Order of operations

[pschlute]

A question about what order should one perform actions when preparing an image for printing. I send my images to a to a commercial printer who require images in sRGB. They supply profiles for the specific papers.

I edit my images from raw in Photoshop with Adobe RGB working space. Once all editing (except resizing/output sharpening) is done I save as a TIFF in Adobe RGB space.

I then need to:

1. Resize (usually downsize but sometimes a small up size) to the printers requirements of 300ppi/print size.

2. Convert image to sRGB

3. Apply output sharpening for print.

I always perform output sharpening last (USM), but am unsure if there is a benefit of performing the re-size before or after the colour space conversion.

Thanks.

[xpatUSA]

A question about what order should one perform actions when preparing an image for printing. I send my images to a to a commercial printer who require images in sRGB. They supply profiles for the specific papers.

I edit my images from raw in Photoshop with Adobe RGB working space. Once all editing (except resizing/output sharpening) is done I save as a TIFF in Adobe RGB space.

I then need to:

1. Resize (usually downsize but sometimes a small up size) to the printers requirements of 300ppi/print size.

2. Convert image to sRGB

3. Apply output sharpening for print.

I always perform output sharpening last (USM), but am unsure if there is a benefit of performing the re-size before or after the colour space conversion.

Thanks.

For me, resizing is my penultimate step (just before output-sharpening). Color space conversion (not assignment) involves changing the RGB values of each pixel and I would rather do that on the larger image.

But I can't say why, Peter, it's just a gut feeling ...

[Manfred M]

My workflow is what Ted recommends, for the same reasons he gives, but in practice, I don't think flipping steps 1 and 2 have meaningful differences in output. A little might depend on the print processed used, but it too is unlikely to make any meaningful difference.

The image file you are working on will have somewhere between billions of colours to millions of colours; depending on the bit depth and colour space you are working in. Any print process is is going to give you hundreds of thousands of individual colours, depending on the print process / paper used. High end ink jet photo printers (12 ink, multiple dot sizes) will produced the widest gamut and can exceed the Adobe RGB colour space. All the other processes are based on the sRGB colour space; digital press, dye sublimation and chromogenic printing. Frankly an 8-bit JPEG is all that is required to feed any of these print processes, although I would go with at least the Adobe RGB colour space if not the ProPhoto (16-bit) for high end ink-jet work.

[DanK]

I agree. I think the order of the first two steps won't make a noticeable difference. However, resizing does affect sharpness, so the convention is to resize last.

I almost never use a lab, but some labs ask that you NOT resize the image. If I recall correctly, when I used Bay Photo years ago, they asked that you send them the largest file you can and leave it to them to resize.

[pschlute]

Thanks guys. I am sure I have asked this before but couldn't find the thread.

[xpatUSA]

I agree. I think the order of the first two steps won't make a noticeable difference. However, resizing does affect sharpness, so the convention is to resize last.

I'm a bit puzzled, Dan. Is that saying that resizing is the last thing to be done and therefore comes after output sharpening?

I almost never use a lab, but some labs ask that you NOT resize the image. If I recall correctly, when I used Bay Photo years ago, they asked that you send them the largest file you can and leave it to them to resize.

Interesting request ... you don't get to choose the re-sampling algorithm and by definition you accept whatever effects their re-sampling causes.

[Manfred M]

Interesting request ... you don't get to choose the re-sampling algorithm and by definition you accept whatever effects their re-sampling causes.

That is correct. You go to the lab for their expertise and they will apply that to your image. They make the rules to accept your work. There are different levels of labs; from the commercial high volume outfits (think Costco and perhaps one step up) to custom printers who will work (and charge) the photographer to create exactly what you ask them to.

As a general rule, the mass production labs require an 8-bit sRGB JPEG for use on their chromogenic process and things go up from there. A high end custom lab may accept a fully finished 16-bit TIFF file in the Adobe RGB colour space. Virtually all work with Adobe products and their technicians will tell you what they will do to get the optimal print. You are paying for their expertise....

[DanK]

Sorry, Ted, I typed too quickly. I meant resizing after everything BUT output sharpening.


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