Samantha LaRue

If the pictures are all of uniform size, you could try use the Contact Sheet tool in Bridge. Tools > Photoshop > Contact Sheet and then type in your specifications (document size, how many images per row etc). Not sure if that is what you were thinking of or if you wanted it in motion.

How low do you have to go with your brightness to make the prints match? Or do they already match (in terms of brightness) at 100? 

Can you post one of the images here?

Yes that's banding. What quality level did you save the jpeg at before posting here?

That's the exact one I have! Pretty good monitor. 

Just now, Phyllis said:

The template is CMYK and my images are sRGB. Things are looking a bit better but I would still like to know if that setting in the Proof Setup is the default.

Did you read the link?

If you haven't done any editing in PS then you don't need a PSD. 

Each time you will want to print this image or use it in a different manner (ie. A different output), you'll need to open the raw file again and send it to PS and create a new crop for the specifications required for your intended use. Don't reuse that jpeg you made the first time.

If you *did* have a PSD, then you'd just open the PSD file up, crop and "save as" jpegs without saving over the PSD again.

http://www.damiensymonds.net/2014/07/proof-setup-working-cmyk-not-really.html

The bigger problem that Damien wants to address is the color space of the file that will affect the printing of said file. It would suck to do all this work and then have your order come back with botched colors. 

2 minutes ago, Phyllis said:

I got it from an online printing company site. I can't remember which one.

So it didn't come from the place you'll be sending it to be printed?

Is your monitor calibrated to match prints from your professional lab?

What tool are you referring to? White balance is done in ACR before PS opens. And "Camera Raw Filter" is not the same thing.

What to buy: http://www.damiensymonds.net/what2buy_cal.html

How to calibrate: http://www.damiensymonds.net/calibration.html

Looks like you may have missed focus on his eyes, ever so slightly. Have you tested your camera to see if it's front or back focusing? 

Can we see another crop from where the front arm of the chair meets the back of the chair? I think that might be where your focus fell. 

Don't forget your noise removal as well: http://www.damiensymonds.net/2010/07/raw-noise-removal.html
 

Well, to start with - her subjects are much further away from the background than yours. That's just a photography thing and why her subjects "pop" away from the background. The light will also hit the background different, adding more to the depth. I believe she also applies additional darkening/vignetting with a levels layer - but the key is to get that separation in the first place. 

Do you have any images where your subject is further from the background?

1 hour ago, CanonGirl said:

"100% crop" trips me up, I guess.  To me "100%" is uncropped image, and "crop" is cropped; put them together, and you got me. 

Thank you!

 

100% like "zoomed in to 100%".

Just now, CanonGirl said:

it's a crop out of the full size image

Can you get your crop like this please instead? http://www.damiensymonds.net/2013/09/grabbing-700x700px-100-crop.html It helps make sure your crop isn't stretched or resized so that we know exactly what we are seeing. 
 

5 hours ago, LadyTC1312 said:

I am done processing as best i can but when I try to upload the image it keep saying the file is too large. I have reduced the size and I still get the same thing.

How are you "reducing" the size? And how big is the file currently?

Is this the full sized photo or did you post a crop?

You can't use the built in calibration for the Mac, so there is no reason to touch that screen. Your device will create it's own profile to use.

I'm sure @Brian has some specific recommendations. I just have a 1tb Seagate drive. 

And yes, you can view the files on the harddrive and decide which ones you want to put back on your computer etc. It works just the same as a giant USB drive, with windows explorer.

Damien also recommends a cool program called SyncToy that helps you set up backups for your external. (Which you should be doing anyways, especially for special and important images) Thats something you can worry about though once you have your PC reloaded.

You'll need an external to back up your photos on. You could technically use a USB or memory cards too and even CDs, but economically, it's probably just better to use an external.

Try posting it as a jpeg, at 2048px wide, at level quality 11 and compare.

Did you shoot raw?

Can you post a crop like this please of the hair? http://www.damiensymonds.net/2013/09/grabbing-700x700px-100-crop.html

you can black out her face if privacy is a concern.

It also looks like you haven't done your noise removal yet, so here is that link as well.  http://www.damiensymonds.net/2010/07/raw-noise-removal.html

You use the calibration device to adjust the colors of your screen. It depends on what device you use and what type of monitor/computer you have as to how it will work. Once you have purchased a device, we can help you troubleshoot the process.

He means he used a brush at a lower opacity to blend in the masking around the hair.

These are Damien's recommendations:

http://www.damiensymonds.net/what2buy_cal.html