I recently had one of my pieces printed out (Kinkos). The first print came out pretty dark although it looked alright on my screen. I lightened it up via contrast and brightness in PSP8 and the second print came out fine. Is there a way of making it so that I get the right brightness for printing during the render? I currently have Gamma correction turned off, should it be on for printing purposes and off for monitor viewing? I'm hoping there is a simple solution. The trial and error way can start hurting the pockets when I want poster size prints.

You know..you ought to do this... do a test print.. take a smaller size ..normal photo size print..and then check. My printer chap normally does test prints..all on their cost.. they lighten/ darken it once they see the print..as printers vary. What you see on a comp varies from what the printer machine gives.. rule of thumb. If you need to do prints.. really professionally..go to a photo studio..ask for a test print..normally not charged..or at nominal cost.. and then you either do it yourself..or get them to do it on their comp.They won't mind doing it..esp if you go to one where professionals hang out. (I love New Lab in San Fransisco for this..and the one I go to in Bombay.) You get excellence..at a price worth it.

do it..btw..meant the corrrection. It's best if they do the color correction since they can judge the printer best. Ask if you can sit along with them..

Yeah, I always have trouble when I get renders printed out, they come out very purple :^(

There can be a big difference in how additive RGB and reflective/translucent process CMYK are percieved. So just like the others have said - test prints are necessary.

Thanks for the info. Looks like I'll be doing test prints first. Again thanks.

If you are using a Mac, you should calibrate your monitor. The best way to do this is to have a calibrator. You can buy them for around $300. The other way is to calibrate by eye, using the calibration steps in the system prefs > displays > color > calibrate. Then view you image in photoshop and softproof it. If you are doing your own prints via inkjet, you can get prints that will closely match your monitor. You will need a profile for your printer. Canon and Epson both provied profiles for there printers

Message edited on: 11/08/2004 16:47

Attached Link: Calibrate Monitor

If you have PhotoShop a new color profile can be made by going to Help/Color Management. ( It's best to create the profile manually, don't use the wizard )

i say hire calimero for the calibration job. :P

What's the STARTING POINT when calibrating a monitor, though? Is it controlled by software, or by buttons on the monitor, or what? What's the very FIRST step that you take? Signed: A. N. Idiot

Dear A.N Idiot, Put your hands on that strange shaped thingummy that's attached to your keyboard and wrongly called a mouse. Move it around so that the arrow on the screen falls on start. Left click on d 'moue..and when a menu type thinggy appear on your screen..move the mouse so that the highlited words become 'control panel'. Left click again..and as fast as possible..let go of your mouse. A 'window' appears.. look for adobe gamma. Left click on that. Read instructions carefully. And follow to a T. The rest..my dear..is simple enuff for an imbecile to understand. If you need any help..I advise you to fly in experts like us in..or call your mental hospital..it may be that your comp is brain dead. :-):-) :-) (all this in jest..but the info bits are not...) Besides..Pog..with a sign like this..it begs for the funny....:-) :-) Oh..this is for windows xp.

Dear A.N Idiot.. we welcome you to the highest of all high mensa club! Yeah!! Clap, clap, clap! :-) :-) :-) -signed... IQ 1000

Erosiaart I don't have an Adobe Gamma icon. I don't have photoshop, just PSP8. What do I do now?

Well I was going to post the same link as Stephen Ray......

stew..i have no idea..:-( :-( go to that link..that ought to be really helpful...