w._h.1 Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 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> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w._h.1 Posted April 7, 2005 Author Share Posted April 7, 2005 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alice_guy Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 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> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjmurray Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian_mcintosh1 Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 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 --------> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minicucci Posted April 7, 2005 Share Posted April 7, 2005 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> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
w._h.1 Posted April 7, 2005 Author Share Posted April 7, 2005 Patricia - That revision is perfect. Thanks a lot for the input, it's greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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