Brightness Setting

[Cheex]

Is there a preferred brightness setting you should work with when preparing photos for print? The look of a lot of my photographs changes based on how much display brightness I'm pumping out of my laptop... makes me think I'm in way over my head for the whole printing game...

How can you best predict the color/brightness of the reflected light prints when using emitted light? Am I thinking about this correctly?

 

[dots]

LCD monitor test images

 

[MLeeK]

You first have to calibrate your monitor and a laptop monitor will never show you what your images will print like no matter how well calibrated it is.
For more information refer to this post http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/graphics-programs-photo-gallery/261951-laptop.html

 

[Cheex]

This is exactly the information I was looking for. Thanks a ton. I'm going to invest in an external monitor for final edits.

My laptop only has HDMI connectivity. If I buy a monitor with HDMI input I should be golden, right?

 

[MLeeK]

You should be great. There are a few things you want to look for in a monitor too. Here is an article on choosing a monitor for photography: www.Clarkvision.com: Choosing and LCD Monitor for Photo Editing Make sure whatever monitor you get you buy at least a basic calibrator for it. The Spyder3 Express is great if you don't want to spend a lot of $$$. The Spyder3 Pro is better. There are several other really great ones too...

 

[tirediron]

You first have to calibrate your monitor and a laptop monitor will never show you what your images will print like no matter how well calibrated it is.

I am going to respectfully disagree with your assertion. When I am travelling, I, of necessity, do a LOT of processing on my laptop. My prints turn out just fine. I do calibrate my monitor on a regular basis, but more importantly, I ensure that it always at at exactly the same angle when I'm working with it.

 

[Kerbouchard]

I've found the easiest way is to get a print done at your lab of choice, make sure you disable any automatic corrections, and then when you get the print back, open up your photo and compare it to the print...adjust your monitor to match the print...From there on out, you should be good to go, or at least very close. Just my .02