Is this too dark?

[Colin Southern]

Hi John,

It probably depends on how customer focused the shop is. Around here it'll probably go something like this "Right ... that's $20 thanks - will that be cash or EFTPOS?". Actually, I lie ... they probably won't say the "thanks" bit.

Most aren't in a hurry to reprint anything at their expense - especially if they perceive that it's not their fault, and no, they generally don't do themselves any favours with this approach in my opinion.

[arith]

I don't know why this latest printer offered to send a sample because when I suggsted it is -2.5 ev underexposed and that I would take a risk if he can increase exposure so that the boards in the roof of the tram have clear definition and you can tell the time on the chaps watch he just gave me the cold shoulder.

[Blazing fire]

In my opinion, that's the key to all of this ... make all the adjustments I need to - but - do them in front of the customer (aside from those adjustments I know need to be made for the sake of the printer / ink / media characteristics). I can also tell you that 99 times out of 100 I can do a better job of post-processing or retouching someone's image than they can (which is why I always just try to get the original RAW file from them) (and yes, that includes professional photographers who have literally made millions of dollars from photography).

That's a bold statement! But considering your photos, I can believe your claim.

[Colin Southern]

That's a bold statement! But considering your photos, I can believe your claim.

It probably sounds pretty arrogant, but I really don't mean it to sound that way. What you'll probably find is that many top photographers don't retouch their own images (nor print them) - that's what retouchers and printers are for; so in general I probably have better retouching & skills than them, but far less experience and skill when it comes to the actual shooting (alas, I'm not paid millions for my photographic skills ... yet! ) I'm kinda an all-rounder who tries to raise my skill level across all areas. When it comes to retouching and printing work from your average point & shoot photographer it's pretty easy to make improvements since their work is often un-retouched anyway.

[deddlebugs]

I've been reading this as I too was disappointed at changes done to my photos at a print lab. I have a calibrated monitor and a Epson Photo Stylus 2200 printer which I've been using with great success. I wanted to get away from the print making part of my business so I looked into photo labs. After several trial bases with different ones, I finally went back to doing my own. Here is the reason, I sent in a photo of a hummingbird with a complementary multi green blurred background, which was the original color of the background. It came back from the photolabs as a blue background. The sky was not the backdrop, nor was there a blue building, it was a bunch of plants and the blue did not compliment the bird as nicely as the green. When I complained they told me I didn't have my monitor calibrated and they suggested that I use one like they had. Well...I informed them that I did use the one they had. They then suggested that I get a higher end monitor. I replied that I had not one but two excellent monitors. They refunded my money! I am now looking into purchasing a larger inkjet printer to print my larger photos. So, I understand all of your frustrations. My only advice to anyone asking is if you are a serious fine art photographer you need to print your images yourself.

[arith]

That is exactly right. They don't know even the basic stuff about customer care; they could suggest sending several exposure examples, print them and ask which one. It is all an easy job where you just blame the other persons equipment. If I had what they suggest I wouldn't need their help.

[Dave Humphries]

The example of sending a picture to the printers with a deliberate predominant colour that then gets neutralised (or partially so) by the printer seems to be a common problem.

I know it shouldn't be necessary, but I do wonder if also sending a grey scale image with the same profile, etc. and words across it saying something like

"All the images I have sent with this slide should use this for a 'white balance' reference. Do not print this, but please do use it as a colour temperature/WB reference. Any enclosed pictures that you may think have a colour cast are actually deliberately that way and I will be extremely disappointed if the white balance has been altered"

Just an idea, if it didn't work, at least you'd have something the person printing couldn't avoid seeing (unlike instructions sent in an e-mail).

You'll note I avoided anything like threatening not to pay, that's a discussion for later if they still stuff it up

[Colin Southern]

The other thing to keep in mind is that just like restaurants, where we have the "McDonalds" at one end and the "Gordon Ramsey" type restaurant at the other ...

... we have printing services that are just the same.