Prints aren't as sharp as file? HELP!!!

mamarazzi_hrd · Aug 13, 2008

I have a new D300 and I took some really great shots of my 2 year old daughter. When I pull them up in Lightroom, they are super-duper sharp but when I send them off for prints, they come back just "OK"....they loose some of that sharpness. Is this normal???? How do I fix this?

TIA!

Easy_Target · Aug 13, 2008

Could be the printer they're using. Could also be your blowing them up too much. More details please?

mamarazzi_hrd · Aug 13, 2008

Well I have sent them to two different labs with virtually the same results. I am not blowing them up at all. I only printed a 4x6 proof....

Big Mike · Aug 13, 2008

What are the specs of the file that you are sending?

mamarazzi_hrd · Aug 13, 2008

Here is one of them

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28195310@N02/2746425831/in/set-72157606670882710/

Taken at 1/80 f/8 200ISO at 125mm with D300 - 55-200mm VR lens

Very slight editing in Lightroom exported as a full size jpeg in sRGB and sent to printer.

mamarazzi_hrd · Aug 15, 2008

Someone has to know something? Do I have to sharpen every photo? Even photos that look tack sharp online and in Lightroom/Photoshop.

I mean, why strive for perfect sharpness when it won't print that way?

Do smaller prints print less sharp than like say an 8x10?

Anybody, can someone help me sort out this mystery????

Big Mike · Aug 15, 2008

When you send the file to the lab...what is the size (in pixels)? And what is the resolution set to?

For a 4x6 print, the file should be 1200x1800 pixels and set to 300 PPI.

mamarazzi_hrd · Aug 15, 2008

The file is 2848x4288 @ 240 PPI, I just sent the orig file and through ordering software chose 4x6 print. I assumed that since it was larger than the size I wanted to print the PPI would be okay at 240, should I have exported from Lightroom as 300PPI would that have made the difference?

Sandspur · Aug 16, 2008

I'd say so, yes. Every lab may be slightly different in the "ideal resolution" department. But 300 dpi is the universal standard.

I've used several online services, and have a pro gallery with Shutterfly where I sell a lot of work. My standard submission to them is always 8x10 @300 dpi. Plus - I have it in my contract that they do not use their auto fix feature on any of my work since I've already done everything - crop, levels adjustment, sharpening (yes always!) and whatever else I think is needed.

Whoever you're using, ask what their ideal criteria are. OR submit at 300 at the target size and always sharpen (but only when you're viewing the image at the target print size.)
I hope this helps. I know how frustrating the process is.

I think they key concept here is that you MUST set up EVERY file yourself, including size and resolution. Otherwise you're at the mercy of some machine's best judgement about your work.

PS - I use another lab for posters, and their specs say 256dpi - no more, no less. Go figure.

Jaymz77 · Aug 18, 2008

I noticed you sent them a .jpeg.. A jpeg is a compressed image format and can on occasion lose its original details. I would recommend exporting as a .tiff and see if that is better. And always size the photos at the desired print size and at least 300dpi, since if the printer has to size it, they may not take in concideration the extra detail.

mamarazzi_hrd · Aug 18, 2008

Jaymz77 said:
I noticed you sent them a .jpeg.. A jpeg is a compressed image format and can on occasion lose its original details. I would recommend exporting as a .tiff and see if that is better. And always size the photos at the desired print size and at least 300dpi, since if the printer has to size it, they may not take in concideration the extra detail.

When I save a .tif file it asked for a compression of either a) NONE b) LZW or c) Zip. So which one should I choose?

clupica · Aug 19, 2008

mamarazzi_hrd said:
When I save a .tif file it asked for a compression of either a) NONE b) LZW or c) Zip. So which one should I choose?

I think any service bureau that can accept a tif will be able to use either compressed or non-compressed. The non-compressed image will be a much, much larger file; in general use LZW not zip. BTW: LZW is a lossless format so no infomation will ever get lost using LZW.

As for fuzziness, are you examining the photos at 100%? What looks sharp at normal screen viewing is not nearly as sharp when viewed at 100%.

Also, digital images are soft by design, go figure. Consummer P&S cameras do in camera sharpening and other manipulations to provide results pleasing to P&S shooters (As does Adobe Camera RAW if you're not watching). dSLRs provide the maximum amount of pixel information and do not generally sharpen the image in camera. Nikon RAW images will not be sharpened but the jpgs coming out may be depending on your settings. Digital RAW photos should almost always be sharpened (read should be, but I'm hedging to avoid argument

) before sending them to the printer. And printers use 300 dpi except under special conditions.

I think that you can tell Lightroom to export the images at 300dpi. You can do the sharpening in Lightroom but I prefer to do it in Photoshop. Unfortunately, sharpening is a near artform in itself. I think I saw a book title recently for a book on nothing but sharpening.

Charlie

laurentharari · Aug 19, 2008

mamarazzi_hrd said:
I have a new D300 and I took some really great shots of my 2 year old daughter. When I pull them up in Lightroom, they are super-duper sharp but when I send them off for prints, they come back just "OK"....they loose some of that sharpness. Is this normal???? How do I fix this?

TIA!

Well if you are quality freak like a lot only one solution:
Do it yourself. One may think that printing professional will do a better job than you, but after years of practice I realized that this is not true because nobody cares about your image as much as you do.
So if you own a nice d300 get yourself a nice printer and then youll be happy about the end result. Epson, HP (read my blog on hp printing http://laurentharari.blogspot.com/ )? I own both brands they are both top brands to be trusted.

mamarazzi_hrd · Aug 19, 2008

As for fuzziness, are you examining the photos at 100%? What looks sharp at normal screen viewing is not nearly as sharp when viewed at 100%.

Thanks Charlie for your input! I actually was viewing the image at 200 and 300% and it was super sharp.....that is why I expected flawless images when I had them printed.

clupica · Aug 19, 2008

mamarazzi_hrd said:
As for fuzziness, are you examining the photos at 100%? What looks sharp at normal screen viewing is not nearly as sharp when viewed at 100%.

Thanks Charlie for your input! I actually was viewing the image at 200 and 300% and it was super sharp.....that is why I expected flawless images when I had them printed.

I sort of expected you would have done this, but you never know. And others that have the same problem may not have checked. Sometimes I get lazy and don't check and, of course, that's when there really is softness.

I think the 240 dpi Nikon default is probably the culprit, as has been suggested. Another possible source of trouble can be the paper the labs are using. Check around and see if they have a choice of paper. As for your own printer, it really depends on your needs. But ink-jet printing is inferior to what most commercial labs offer. Commercial printing is done in a way to similar to tradional photo printing and uses a chemical process. The results will hold up better for the most part.

Or do as I do when it's REALLY important, send it to a lab and have a digital c-print made. Many consider this to be the only true archival print.

Seroiusly, the default Nikon 240 dpi is most likely the culprit. You can set Photoshop ACR to open in 300dpi and Lightroom can be set to export images in 300dpi.

Hope this helps.