Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/03/01

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Subject: [Leica] Prints are way too dark. Driven to distraction
From: lew1716 at gmail.com (Lew Schwartz)
Date: Sun, 1 Mar 2015 19:42:06 -0500
References: <CAFuU78eon0fR5FTfpr5qCfUwzGW_OCEp=oW52zv=QNK7_31FHQ@mail.gmail.com> <CAAsXt4MT3GvHLhKM7VtFkAc-Nb=+Pro3XOrnCi4xt4Jjm-B65Q@mail.gmail.com> <BLU173-DS12B3D9F0597047D6C93193B8130@phx.gbl> <54F3AC39.4080009@cox.net>

With the monitor set down that low, I can barely see the controls. I'm also
miffed that Adobe hasn't provided a simple fix. It'd consist of "print time
presets," corrections that would be sent along with an image to the
printer, but which wouldn't interfere with what you see while you're
editing.

I might just try letting the print driver do s bw or two, just to see.


-Lew Schwartz

On Sun, Mar 1, 2015 at 7:18 PM, Ken Carney <kcarney1 at cox.net> wrote:

> Not sure I can add much here.  I keep my monitor (Dell U2410, Spyder Pro
> calibrated for room light and color) at a brightness and contrast setting
> of 11/50 and keep the room lighting consistent.  I think the default
> brightness is 50 which is too much and 100 is like looking into a
> searchlight.  To print (in Photoshop) I make a duplicate image and set them
> side by side on the monitor, then load the paper profile for the
> duplicate.  This gives a sense of how to adjust the duplicate for
> printing.  Usually it is just a slight brightness increase with the curves
> tool, and sometimes a small saturation bump.  To print, the Epson panel is
> set to "Photoshop manages colors" and the same paper profile is selected.
> The print is a good match to the monitor unless the viewing conditions are
> extreme.  I say a "good" match since I don't think it is possible to have a
> perfect match with one source backlit and the other with reflected light.
> I don't use LR for printing but the process is similar with the LR soft
> proofing mode.
>
> That is for color.  With B&W using Epson Advanced B&W or a RIP so far as I
> know there is not an easy way to soft proof. However, after a while I can
> usually make an educated guess.  I used to use the ImagePrint RIP for B&W.
> It is excellent but I'm pretty happy with the Epson driver now.
>
> Ken
>
> On 3/1/2015 4:28 PM, Robert Adler wrote:
>
>> I now have 2 monitors: I have one darkened to match print output (I am
>> actually trying to have a different profile on that monitor for the paper
>> that I use) and one to work on for web viewing. I initially process for
>> web
>> viewing. I find that most times a simple pulling up on the middle of the
>> curve adjustment in CC or LR works just fine for prints. Sometimes it gets
>> more complicated.
>> Bob
>>
>> On Sun, Mar 1, 2015 at 1:23 PM, Aram Langhans <leica_r8 at hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>  Similar. I noticed that, too.   No matter how I calibrate the monitor,
>>> the
>>> prints are always darker than the monitor.  Whether I was printing
>>> myself,
>>> or using Costso.  Since two outputs were giving me the same results, my
>>> input must be at fault.  So, then, I learned a few years ago to turn the
>>> monitor down.  I downloaded Color HCFR and got it to work with my Spyder
>>> and found out the monitor was WAY to bright.  The profile software for
>>> Spyder did not adjust the monitor brightness.  I had to turn my monitor
>>> (Dell 1224 IPS) down to 17 to get to the recommended brightness.  It
>>> looks
>>> pretty dark compared to my other monitor, but it works.  Prints are dead
>>> on
>>> from monitor to my printer (R3000) or to Costco.  The trend in consumer
>>> monitors seems to be bright and saturated, but that does not translate
>>> to a
>>> standard print file, evidentially.
>>>
>>> so, try getting the HCFR Colorimeter program and see if you can get it to
>>> work on your Monki.  The crank that monitor brightness down.
>>>
>>> Aram
>>>
>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>> From: "Robert Adler" <rgacpa at gmail.com>
>>> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2015 4:02 PM
>>> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [Leica] Prints are way too dark. Driven to distraction
>>>
>>>
>>>   Personally, I don't think your missing anything Lew. Even though these
>>>
>>>> calibrations are supposed to calibrate for "luminance", I tend to turn
>>>> my
>>>> monitor down 2-4 stops to match a standard calibration chart that I've
>>>> printed on my printer. Then I adjust in CC or LR on a monitor that has
>>>> been
>>>> darkened by the above process. Seems really dumb, but it works...
>>>> Best,
>>>> Bob
>>>> PS-Please let me know if you find out differently!
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Feb 28, 2015 at 2:02 PM, Lew Schwartz <lew1716 at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>   I'm printing on Epson Proofing, using LR 5.7, Epson 4880, ViewSonic
>>>>
>>>>> monitor
>>>>> and I've just re-profiled monitor and printer using colormunki, plus I
>>>>> confirm that both monitor and printer are using the new profiles. The
>>>>> resulting prints are aprox 2- 4 stops too dark. Too dark is an on going
>>>>> problem for me, LR, the 4880 and this monitor; I expected things to get
>>>>> better after the colormunki stuff. I've just been winging a solution in
>>>>> the
>>>>> past by using the exposure control in the LR develop module and the
>>>>> brightness setting in the print module. Not a great solution, but
>>>>> workable.
>>>>> Now, with these new profiles, I'm not even close. WTF? Things are way
>>>>> worse. What am I missing?
>>>>>
>>>>> -Lew Schwartz
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> Leica Users Group.
>>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Bob Adler
>>>> www.robertadlerphotography.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>  _______________________________________________
>>> Leica Users Group.
>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>


Replies: Reply from leica_r8 at hotmail.com (Aram Langhans) ([Leica] Prints are way too dark. Driven to distraction)
Reply from rgacpa at gmail.com (Robert Adler) ([Leica] Prints are way too dark. Driven to distraction)
In reply to: Message from lew1716 at gmail.com (Lew Schwartz) ([Leica] Prints are way too dark. Driven to distraction)
Message from rgacpa at gmail.com (Robert Adler) ([Leica] Prints are way too dark. Driven to distraction)
Message from leica_r8 at hotmail.com (Aram Langhans) ([Leica] Prints are way too dark. Driven to distraction)
Message from kcarney1 at cox.net (Ken Carney) ([Leica] Prints are way too dark. Driven to distraction)