New to the forum, so I apologize if this question has already been covered (tried to search for a specific thread but couldn't find one).
In LR3, to compensate for a "too-dull" print (typically using Epson Ultra Premium Photo Luster paper in Stylus Pro 3880) I had been using a Develop module preset to add a certain amount of brightness to an image before going to the Print module. This enabled me to get a reasonably close match in apparent luminance between my print and the image on my screen. (BTW -- this also meant that I rarely touched the Brightness slider for any other purpose during processing, so as to ensure that the "Pre-print" preset worked properly.)
Now in LR 4.1 RC, since the Brightness slider has gone away in PV 2012, I've been printing a number of test prints to see how to perform a similar pre-print compensation. It seems that there are 2 possible approaches: the first would be to create a Proof copy and try to tweak it to match the "un-softproofed" original image prior to printing. The second would be to experiment with the Print Adjustment brightness and contrast sliders prior to printing.
Having done some experimentation with the second approach, I found that I've gone through a lot of paper and ink, before finally concluding that these Print Adjustment sliders don't do anything! I understand that their effect won't be visible on-screen (thus the need for test prints), but various adjustments of these sliders don't appear to affect the prints that I create in the least; the test prints all appear the same regardless of the Print Adjustment slider positions.
Am I doing something wrong? Has anyone else noticed this? Should I abandon this approach and try using soft-proofing instead? (BTW, my monitor is calibrated and I'm printing using the proper paper profile as well as ensuring that LR, rather than the printer, is managing color.)
Thanks.
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