Damien Symonds

And just so I'm perfectly straight with all this ... When your desktop monitor isn't plugged in, and you're using your laptop screen, all three programs (Bridge, ACR and Photoshop) look the same. Am I right so far? What about when the desktop monitor is plugged in? Do all three programs still look the same on the laptop screen? Or does the problem of difference suddenly appear? The problem of difference is evident on the desktop screen whenever it's plugged in. Yes?

That's very comon. So, which one matches your pro lab prints?

I urge you to consider renewing the Raw Class. The new updated information is SO much more comprehensive than before.

The trick is to put the layer in a group, then add a mask to the group: Does that make sense? That way, you keep the gradient untouched, and do your brush work separately. In some cases, it's better to do the brush work on the layer mask, and the gradient on the group mask. The more you play with this method, the more you'll develop the instinct for what's best.

No, there is a clever trick, but it's not that. Give me a minute, I'll show you ...

Ok, this is really promising. I'm confident that once you have a permanent good light solution for your room, you'll love the results.

Yes, good point. Calibration is a vital aspect of colour questions like this.

Vibrance (and Saturation) don't ever change colour. They just exaggerate what's there. If you're using Vibrance and seeing this problem, it means your white balance is wrong. PLEASE consider the Raw Class. It will change your life, I promise.

Well, replace the bulbs with brighter whiter ones, I assume.

Yes, that's right. But then you said that your prints look different in natural light to what they do in your room light. That means your room light isn't good enough.

Your room has to BE natural light. Or the equivalent of natural light, that is. So this seems that your room is not well lit after all?

No, that's utter BS. No way does it match your prints with the brightness way up.

Then your screen will be much too bright, yes?

Great.

A levels layer, with the black slider on the Red channel at about 30, and the black slider on the Green channel at about 20.

Doesn't matter, does it? If they all match, and they all match the pro lab prints ... ?

Well, don't even recalibrate yet. Just compare the prints again. Is it a good light? Nice and white, and bright? Not dim or yellow?

Ok, fix your lighting then re-assess, and let me know what you conclude. Then we can discuss further.

That's not Assign Profile, it's Convert. And no, Convert doesn't mean anything. However, if you close that Convert window and toggle Ctrl Y off and on, does the same yellow change happen?

And how closely do they match each other?

Hmmm ... usually this problem occurs when a desktop screen is plugged into a laptop. It shouldn't happen on a laptop alone. So your settings are definitely correct per this?

Have you read this? Could your lighting be the problem?

How many screens do you have?

No they don't. Stop saying that. Your prints are what they are. Ok, so when you got to the troubleshooting section of my calibration instructions, is that the approach you took? That your screen was too cold?

Ok, let's start by dealing with Facebook, then we'll see what else needs fixing. http://www.damiensymonds.net/art_tsfb000.html