Topic: sending photos to a print shop (Read 3345 times)

instinctive · « **on:** January 19, 2008, 11:38:41 am »

I would like to send my photos to a print shop (costco, whcc, etc). All these print shops publish printer profiles for their specific printers.

The expectation is, after working on the photo in Lightroom, you export the photo as a 100% JPG color corrected to the specific printer profile.

I don't see how to do this critical final step - I must be overlooking something? I see how to (1) export the photo as JPG in sRGB or ProPhoto or whatever (basically three fixed choices), or (2) print (directly to a printer) using a custom printer profile. But I don't see how to export the photo as a JPG with a custom printer profile.

Can someone help? Thanks.

Charles

Nat Coalson · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2008, 12:51:48 pm »

The correct term for those kind of service bureaus is "photo lab". A print shop does offset lithography.

Currently in Lightroom you can't convert to color spaces other than Adobe RGB, ProPhoto and sRGB.

You'll need to do that in Photoshop.

First, download the lab's profiles and put them into the correct folder on your operating system. (You need to do this with PS not running; it loads the profiles on launch.)

On Mac, it's /Library/ColorSync/Profiles/

On Windows, right click on the profile and from the popup choose "Install Profile".

In Photoshop, under the Edit menu, select "Covert to Profile". In this dialog box, choose the lab's profile. Use Adobe's ACE Engine, Perceptual Intent, and Black Point Compensation. If Dithering is available use that too.

Save your converted file in the format requested by the lab. Make sure to use internet-friendly names (no spaces or special characters.)

You're now ready to upload or burn to disc.

airchinapilot · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2008, 02:02:23 pm »

I hope this isn't hijacking this thread but...

What if the photo lab doesn't give you a color profile (the one I like to use -- they are friendly -- gave me the model name of their printer but I couldn't find any useful information about it) but instead offers to print a test strip?

Forgive me but I am way beyond my developing days (in high school!) so I don't know what to do with one if they gave me one.

cn15 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 20, 2008, 10:38:15 pm »

Hi Charles,
A few months ago, I asked a similar question on this forum and got some useful answers. You may want to read the thread here as it pertains to CS3:
http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/index....topic=20326&hl=

I don't think Lightroom has the soft proofing feature so sending your pics to online photo labs using LR is more of a trial and error experience. I have tried printing at Costco several times without much success (using their ICC profiles and convert my files in CS3 to the Costco profile before saving as sRGB jpeg) but perhaps the Costco in your area is better run than the ones in Honolulu. Surprisingly, Shutterfly, with no ICC profiles available for download, gives me much better results. I am an amateur so what is good to me may not be adequate for professional work.

I hope Adobe will upgrade their LR to include soft proofing feature soon. I am sure a lot of pros have requested that feature with Adobe.

chuong

Nat Coalson · « **Reply #4 on:** January 21, 2008, 12:35:25 pm »

If you get a printed test target the only way you can make use of it is to read it with a spectrophotometer and make a custom profile. Not practical for most folks. (However, I make custom printer profiles; see my web site for details).

If you can't get a profile from the service bureau, in my opinion, you should use another one, because it means that they are not on top of their color management.

But if you really want to stay with that lab for whatever reason, converting to sRGB is the most basic step towards somewhat predictable results.

Don't send files in Adobe RGB or ProPhoto to a lab using photo printers.

However, if you're having inkjet prints made, Adobe RGB or ProPhoto is best.

airchinapilot · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2008, 12:55:37 pm »

Thanks Nat. I will send my snappy pics to the local photo place and will look online for the serious printing.

Nat Coalson · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2008, 07:50:19 pm »

For "the serious printing" look here.

airchinapilot · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2008, 09:06:58 pm »

Quote

For "the serious printing" look here.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=168888\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

cool. Got a deal for Luminous Landscape members?

Author Topic: sending photos to a print shop (Read 3345 times)