Color Correction By Lab - Yes/No

[smoke665]

Do you pay the up charge by the photo lab to "color correct" your images prior to printing?

 

[Braineack]

I sent 4 images to be printed by a new potential printer. They sent back two copies of each--one as is, the other color corrected.

they looked identical.

 

[JonA_CT]

Interesting...just curious, local printer, or one of the online ones? I know Shutterfly automatically color-corrects everything because they cater to the average person looking for prints. I've started using MPIX because they don't do that.

 

[Braineack]

online place called Miller's

 

[smoke665]

Interesting...just curious, local printer, or one of the online ones? I know Shutterfly automatically color-corrects everything because they cater to the average person looking for prints. I've started using MPIX because they don't do that.

Lab in question in this case is Nations. I think others including Mpix do the same

 

[KmH]

One outlet Miller's Professional Imaging has is Mpix.
Mpix is the consumer lab, Miller's is the pro lab, and there is Mpix Pro in between.

Many labs don't guarantee their prints if you don't let them color correct the image files.
I've never let a print lab color correct any files I sent them.

I used Miller's and Mpix a lot up until they made some management personnel changes and I perceived a distinct change in their customer service philosophy.

 

[smoke665]

Footnote to my post. I just got two 16x20's in from Nations. I did not pay for the color correction, and the colors are perfect. However, these prints were ordered matted, and the packaging allowed the prints to get crushed on the two corners. I called them up, told them the problem, and the CS rep said "I've placed an order to reprint, these, we'll get them right out to you". No fuss, no arguing, just good customer service!!

 

[jsecordphoto]

Calibrate your monitor and there's no need for color correction

 

[KmH]

Yep.
Just note that display calibration has to be done on a regular basis and whenever the ambient light falling on your display has changed.

 

[jsecordphoto]

Yep.
Just note that display calibration has to be done on a regular basis and whenever the ambient light falling on your display has changed.

for sure. My colormunki has a little desktop thing that measures ambient light and adjusts the monitor brightness every 5 minutes, but if I'm preparing files for prints I'll recalibrate before just to be sure

 

[Bebulamar]

Funny back in the film days shooting color negative film and of course the lab must correct for color balance as there is no such thing as printing the negative as is. However I often have to send them back for reprint because the color and density (brightness) wasn't what I want. I don't blame them as they are not me so it's difficult for them to know what I want.
Today the RGB values of the pixels dictate exactly what it should look like on the print so I am the one who decide what the color is.

 

[smoke665]

They sent back two copies of each--one as is, the other color corrected.

they looked identical.

I've never had a problem with the color on any print sent to the photo lab. This is interesting, as I suspect that I would find the same thing.

Calibrate your monitor and thezire's no need for color correction

I have Color Munki, as well, and it does an excellent job, but the color calibration that it does, may or may not match up with the ICC profile of the lab. I sometimes send a file straight to them if I'm in a hurry, but if I really want to be sure I soft proof with their profile, and compare before I send it.

calibration has to be done on a regular basis and whenever the ambient light falling on your display has changed.

Didn't realize how much the ambient light could affect it, until I changed work space recently.