Print Lab Questions

[LizG]

I was looking at the posts about about professional print labs, and there is a very long list. I have some friends who want to order some of my pictures, and of course I want to get the best prints possible, so I have a few questions:

1. Which professional lab do you like the best, and why? I ordered some calibration prints from Full Color, Dallas, and they seem pretty good. Anyone have experience with them, or could recommend another place that is exceptional?

2. Do you always use studio manged color, or is there anytime you would have the lab do the color correcting?

3. Calibration. Do you have a specific devise to help with this or is it possible to just order prints and try to get the color on your monitor to match the prints as close as possible? It seems like as much as try to adjust my monitors/video card, there are still some differences-will this always be the case, even with using a calibration devise?

Thanks!

[ronocnikral]

i am a novice in the world of color mgmt and color correcting so keep that in mind while weighing my advice.

a calibration tool such as colorimeter is a must. we use an eye-one 2. others use spyder 3. all the eye-one does is try to standardize any RBG value we see on our screen is the same output on someone elses. The problem with color mgmt is that there is a piece of it that is left to human interpretation, even more so if you are trying to calibrate your monitor with just your eye alone. And even more so when it comes to printing devices (jmo). That's why it's important to find a lab that provides excellent results that you like, b/c it is not just all science, even if you have their color profile, there can still be some interpretation left to them. there is only so much you can do and so many variables. So, to me, you are buying that interpretation. and the end result is left up to human interpretation, there are just some things that are more important to be accurate on than others (skin tones is a big one for portrait work).

Unless you have full control over everything (printers included) from start to finish, it will be very difficult to achieve an exact print/monitor match. That's why I suggest developing a working relationship with a lab that cares enough to talk to you and work with you. We still print with a lab in salt lake city b/c of this relationship. they are a little more on the pricey side, but our print prices are adjusted accordingly. if you want their info you can send me a pm. or if you aren't that picky just send it off to mpix, their results are pretty good.

there are others who are more qualified to answer this, but it's my 2 cents. I'm still working my way through fraser's book...

[epoh]

I am a big fan of Miller's. I've ordered prints both ways, and I would only do lab color correcting if the the shot is basically all natural light - no curves adjustment or anything of the sort. I preferred to stick with my own color management.

[ronocnikral]

Originally Posted by epoh

I am a big fan of Miller's. I've ordered prints both ways, and I would only do lab color correcting if the the shot is basically all natural light - no curves adjustment or anything of the sort. I preferred to stick with my own color management.

regardless of what you do in post, working with a lab and their color mgmt/color correction is important. there is only so much you can do...calibrating your monitor and using their color profile will get you in the ballpark.

the important thing is that you are getting satisfactory and consistent results. which if you are, i don't know why you would use a lab's color correction services for some and not use it for others.

[epoh]

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

regardless of what you do in post, working with a lab and their color mgmt/color correction is important. there is only so much you can do...calibrating your monitor and using their color profile will get you in the ballpark.

the important thing is that you are getting satisfactory and consistent results. which if you are, i don't know why you would use a lab's color correction services for some and not use it for others.

Because of post-processing. The color correction process they use doesn't necessarily know you intentionally blew out the yellow channel, or upped the saturation on the blues, etc. Any good professional print lab should have predictable results, once you've calibrated your monitor and done few test prints. I know exactly how my prints from Miller's will turn out, so why would I want or need someone else editing the photo?

[ronocnikral]

Originally Posted by epoh

Because of post-processing. The color correction process they use doesn't necessarily know you intentionally blew out the yellow channel, or upped the saturation on the blues, etc. Any good professional print lab should have predictable results, once you've calibrated your monitor and done few test prints. I know exactly how my prints from Miller's will turn out, so why would I want or need someone else editing the photo?

I understand that. And my original point stands, that you will most likely not get WYSIWYG results by just calibrating your monitor and uploading a color profile from a lab. It can get you very close however. We trust our lab and when we call them a) someone picks up the phone and b)the person who picks up the phone knows who we are. They know our style and everything, which is why we prefer a personal working relationship.

Originally Posted by ronocnikral

the important thing is that you are getting satisfactory and consistent results.

My other point also stands (which is what we are agreeing on). If you are getting consistent and satisfactory results, then why fix something that isn't broken? we prefer the personal relationship, but many (a good majority) are happy with the results from places like millers or even mpix. and there isn't a right or wrong way. the end result is left to human interpretation (trained or untrained, I know a lot of prints that aren't satisfactory to us would be for others), so it boils down to how picky your eye is and/or how good you are.

[msthomas]

About a year plus ago I used Pounds lab. They have office in Dallas.
http://www.poundslabs.com/
I like their turn around time and their online support.
They support most types of prints also.
I think one time I used Full Color also and had great results from them also.