What's up with my prints

[chipy]

hi guys. i used Adobe Lightroom Beta 3 to print a couple of photos (with no changes) and the pictures came out darker than what I see on my screen. i don't think it's LR3 becase i looked at my jpg pictures with Windows Photo Gallery software and the pictures look fine.

i have a Canon BJC-8200 and the print quality is excellent... it's just the prints are darker than what's on my laptop screen. could it be that one of my ink cartrdiges is low? how would i check? thanks!

 

[virtuamike]

How are you calibrating your monitor? If not, you should.

 

[arrfep]

Are you running any calibration hardware? Unfortunately, what a monitor shows isn't always what the colors are in "real life," so to speak.

Another thing to consider is the fact that when you're looking at a photo on a monitor, it's backlit. Things will appear brighter than they are. Sometimes, to get a good print, the photo will look excessively bright on screen.

Mostly though, if you're into making prints at home on even a casual basis, you should spring for some calibration hardware. You can get a system for under a hundred bucks.

 

[Cattykit]

I need to hear more from you to rule out it's the calibration issue but it's highly likely.

What I know for sure is this:
Default setting of monitors are bright, bright and bright. Turn the brightness and contrast down.

Tune your monitor by following below linked guide.

http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

 

[corkyg]

It does sound like your monitor is set brighter than the actual data. Can you print out the same picture using a different software? That would help determine if there is a difference in your LR betaware.

 

[yhelothar]

Are you running any calibration hardware? Unfortunately, what a monitor shows isn't always what the colors are in "real life," so to speak.

Another thing to consider is the fact that when you're looking at a photo on a monitor, it's backlit. Things will appear brighter than they are. Sometimes, to get a good print, the photo will look excessively bright on screen.

Mostly though, if you're into making prints at home on even a casual basis, you should spring for some calibration hardware. You can get a system for under a hundred bucks.

More like around $60-100 for an entry level one.

 

[chipy]

thanks guys. it seems like like my laptop monitor might need to be calibrated based on everyone's opinions. i will try printing out the same pic with another program.

 

[arrfep]

More like around $60-100 for an entry level one.

Lol. Pretty sure $60-100 qualifies as under $100.

OP, another idea. Take your files to a Ritz or something, get a couple prints made. See how different they look than your monitor. If they look the same as your monitor, then the problem is with your printer.

 

[Cattykit]

Lol. Pretty sure $60-100 qualifies as under $100.

OP, another idea. Take your files to a Ritz or something, get a couple prints made. See how different they look than your monitor. If they look the same as your monitor, then the problem is with your printer.

For that, make sure the printing shop does not 'enhance' pictures you send.
Many, if not all, shops adjust brightness and contrast levels. I don't know how many times I've told those shops to print images as they are yet to find out they always mess with it.