> Lurker here... one of my biggest frustrations with my D60 is not w/ > the camera, but in trying to get the photos I print out to look the > same as what I see on my monitor... At this point, I'm considering > both a new monitor and a new printer.
First, as already has been mentioned, you need to work on calibrating your input device (camera), viewing and editing system (monitor/computer), and your output device. This requires some online homework about profiling and a little money, depending on how much you want to get it right. Try Monaco (http://www.xritephoto.com/product/ezcolor/ and http://xritephotoforums.com/) to get the general idea and workflow solutions. In general, the concept is this. You see colors. The camera captures the colors a certain way (vivid, subdued, or neutral, depending on your camera settings); just like Velvia, Kodakrome 25, or Astia used to give us certain results; and finally, your printer print them a certain way on certain paper, depending on your printer and paper characteristics. Second, monitor makers like their monitors to display bright, vivid, contrasty images. This usually helps them sell them, but it is not an accurate reflection of the image we took. You want your monitor to accurately show you the colors that your camera recorded. This requires monitor calibration. And monitor calibration is not just a one time thing, it must be done for the different types of lighting situations you will be working in. For example, the colors on your monitor will look different with bright northern light coming in through a side window than it will look with incandescent lights on at night. That's why I have several profiles for my monitor. Also, while discussing monitors, remember I said they are bright? Monitors are like slides with good backlighting. They almost always are brighter than printed results. For this reason, you'll need a good workflow solutions that can simulate the duller results you'll see with your printed products. Then you can adjust curves, brightness and contrast to get the result you want. Try these sights for some insight: http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/329486.html and http://www.quentin.cz/produkty/MonacoSys/images/EPSON%20PrintWorkflow.pdf BTW, If you are going to get a new monitor, I recommend a flat screen apertures grill three color adjustable CRT. Their color renditions and adjustability and better color accuracy from all viewing angles makes them superior to flat panel LCD/Plasma/You Name It screens. With that said, I'm sure there are some good albeit expensive and accurate flat panel monitors out there. Third, you need to profile your printer for each type of paper you use. Different papers have different color retention and brightness's. For these reasons, each type paper needs its own profile. A good scanner and scanner profile will help you build your own profiles. Otherwise, there are some profiles you can download (ICC's) or have built for you. Lastly, for me to solve all these issues, I with with a package deal from Monaco that included a calibration device for my monitor (it attaches to the screen), a color target card for my scanner, and the software to make the profiles for input device (scanner or camera), monitor, and printer. There are others out there, but Monaco's worked for me just fine for the last 2 1/2 years. There's nothing quite like having the picture you took look like the picture you see on your monitor and print on your printer. Sorry so long winded, but hope this helps, JD Washington * **** ******* *********************************************************** * For list instructions, including unsubscribe, see: * http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/eos_list.htm ***********************************************************
