Do you use an online lab or local one?

[mandyatm]

I have tried 2 different online labs, and both keep printing my pictures too dark and I have to have them redone and then wait for them to be delivered again. I thought it was my monitor, but they look really bright on every monitor I view them on, then come in dark from the labs. I want to try a nearby lab, but their prices are much higher. Nations Photo Lab and MPix charge around $2 for an 8 x 10, and the lab nearby charges $7.49 for an 8 x 10 and $5 for a 5 x 7.

What kind of lab do professional use? Does anyone else have this problem or know how to fix it? This is a big frustration for me, so any advice would be appreciated!

[Murtasma]

I've used MPix and the print was almost identical to my monitor. I did tell MPix not to correct the image for printing. MPix also has some software and a sample print available that you can try calibrating your monitor too for 3 dollars. I bought the software and print but once I saw the sample prints I didn't bother trying the software because it was basically spot on.

I suspect your monitor is not properly calibrated if your prints are coming out too dark form MPix.

Try giving this site a shot for calibrating your brightness and contrast. This won't however be able to calibrate your colors.

Photo Friday: Monitor Calibration Tool

[acedrew]

Try downloading the ICC profiles from the online lab and exporting the JPEGs using those profiles, that should ensure that the color and exposure from your pc will match. It does sound like your monitor needs calibrated. I didn't want to buy a calbrator for mine, so I used a printer paper combo that had a known ICC profile, and then adjusted my monitor until my prints looked like what I was seeing, worked very well!

Andrew Rodgers
Perfected Perspectives -- Photography by Andrew Rodgers | Andrew Rodgers (acedrew) on Twitter | Login | Facebook

[mandyatm]

How do I download the ICC profiles? Unfortunately all I have is a laptop, so I don't have much control over the calibration.

[acedrew]

what model is your laptop?

Andrew Rodgers
Perfected Perspectives -- Photography by Andrew Rodgers | Andrew Rodgers (acedrew) on Twitter | Login | Facebook

[mandyatm]

It is a Dell Latitude D400. It only has a 12" screen or something. I really need to get a desktop!

[navcom]

Unfortunately laptops seem to be more prone to non-compliance with true exposure. You definitely need to calibrate it! I have a Dell laptop and use a Spyder calibrator. The laptop monitor calibrates pretty well...not as well as it does on my desktop but good enough for laptop work.