DPCPrints, print quality and a gallery showing

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/18/2005 04:29:50 PM · #1

First, thanks to whoever purchased that 4 X 5 glossy of my "Desert Storm" image from DPCPrints. ;)

I'm preparing a series of large scale prints for a gallery showing in January and thought I would run them through DPCPrints for quality control checking. It is always a good idea to have independent evaluation to be sure the gallery prints will have the highest quality possible.

It is an ongoing project but the images I will be chosing from for the showing are at: Gallery Showing Choices

I am doing all my own printing for the show because I want total artistic control over color and print quality. I've been meticulous to inspect and fine adjust my print files to remove haloing, electronic noise and artifacts at 100%-300% actual size, which appear huge on a monitor! I own a high quality Epson Stylus Pro 4000 printer which is capable of printing up to the largest sized print I will show (16" X 24"). Most prints will be 18" X 12".

As I've went along I made a discovery. Without exception every image I've submitted to DPCPrints that has a significant amount of soft focus background is rejected for 'poor quality' even though my own hard copy prints look very good.

My question is:
Has anyone else experienced 'poor quality' rejections from DPCPrints for images with large amounts of soft focused background? Or am I just out to lunch and it just so happens those particular images are really bad?

Here are some mitigating factors:
1-In defense of DPCPrints, all my 1.5:1 aspected print files are only scaled up to 24" X 16" at 300dpi and the review sizes are all the way up to 30" X 20". But that is still well above the recommended minimum 150dpi and still comes in at 240dpi at the larger size.

2-I'm printing from my .tif RGB original print files and not from the .jpg sRGB images generated from them that are uploaded to DPCPrints.

3-Most images at 20" X 16" or larger had to be saved at slightly less than maximum .jpg quality to remain under the 16 megabyte size limit for DPCPrints uploads.

Any comments or insight into this issue would be appreciated.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

11/18/2005 04:42:46 PM · #2

The first thing to note is that you don't need to get the photos approved to print them for yourself -- only if you want them to be available for sale to the public. Therefore, you can still conduct your tests if you want, regardless of the opinion of the admins.

However, I think it's pointless to "test" an image on not only a different device, but using an entirely different technology than the final output. The only reason to "test" at DPCP is if that's where you're going to make the final prints. If you're printing on your Epson, then I think that's the only appropriate place to run a test print.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

11/18/2005 04:44:53 PM · #3

I just uploaded my first pic for possible print. How long does the approval take and how do I know when it's approved? Do I set my prices after that?

kearock

Nikon D90

11/18/2005 04:52:27 PM · #4

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

I just uploaded my first pic for possible print. How long does the approval take and how do I know when it's approved? Do I set my prices after that?

I think most of mine have taking roughly 24 hours. Once it's approved it will say "Approved! Your print has been approved. Begin selling now!" under Sell Your Print and the words 'Begin selling' are a link to the page where you activate it for sale and set your prices.

11/18/2005 05:10:36 PM · #5

Originally posted by GeneralE:

This is not a test. Just because I am doing my own printing for a special showing does not mean I am just conducting a DPCPrints experiment. Approved images will be put up for sale at DPCPrints.

Understood that I do not need to get approval for me to order my own prints from DPCPrints.

I'm surprised that prints are being rejected for poor quality and have noted that all rejected submissions are images with a lot of soft focused background and would like to know if there is a connection. I want to know if the poor quality is related to the soft focused backgrounds or if there is another issue so it can be corrected.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

11/18/2005 05:15:21 PM · #6

Originally posted by kearock:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I just uploaded my first pic for possible print. How long does the approval take and how do I know when it's approved? Do I set my prices after that?

I think most of mine have taking roughly 24 hours. Once it's approved it will say "Approved! Your print has been approved. Begin selling now!" under Sell Your Print and the words 'Begin selling' are a link to the page where you activate it for sale and set your prices.

Is that on the DPC Prints site or on my Portfolio? I'm still a bit confused.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

11/18/2005 05:21:18 PM · #7

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Originally posted by kearock:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I just uploaded my first pic for possible print. How long does the approval take and how do I know when it's approved? Do I set my prices after that?

BTW - DrAchoo, Congrats on the second place ribbon in Landscapes II!!

I think most of mine have taking roughly 24 hours. Once it's approved it will say "Approved! Your print has been approved. Begin selling now!" under Sell Your Print and the words 'Begin selling' are a link to the page where you activate it for sale and set your prices.

Is that on the DPC Prints site or on my Portfolio? I'm still a bit confused.

You check for approval of your image in your portfolio... once approved you can select and set print prices that show on DPCPrints in your storefront.

And, like GeneralE said, your images do not have to be approved for you to order prints yourself. They need to be approved so others can see and order prints through DPCPrints storefronts.

Message edited by author 2005-11-18 17:26:45.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

11/18/2005 05:24:15 PM · #8

Originally posted by stdavidson:

I'm surprised that prints are being rejected for poor quality and have noted that all rejected submissions are images with a lot of soft focused background and would like to know if there is a connection. I want to know if the poor quality is related to the soft focused backgrounds or if there is another issue so it can be corrected.

I've not heard anyone else mention this as a problem.

It seems to me your best bet would be to write Drew & Langdon directly and discuss the specifics with them -- they're the ones who've reviewed the image at high resolution. Everyone else here would just be guessing.