Damien Symonds

Hi WGP, can you post here?

That's a really good selection of photos for calibration verification, well chosen. So they match (except for the red stripes). And do you like how they look? (This question is not relevant to calibration, by the way, I'm just interested.)

Great, may I see all four?

No, that's the photo you're working on now. I want the ones you've already printed - the ones you're comparing to verify your calibration. Jpeg files will do - they don't even need to be very big, you can reduce them in size.

I have to take the kids to gymnastics now. I'll check back in later.

Ok, that's excellent news. Do you mind sending me the files of the photos you're comparing?

Ok. And after calibration, does the screen match your Bay prints exactly?

Is it a new screen too? Or did you have the same Viewsonic attached to your old PC?

And the screen?

In the Table of Contents, you want Section 2, Module 2. Also, have you searched "Gradient tool" on my site?

Well, have you refreshed your memory on the gradient tool section of the Levels Class?

Hi @ShellyF, let's continue our discussion here. Can you remind me which Spyder you have, what screen you have, and which lab you use?

Ah. In that case, you'll need to find a sky-with-clouds photo and replace it.

Sorry, I can't discuss that here. I wouldn't mind discussing it in the class, though.

Three, actually. Download my PSD

Yes, that's right. Your focal plane looks pretty much perfect, and there's no motion blur. I think you did everything exactly right, within the capabilities of your camera in that light. Don't attempt to print this one until you've taken the Sharpening Class.

Obviously it's not great, but yes, it'll be passable.

Actually, I think that method will work ok. However, do you think your client is expecting some cloud detail in the sky? If so, it's going to be much harder.

Do you like it? I mean, is it something, at least?

Yes, you'll find it when you search on my site.

Still, with a vignette and a gradient map, you could create something? You'd need your normal levels and skin work too, of course.

No doubt there has been extensive editing on that photo. You can see the big copy-and-flip. But it had the right "bones" to begin with.

The reason it works (and yours won't ) is that the background is so blurred, and so "uncluttered", if you know what I mean. Your background has so much going on, and can't be blurred artificially, I'm afraid.

Oh, alas, this is not uncommon. Even very good screens can be troublesome for BW matching. What screen is it?

New lab time.