I've gone through a similar kind of Hell.....trying to get prints that look the way they're supposed to look, the way they looked when I processed them.
The bottom line is that for the most part, the printing company will just wash their hands of the issue and tell you that you did something wrong.
You have to do two things......stick to your knowledge of how the image SHOULD look, because ultimately, you will need to know you can get prints done properly.
The most important part is to find a printing company that will work with you.
Bottom line.......you and they WILL see things differently, so you have to familiarize yourself with how their prints come out, and they need to know your needs, to get the prints right.
You can calibrate 'til you're blue in the face (Or red, depending on your calibration!), but there will always be some variation between printers, monitors, and the eye.
Npow there will most likely be a lot of resistance to this theory of mine, but having gone through a series of printing companies, and the people who work them, this is based on my own personal findings......your mileage may vary.....
Point I'm making is this.....if you build a good working relationship with a printing company, they know you'll come back, and if they work with you, you'll want to do business with them.
It's simple common sense. But the onus of establishing that relationship is on you, and it's not likely to be the first place you try.
Be willing to pay them for their time as they tailor their techniques to your tastes.
The results are well worth it.
I just brought home two firsts in class at my camera club's first competition of the year due to the excellent work that was done on my images by my printer.....I made sure to call them and tell them that.
|
