All Forum Comments
Comment by paullucas posted on New K20D with new sigma 105mm macro lens at 01/06/2009 - 22:12
I very, very rarely print my photographs at home, but in the past I noticed that my prints were totally different when printed in a lab. This changed when I went to a fantastic professional lab based in Oxfordshire. They advised me to calibrate all my computers as they were sure my screens were slightly out.
Simon you are spot on and this is the main reason I calibrate. I started to write something regarding printing labs then I read your comment.
It's even more important that I calibrate both my PC and my laptop as I have a professional printer (Olmec 1000) that I take to events, this has to be calibrated as well. With all these calibrated I know that I will get the true colour.
Paul
simonkit wrote:
Your comments are perhaps valid if talking about home printing but if sending prints to a lab/online print company it's important to have confidence that your images are as you hope...the internet is full of complaints from people critising labs etc for poor quality prints when in many cases its actually their own workflow that's at fault
Considering how much people spend on cameras/lenses etc etc the costs of a decent calibration device is relatively insignificant and will definitely help make sure you reap the full benefits of all that cash spend on equipment
Your comments are perhaps valid if talking about home printing but if sending prints to a lab/online print company it's important to have confidence that your images are as you hope...the internet is full of complaints from people critising labs etc for poor quality prints when in many cases its actually their own workflow that's at fault
Considering how much people spend on cameras/lenses etc etc the costs of a decent calibration device is relatively insignificant and will definitely help make sure you reap the full benefits of all that cash spend on equipment
Simon you are spot on and this is the main reason I calibrate. I started to write something regarding printing labs then I read your comment.
It's even more important that I calibrate both my PC and my laptop as I have a professional printer (Olmec 1000) that I take to events, this has to be calibrated as well. With all these calibrated I know that I will get the true colour.
Paul
Comment by paullucas posted on Who calibrates their screen at 01/06/2009 - 21:37
Darkmunk wrote:
this picture seems to suggest that your monitor is not displaying the dark end very well, or the ambient light falling on your monitor is too great. Either that or you aren't bothered by noisy backgrounds.
I don't mean this harshly Paul, I am am genuinely curious to know if you can see it and are just not concerned (sometime noise is good).
Personally, I haven't found an affordable system, so I go by trial an error.
Nice, gruesome picture by the way. My daughter's worse nightmare - lots of little moving things
This image is straight from the camera, no noise reduction, no nothing...well except for a bit of a crop. I'm working on a large job at the moment and decided to have a break by popping this image on. this picture seems to suggest that your monitor is not displaying the dark end very well, or the ambient light falling on your monitor is too great. Either that or you aren't bothered by noisy backgrounds.
I don't mean this harshly Paul, I am am genuinely curious to know if you can see it and are just not concerned (sometime noise is good).
Personally, I haven't found an affordable system, so I go by trial an error.
Nice, gruesome picture by the way. My daughter's worse nightmare - lots of little moving things
So basically what you see is what you get.
Edit: oh and of course the writing on the image, that's the only 2 things done to the image
Paul
Comment by paullucas posted on Who calibrates their screen at 01/06/2009 - 16:00
Anvh wrote:
I don't thinking shipping is cheap paul with such big package
I have a quote for the p&p and they say it cost £60 + vat. Considering that the kit weighs 20kg I don't think that's bad.I don't thinking shipping is cheap paul with such big package
Anyway I'll leave that with you.
Paul
Comment by paullucas posted on Considering a studio kit at 01/06/2009 - 14:55
I have been meaning to ask this for quite a while now and it's only when I have commented on a forum today that I have noticed that not everyone calibrates their screen.
To me, everyone should, from the absolute beginner to the professional.
Also if you do calibrate, how often do you check it?
Personally I check mine every 2 weeks or if I have a particular job I do it before I start working on them, this could mean that I do it 2-3 days after the last check.
I have the Spyder 3 Pro, and like many others it also takes into account the ambient light and constantly adjusts the screen when the lighting changes.
It would be good to know who does this and if there is anyone that doesn't think it's necessary.
Paul
To me, everyone should, from the absolute beginner to the professional.
