did you try to convert the images to cmyk and print them that way instead of srgb? as far as i know, the big printing companies are working in cmyk system
I really like that first image labelled Veldweg, Daniken. Right up my alley is that one.
I have recently started making my own prints and the quick feedback this gives me is very satisfying. My plan now is to print, print and print some more this year. I have a lot to learn and I know practice is the only way to get there. Like you, I'm not sure I will be the sort to print all the time, so I was looking for a printer that didn't have to be used every day just to survive. This is the promise of the Epson Ecotank 8550, which I am told can sit for weeks without the print head drying out. We shall see. I have already begun thinking of 2025 as the year of the print and my last two substack posts have been on that topic.
I used to be quite disappointed by prints I ordered online until one day I read that to get more realistic results, turn the brightness of your monitor down by half. This better mimics the way light reflects off paper rather than the backlit screen look which no paper can reproduce. With my expectations adjusted in this way, I began to see why I was not getting the results I thought I should. Setting the screen brightness to 50% really helps previsualize the print and lowers one's expectations of what is possible. I haven't printed regularly since the seventies when I had a black and white darkroom. I also printed some cibachromes back then, rolling the colour prints in a plastic drum to wash the prints.
Once I moved to the country however, I could no longer afford the water needed to properly wash negatives and prints. Neither did I want to toss my spent chemicals into my septic system, so I just gave up on printing. Digital printing is bringing me back to the full circle of photography I enjoyed in my youth.
Even if you don't color calibrate your screen, decreasing the brightness is simply a step you need to do; pretty much all screens are way too bright by default. To match the 120cd/m2 I have to turn the brightness on my monitor all the way down to 20% :-)
Sure in (bright) daylight I do increase it do 40-50%, just to see things better. But in general I only edit my photos in the evening hours (so in a more dimly lit room anyway), then I have my screen at 20% brightness, which is perfectly fine to look at.
Great that you have found the enjoyment again in printing. Wouldn't mind trying "old school" darkroom printing, just to get an appreciation for the process, but I think I stick to digital printing too ;-)
That Epson printer is indeed very nice. I quite appreciate it that you can actual see the ink levels. Not some dodgy software telling your that "your ink level is low" when it's still half full ...
did you try to convert the images to cmyk and print them that way instead of srgb? as far as i know, the big printing companies are working in cmyk system
Yes I guess they do work in CMYK on their printing machines, but Saal specifically says:
"You can use image files in sRGB (sRGB IEC61966-2.1), Adobe RGB (1998) and ProPhoto RGB for photo prints."
and:
"The following colour spaces are not accepted:
Image files with embedded camera colour profiles
Image files in CMYK or ECI colour space
Special colours, such as HKS, RAL, Pantone cannot be produced"
I really like that first image labelled Veldweg, Daniken. Right up my alley is that one.
I have recently started making my own prints and the quick feedback this gives me is very satisfying. My plan now is to print, print and print some more this year. I have a lot to learn and I know practice is the only way to get there. Like you, I'm not sure I will be the sort to print all the time, so I was looking for a printer that didn't have to be used every day just to survive. This is the promise of the Epson Ecotank 8550, which I am told can sit for weeks without the print head drying out. We shall see. I have already begun thinking of 2025 as the year of the print and my last two substack posts have been on that topic.
I used to be quite disappointed by prints I ordered online until one day I read that to get more realistic results, turn the brightness of your monitor down by half. This better mimics the way light reflects off paper rather than the backlit screen look which no paper can reproduce. With my expectations adjusted in this way, I began to see why I was not getting the results I thought I should. Setting the screen brightness to 50% really helps previsualize the print and lowers one's expectations of what is possible. I haven't printed regularly since the seventies when I had a black and white darkroom. I also printed some cibachromes back then, rolling the colour prints in a plastic drum to wash the prints.
Once I moved to the country however, I could no longer afford the water needed to properly wash negatives and prints. Neither did I want to toss my spent chemicals into my septic system, so I just gave up on printing. Digital printing is bringing me back to the full circle of photography I enjoyed in my youth.
Thanks John!
Even if you don't color calibrate your screen, decreasing the brightness is simply a step you need to do; pretty much all screens are way too bright by default. To match the 120cd/m2 I have to turn the brightness on my monitor all the way down to 20% :-)
Sure in (bright) daylight I do increase it do 40-50%, just to see things better. But in general I only edit my photos in the evening hours (so in a more dimly lit room anyway), then I have my screen at 20% brightness, which is perfectly fine to look at.
Great that you have found the enjoyment again in printing. Wouldn't mind trying "old school" darkroom printing, just to get an appreciation for the process, but I think I stick to digital printing too ;-)
That Epson printer is indeed very nice. I quite appreciate it that you can actual see the ink levels. Not some dodgy software telling your that "your ink level is low" when it's still half full ...
Cheers and thanks for your insights.
Saal has a paper sample package which you can order from them, which is very helpful choosig the right.
Yes that’s actually a good idea. I knew they do sell these sample packs, but I forgot about them :) Thanks for the reminder!