I need help about printing..

Last 2 weeks Digiprint printed my 12pcs 5R pics.
I use the Digiprint Kodak Glossy profile. And softproof it with the same profile before sending my files to digiprint.
After receiving my prints, I noticed that my prints turns out a bit darker compared to what iam seeing in my monitor.
Using DPP search button I found out that I need my laptop monitor to be calibrated.
Is there a way that I can calibrate my monitor without a calibrator? It is out of my budget kc.
Atleast I want my pictures to be almost the same as what I see in my laptop in terms of brightness.
I am using Acer Aspire 4715z. Is it possible to share monitor profile if you do have the same type of monitor?
My gf also told me that the prints are warmer but it is ok with me. I am more concern about the brightness differences..


Thanks in advance..

Rommell

This is one point I've been trying to make for a very long time. A lot of people request for the lab's color profile. But using the lab's color profile for softproofing is still not accurate if you display monitor isn't calibrated and profiled.

The Spyder2 Express is reasonably priced at P5.5k. Calibrating and profiling the display isn't a one time procedure. You have to redo the whole process on a regular basis.

All displays are unique. All video cards send a unique signal to your display. That's why it won't work if you use the display profile from another computer (even if its the same brand and model).

Besides, one factor that affect's display monitor calibration and profiling is the ambient light that is present.

Getting your display calibrated and profiled accurately and regularly is a good first step if you want the screen and your prints to match as closely as possible.

What are the alternative options? You could use Adobe Gamma software. But it wouldn't be as accurate as using a hardware/software solution like the Spyder.

Cheers!

Jo Avila

hello there!
i also have experienced your concern from my lab printer. now that you know the output of their color prints you now have to calibrate your monitor using the adobe gamma. go to your control panel and try to adjust your monitor matching the color that you have printed with digiprint this way you can adjust to the brightness that you expect to come out. - and yes, ask them their color profile.
i hope this can help.

hello there!
i also have experienced your concern from my lab printer. now that you know the output of their color prints you now have to calibrate your monitor using the adobe gamma. go to your control panel and try to adjust your monitor matching the color that you have printed with digiprint this way you can adjust to the brightness that you expect to come out. - and yes, ask them their color profile.
i hope this can help.

adobe gamma is not a very accurate way of calibrating. it will even worsen everything.

hello there!
i also have experienced your concern from my lab printer. now that you know the output of their color prints you now have to calibrate your monitor using the adobe gamma. go to your control panel and try to adjust your monitor matching the color that you have printed with digiprint this way you can adjust to the brightness that you expect to come out. - and yes, ask them their color profile.
i hope this can help.

There just one problem with this method. It relies on "eyeballing" the colors. :D

Also, using Adobe Gamma really isn't calibrating your display.

Cheers!

Jo Avila

take it from the experts. the method i mentioned here doesn't help. i will consider their opinion. thanx.
you can try other method. good luck.

edit:
since the method is not effective, please cite procedure that can improve the situation. i appreciate the simplest yet effective method to calibrate the monitor, because i would like to calibrate my monitor also. thanx a lot.

take it from the experts. the method i mentioned here doesn't help. i will consider their opinion. thanx.
you can try other method. good luck.

edit:
since the method is not effective, please cite procedure that can improve the situation. i appreciate the simplest yet effective method to calibrate the monitor, because i would like to calibrate my monitor also. thanx a lot.

The simplest and effective method that I know of is to use a hardware/software product like the Spyder. This will allow you to calibrate AND profile your display with accuracy on a regular basis.

I use to THINK that I was getting good results before using Adobe Gamma. :D

But I got more consistent results after I studied a bit of color management and got a Spyder.

Cheers!

Jo Avila

thanx mr. jo, i'm so grateful that you were there.

Thanks for the replies!
I might try this adobe gamma first and send a few files to digiprint again while I am saving for the real calibrator spyder.
Thanks for the info sirs.

after almost a 7 hour class regarding color management and photoshop Jo Avila definitely burned in my head the importance of color management and having your monitor profiled and calibrated.

I definitely need to attend his class again

after almost a 7 hour class regarding color management and photoshop Jo Avila definitely burned in my head the importance of color management and having your monitor profiled and calibrated.

I definitely need to attend his class again

One reason why I enjoy teaching color management is that I can demo how it works.

We even achieved a good print to screen match using Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 :D

Cheers!

Jo Avila

I was in the same situation before. I bought a Spyder and the prints and my display are now in-synch.

I have recently bought spyder2express..

I have a question regarding soofproofing..

Do you usually check simulate paper white?

I find my prints and my monitor to be more similar when I checked this option.

I have recently bought spyder2express..

I have a question regarding soofproofing..

Do you usually check simulate paper white?

I find my prints and my monitor to be more similar when I checked this option.

I don't normally use this option. I read that this option is normally used when you are comparing the display to a print that is being viewed with a viewing box.

But, if it works for you, then why not use it? :D

Cheers!

Jo Avila

I was in the same situation before. I bought a Spyder and the prints and my display are now in-synch.

Where can i buy this Spyder thing? and how much does it cost?

Where can i buy this Spyder thing? and how much does it cost?

You can purchase it from Bella Luce (aka DPP HQ).

Send a PM to Nick Tuason or Nino Carandang.

A Spyder2 Express costs P5.5k.

Cheers!

Jo Avila