cheers

[Mr Darcy]

Only the better labs will be able to comply. The others will go "Huh???" or similar.

[Escapism]

Yeah I dont doubt that...

[Escapism]

Just thought I would update.

Contacted 3 "pro" labs by email requesting their ICC profile. All three PHONED me back to say that provideing the file would not be a problem. Two labs said to come in and they would run me off a free test print to be sure I was happy with my calibration before moving forward.

Pays to ask...

[adam]

ah great
Tell us how it goes

I went to one on Fitzgerald street the other day to ask some things, I'm very happy that they are very friendly.

[Aussie Dave]

Just thought I would update.

Contacted 3 "pro" labs by email requesting their ICC profile. All three PHONED me back to say that provideing the file would not be a problem. Two labs said to come in and they would run me off a free test print to be sure I was happy with my calibration before moving forward.

Pays to ask...

Good quality labs will be able to give you a sample sheet which can often downloaded from their website (or from your own image) for you to compare the image on your screen to the test print they've run off for you.
As long as the image on your monitor looks like the test print, you're in business. Of course, if they re-calibrate their machine or you decide to use a different lab, you'll need to do the process again....

Might be a good time to invest in a monitor calibration kit !

[zeddy]

sorry i don't want to hi-jack your thread but what labs to you guys recommend in sydney?
thanks zsolt

[Paul]

I've used Campsie Digital Prolab quite a few times now, would recommend them to anyone using film or digital.

http://www.digitalprolab.com.au/index.html

[Yi-P]

Another one is pixel perfect in Chippendale.

http://www.pixelperfect.com.au

They appear to be one of the very strict colour managed labs. Prices are not too cheap but tho if you are doing serious works, its not that bad either.

Since they are so strict with stuffs, you need to be careful with your editing before sending it in. If your file reads 150cm x 300cm, they WILL PRINT that size and bill you on that size. Be careful.