will prints be different from what I see on my monitor?

[Charliedelta]

I have some pictures that I would like to print and sell. I would use a printing service to do it like mpix or adorama. Now, I read somewhere online that in order to have the prints look like what I see on my monitor, I will need to do some changes (some say make the picture brighter).

Is it true? Where can I learn about it (I'd prefer books over websites suggestions, but of course I'll take the websites as well)

And also, when using websites such as those I mentioned, don't they already convert the files so that the prints will look like what it on the monitor?

Thanks

 

[tirediron]

Unless you are working with a fully corrected work-flow, that is: All of your devices set to the same colour space, and your monitor properly calibrated, it's almost certain that your printed images will look different than those on your screen. It may not be a lot different, but there will be some difference. I don't have any specific books to recommend to you, but if you search Amazon for "photography colour management" and similar terms, you should find some. There are lots of references on-line, and again, just pop those terms into a search engine and you should find some good information.

 

[ann]

also, one has to remember, the monitor is backlite, the print ink.

Find one of these books George DeWolfe"s Digital Photography Fine Print Workshop, Harald Johnson "Mastering DIgital Printing

Jon Canfield "print like a pro"

Epson "Complete Guide to Digital Printing

They should help

 

[KmH]

Using image editing software that has a 'soft-proofing' feature, a close approximation of what a print will look like can be viewed on your computer display.
As mentioned by Ann, computer displays are back lit, while prints seen using reflected light. Consequently a print can never look exactly like your computer display.

Here is an online resource:
Tutorials on Color Management & Printing
Photo Editing Tutorials

More books:

Marketing Fine Art Photography

The Digital Negative: Raw Image Processing in Lightroom, Camera Raw, and Photoshop
The Digital Print: Preparing Images in Lightroom and Photoshop for Printing
Fine Art Printing for Photographers: Exhibition Quality Prints with Inkjet Printers, 2nd Edition