printing high contrast scenes - example given

[w._h.1]

I've been selling prints of some of my photos lately, and some have

been much tougher to properly print than others so I'm hoping to get a

little help from those with more digital darkroom experience than I

have. The example below is one of the most popular photos of mine, but

I haven't been satisfied with the prints I can make of it yet.

Scanning is done on a 4000dpi nikon 8000 and PP is with ps-cs. The

only adjustments I've made are curves, and an attempt to tame the

contrast with the levels control slider. The problem I have is that

while there appears to be enough brightness in the dark areas (such as

the dog's face) while on screen, when printed the contrast is too

much, and the sun beams are the only thing that look as I'd like them

to, with everything else too dark. Your first suggestion will probably

be to calibrate my monitor which I have not properly done. The reason

I don't think this is the problem is that with more even contrast

photos I have no problems getting prints looking like the screen image

(and slide). I'm wondering if trying to print on a lightjet or maybe a

high end inkjet would work better than the current LED based Noritsu

printer I'm sending out my files to be printed on. Any suggestions

will be helpful, but I can't afford to spend several hundred dollars

on a calibration device. Currently I use adobe gamma and it has worked

well for most photos, but not this one! Thanks for any help.

<br>- WH

<br><br>

<a

href="http://www.photo.net/photo/3040551&size=lg">http://www.photo.net/photo/3040551&size=lg</a>

[w._h.1]

I forgot to mention that I would not mind at all if you run the photo through PS yourself and post a revised version that you think will print better. Thanks a lot!

[alice_guy]

You could try some dodging and burning in Photoshop, or the techniques described at the following links...</p>

<p><a href="http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/blended_exposures.shtml">http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/blended_exposures.shtml</a></p>

<p><a href="http://www.adobe.com/digitalimag/pdfs/highlight_recovery.pdf">http://www.adobe.com/digitalimag/pdfs/highlight_recovery.pdf</a>

[sjmurray]

I second the links Alice provided. Remember, even if you start with film capture, once scanned you are in digital territory, and you can do a huge range of adjustments digitally that you can't do otherwise. Photoshop allows you do work in layers, which opens up a whole new world of making adjustments. I'm just learning myself how to make use of these tools.

[brian_mcintosh1]

A curves adjustment layer with two control points set at say 50 input 70 output and 200 input 190 output will tame the contrast somewhat. If that lightens it a little too much you could duplicate the background layer and change the blending mode to multiply and reduce the layer's opacity to around 25%.

 

Looks like this -------->

[minicucci]

W. H. : If taming contrast is the issue, never overlook the magic of contrast masking, using

PS just as you would do it in the darkroom. Just make a copy layer of your image, go to

Image/Adjustments and select desaturate, followed by invert. Then set that copy layer to

either the overlay or soft light blend mode. Add some Gaussian blur and reduce opacity of

the layer to taste. Example is attached.

 

Another trick to use if the screen luminosity looks right but the shadows are getting

plugged when printed is to add a Levels adjustment layer that moves the "black" output

levels up a few points.<div></div>

[w._h.1]

Patricia - That revision is perfect. Thanks a lot for the input, it's greatly appreciated.