Monitor Brightness Settings

[parrotmomma]

What brightness setting is best for editing photos in PS? Especially for photos that will be printed via an online lab?

[phrelco]

Below is an informative link regarding monitor calibration. It also includes some links to online calibrators. For the best results though, a monitor calibrating system such as Spyder, One Eye or Color Munki is the way to go, especially if you wish to reconcile your prints with what you have painstakingly created through your monitor.

Monitor Calibration » Everyday HDR

[picman]

There is no one correct brightness setting - it is the subjective part of part of monitor calibration that is dependent on things like ambient room light. Do a Google search for "Why are my prints too dark" - lots of discussion on monitor brightness.

[srwatters]

I tried to turn up the brightness on my computer but most everything I read on the Internet is pretty dim... Ahh, the pun. The lowest form of humor...

BTW, no reflection on the OP. I just felt punny.

[oldrattler]

Originally Posted by parrotmomma

What brightness setting is best for editing photos in PS? Especially for photos that will be printed via an online lab?

You most likely should pickup a calibration system. I use Spyder 3 Pro which measures ambient & brightness. It then makes suggestions.. It is fast and easy. For ICC printer profiles you will need something like the Color Munki..

[parrotmomma]

Thanks for the info. I have turned the brightness down a bit, but I hate it. It seems too dark. I'm editing on an iMac, and the last order from Smugmug was way too dark. It's odd because my previous orders have been fine, then I upgraded to a Pro acct (which I think is a different lab.) and now I'm getting dark prints. My monitor IS calibrated, but they say it's the brightness. It's odd, because my images look fine on my iMac, my son's Macbook, my daughter's Dell, and my Android phone via the Smugmug app. I may upload a few prints to Walmart and see how THEY do! LOL

[venchka]

Does Smugmug provide a profile to use in creating the JPEG files for printing?
I went through the same thing last spring trying to print two sunset photos. If they were perfect on my monitor they came out way too dark on my printer. I reduced brightness & contrast AND I boosted the brightness of the originals on my monitor. I eventually got what I wanted on Moab Entrada natural rag paper.
Oddly enough, more normal photos (daylight) printed very close to what I see on the monitor.
After reading several "expert" accounts of the "screen to print matching myth", I now rely on print & adjust to get it the prints right for the less than ideal exposure photos.

[parrotmomma]

Wayne, I have now found out that SmugMug does have a comparison print gallery, and I have ordered some samples. I guess from now on I'll run a few test prints on my "eons from being anything close to photo quality printer" just to have some vague idea if how they might look. I've had great success ordering from a photo lab near my house, but wow are they expensive. I'll gladly wait for the mailman to save $6. on each 8x10