Deen Hameed <deenhameed@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes: > Ello... > > Do we have a digital printing expert in the house? > > I've been printing portraiture through a local prolab here in > Sydney for nearly 2 years now, and i've always been impressed > with just how big a 6MP digital file can be blown up. The > prints were done at 200-250ppi, and while they are clean (not > pixelated), they definitely do not show the tonality or detail > of a film print, even in an 8x10 or 11x14 (all the images are > printed at the same ppi). Even a 4x6 on film has a different > tonality and detail that digital (S2 or D70) is simply not > delivering (even at such a small print) > > Now that I am doing my own thing, I really am looking to > improve the quality of the prints I can produce... > > I would rather not stuff about with inkjets (if I can), and > would prefer to just send the job to a professional to do. In > exchange, I am hoping for *sharp* results (even if the print > is not too big), good colour and contrast. > > There are plenty of labs here with a variety of equipment; > Durst Lambda, Frontiers, LightJets, but pretty much all the > labs request the print at 200-250ppi. The only prints i've > seen are from the lambda and the frontier machines, and they > are all that 'flatty' look. > > I've seen some inkjet prints that _are_ very sharp, and > resemble film output, though. > > Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can improve the > images, so they can be printed at the 'pro' lab, with 'pro' > equipment to deliver the sort of results that we can expect > from decent inkjet/analog gear? or is the big printer really > only good for making BIG prints, and not detail. I have two quick guesses; is your monitor calibrated? Maybe you're preparing stuff wrong because you're seeing it wrong. And what kind of final sharpening (unsharp mask) are you applying? (Generally you want to do sharpening as the last step in the workflow). -- David Dyer-Bennet, <mailto:dd-b@xxxxxxxx>, <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/> RKBA: <http://noguns-nomoney.com/> <http://www.dd-b.net/carry/> Pics: <http://dd-b.lighthunters.net/> <http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/SnapshotAlbum/> Dragaera/Steven Brust: <http://dragaera.info/>
