Hey everyone! Quick question which will most likely be obvious to many of you but I don't have enough experience to know yet:
If I want to process a portrait for printing (at Costco, for instance), what do I need to do?
Background: This month I've started to take family portraits for my friends and it looks like it is going to transition into a little on-location family portrait business. I have a handle on almost everything, but I have printed so few of my images I have no idea what needs to be done to get good, consistent print quality.
I'll usually be handing the client a CD and letting them print their own, but I want to make sure the images I process for them print correctly. Costco (using a Snapfish interface but their own printers, unsure of the type) allows you to use their automatic correcting option or turn it off and send the file straight to the printer. I'm assuming sRGB is the way to go, but I am curious what I need to be careful of on images that will be printed. For example:
1. What color calibration do I use? Can I proof it on the monitor?
2. Are there any concerns about blowing out highlights or having shadows too dark?
3. How should I sharpen the print (say, for an 8x10)?
Do most of you just let the autocorrect do its magic? Is there an advantage (quality-wise) for certain online sites or a smaller printing shop?
Am I overly concerned about this stuff and it usually just turns out right?
Sorry for the long post with many questions, but I'll need to be printing this week so I'd like to get my process straightened out. I've found very little info on the web, too (although I have seen Smugmug's stuff, including the skintone discussion).
Thanks in advance! |
