Damien Symonds

Most of it will be achieved simply by getting the raw processing right. I urge you to read Modules 5 and 6 of the class over again. And again and again, until they stick.

Remember to always Alt-click on the mask of a layer you don't understand. That will show you where it's working.

Oh gosh. You REALLY need to renew the Raw Class.

$46. Gosh, I'm so sorry, I meant do your raw processing first, then post the image.

Oh Sarah, this is such a good question, and one I've pondered myself many times. I don't know. It's an odd behaviour of a handful of photos. Can you post the actual image for me to see? By the way, I urge you to consider renewing the Raw Class. The information has been completely overhauled and updated, and it's much better than before. And significantly discounted for you, as a previous participant.

I think they look like they belong just fine!! Well done.

Not pinker - cooler. This is because stoopid Millers always print too warm. Have you ever had test prints from other labs? Was this meant to say "turned on" or "turned off"?

Ok, we can work with that. I want to stress, though, that at least three of the four example photos you posted had their background blur achieved in camera. PLEASE work on your camera craft to get this right. Speaking of those four photos, it's time to get more specific. Their background colouring is all a bit different. Which one would you like to mimic?

Hi Jennifer, can you provide a photo with a suitably blurred background?

It's not perfect, but no, it's definitely not crap. Easily passable.

You're most welcome. PLEASE don't wait too long to take the Raw Class. It will fill in a lot of gaps for you.

Oh, I'm so sorry, I forgot. You'll need this.

Yes.

Here's the PSD for that one. And here's the PSD for the other one.

A bit darker like this?

It sure is. I'm increasingly concerned about your computer.

Oh heck yes you should do it!!! The Spyder Pro is SO much better.

Something like this?

Oh my. That's beautiful.

Of course. The dress is still blue.

Both looks great to me. Dell are the more established player, but my own experience with LG has been excellent too.

You'll need to either: Take the studio photo again with your lighting at the side, to make the same shadowing that the background photo has; or Pick a different background photo with lighting suitable to the studio photo. Don't waste another minute trying to make this work - it won't.

Which Spyder3 did you have? Also the Express?

There are some reviews assembled here: http://www.damiensymonds.net/lab-reviews Avoid any labs (like Millers) which make a calibration recommendation of 5000K or 5500K. 6500K is the modern standard. Well, the trouble with calibrating at night is that you have to wait until the next day to see if the calibration was successful - that is, compare your prints to the screen. Then, if it's not successful, you have to wait until the next night to re-calibrate, and so on. Calibration should take minutes, not days. Yeah, I reckon with that blind closed, this would be ok.

Sorry Elisa, the brutal truth is that they're probably going to be way too terrible. But let's try. Did you shoot raw?