Also if you do calibrate, how often do you check it?
Personally I check mine every 2 weeks or if I have a particular job I do it before I start working on them, this could mean that I do it 2-3 days after the last check.
I have the Spyder 3 Pro, and like many others it also takes into account the ambient light and constantly adjusts the screen when the lighting changes.
It would be good to know who does this and if there is anyone that doesn't think it's necessary.
Paul
Comment by paullucas posted on Who calibrates their screen at 01/06/2009 - 14:12
Aiki
I wasn't having a dig at your images, not at all. All I was merely doing was suggest to you to maybe calibrate your screen as this will definetly help with you images.
You do not have to be a pro to calibrate your screen, it's done so that you can get the best out of your pictures. Have you ever printed an image and it comes out different to what it does on screen? The need for every photographer, from absolute beginner to pro is a must.
You can calibrate your screen in a number of ways, here's a step by step way of doing it and it's free link
Or you can buy a screen calibrator which is by far the best way to do it. It's probably best to try it for free first before spending money, they range from £60-£300 or more.
If you search on the forum for screen calibration you will see tutorials already written and they go into great depth and explain it much better than I can,
So Aiki, I wasn't having a go at your photographs at all, it's not my place to do that. I was just giving my views as I believe that all photographers should do this.
Hope this helps
Paul
I wasn't having a dig at your images, not at all. All I was merely doing was suggest to you to maybe calibrate your screen as this will definetly help with you images.
You do not have to be a pro to calibrate your screen, it's done so that you can get the best out of your pictures. Have you ever printed an image and it comes out different to what it does on screen? The need for every photographer, from absolute beginner to pro is a must.
You can calibrate your screen in a number of ways, here's a step by step way of doing it and it's free link
Or you can buy a screen calibrator which is by far the best way to do it. It's probably best to try it for free first before spending money, they range from £60-£300 or more.
If you search on the forum for screen calibration you will see tutorials already written and they go into great depth and explain it much better than I can,
So Aiki, I wasn't having a go at your photographs at all, it's not my place to do that. I was just giving my views as I believe that all photographers should do this.
Hope this helps
Paul
Comment by paullucas posted on pirate sparrows at 01/06/2009 - 13:57
I'm a tad confused, which for a Monday morning is not an unusual thing!
I thought that Pentaxbabe took the image.
My only thoughts that a flash was used were because the way that particular leaf that the damsel is on has some reflections on it. Maybe it's because the leaf was directly in the sun.
Very good shot though, personally I would have gone for a tighter crop and cut out the leaves behind...but I
am a fussy person anyway
Paul
Edited: spelling and grammar
I thought that Pentaxbabe took the image.
My only thoughts that a flash was used were because the way that particular leaf that the damsel is on has some reflections on it. Maybe it's because the leaf was directly in the sun.
Very good shot though, personally I would have gone for a tighter crop and cut out the leaves behind...but I
am a fussy person anyway
Paul
Edited: spelling and grammar
Comment by paullucas posted on New K20D with new sigma 105mm macro lens at 01/06/2009 - 12:00
Is the Damsel fly naturally lit or is there a touch of flash?
Paul
Paul
Comment by paullucas posted on New K20D with new sigma 105mm macro lens at 01/06/2009 - 11:47
Aiki wrote:
Avnh,
Underexposed? My screen is not calibrated I have always wondered, how others see my pics. For my eye it seems ok. Maybe its the matter of taste - )
AikiAvnh,
Underexposed? My screen is not calibrated I have always wondered, how others see my pics. For my eye it seems ok. Maybe its the matter of taste - )
One of the most, if not THE most, important things to do when processing images is to calibrate your screen, beit CRT or LCD.
If you are going to do any type of editing you MUST calibrate it. I check mine every week and also if I have a lot of work to do I will check it again.
Once your screen is calibrated you will see the benefit straight away and wonder how you have gone without it being done.
Paul
Comment by paullucas posted on pirate sparrows at 01/06/2009 - 11:40
I was in know way having a go at you or Amin and definitely didn't think you were misleading anyone.
I can be straight to the point on things but this must never be taken seriously
Paul