Help with print processing!

[ccb]

HI,

I posted a thread a few days ago, but didn't get any replies. I am getting a bit desperate, so am posting again, hoping someone will read it, hope that's OK.

So my problem is that after some photoshopping, the images look great on my Mac screen, but some portraits I have sent of for printing (Shutterfly, Photoworks, and sometimes Costco) come back and the skin tone looks grey, washed out, and there are some grey-ish shadows on white backgrounds.
I had taken some pictures of my friends kids, and when they sent of the images (they looked OK on their screen too) the xmas cards came back and their son looked like he had grey shadows on his cheeks. They re-ordered the cards but with black and white images instead, which was disappointing.
I wanted to know if I should look at calibrating my monitor again, or is it a print-profile issue? I do calibrate every two to three months or so, but I don't use any of the print profiles available.
Can any one help me clearing this up.

Very gratetful for replies!

Kind regards
cecilia

[smc1377]

How are you calibrating your monitor and can you post a pic of one that ended up printing bad?

[Pixelmadness]

The printer profiles are key. You must download them and use them. I know that Costco has to profile their printers every 6 months. Costco very much caters to the professional photographers and if you utilize their profiles that they offer you should be happy with your pictures.

[ccb]

I use an Eye-One as calibrating tool for my Imac.
This is one of the images that came out very grey in print.

[ocnsprt]

I am viewing that image on my pc and it does look a little to desaturated, but that aside i have found that those particular printing companies havent worked for me in general, for one reason or another, I was particularly unhappy with costcos prints, and their paper was not as nice as id hoped it would be. I use Wedding Photo Lab | Portrait Photo Lab | Press Printing :: ProDPI and they have delivered the nicest prints I have been able to find, they are very professional, the paper and colors are perfect, and they arent that expensive. I would reccomend them to anyone, at least check out their site and dowload the pricing guide. Its so easy you can upload and send your images from your home computer and every order Ive placed over the last year I have gottten back in a day or two, they dont charge shipping for standard and I get it next day. They are awsome because they also have color correections they will do if you request it on any image you wish. Try them and see, you do get like free 8x10s i think to and a free paper sample packet

[ccb]

thank you for taking your time! I will check out that place, it sounds very good.
I do think I might have problems with calibrating my monitor as well, though, and will have to go through that again.
I am very new to digital editing, and it's taking time before I get my head around it

[rhoraq]

I have a mac and I also have problems with colors. Skin looking grey as well. What's a good calibration set up to get to fix my monitor? Any suggestions?

[teaking]

This may sound stupid, and could possibly be wrong lol but I think Macs use a different Gamma setting for their monitors than that of a PC monitor. And gamma does effect brightness could this effect your calibration at all with your calibration equipment your using?

[ccb]

Teakin: How do I find out more about gamma on Macs?
Rhoraq: I use a Eye-One Match. The guy at Calumet who sold it to me said it was the best one for Macs and reviews on Amazon were good. Still, I don't feel it. The color on my monitor feels drap (to use a British term), dark and slightly life-less. Normally a Mac monitor is bright and warm.
I followed the very easy step by step instructions, and have tried ot in different light conditions, but it still comes up the same.
If you or anyone else could help with this I would, again, be grateful!
Kind regards

ccb

[teaking]

Well im not exactly sure gamma is your problem but from what I understand Mac OS uses a different gamma that Windows OS although applications that use ICC profiles should pick this up and adjust the image for this.

Heres a link relating to a thread on Mac gamma and monitor calibration.

2.2 or 1.8 Gamma on a Mac - Photo.net Digital Darkroom Forum