Calibration

[Karlie Kingi]

Hi Damien,
I have two calibrated screens, I have done print testing through my chosen lab and have printed across all the type of papers they offer.
I  then printed two sets one as per my configuration and profile I've set up in my ps with my colours space being srgb (I'm working through your course for raw)
and then at the request of the lab I've printed a set using their ICC profile.

My question both sets look different to my screen my screen is a lot more magenta than that of what's been printed.
Prints look the most similar to my profile is closest to screen except are still warmer and their icc is merky and warmer toned.

Im am so lost as to what I do next to get it correct

[Damien Symonds]

3 minutes ago, Karlie Kingi said:

and then at the request of the lab I've printed a set using their ICC profile.

Hang on, did they really request that?  What did they say, exactly?

[Karlie Kingi]

I printed a set of prints based on calibrating my screen and working through the raw class I wanted to make sure what I was working with was correct, I got the images back and they were super warm I then queried it with them and they send me a link to add their ICC Profile and requested I used that profile for accurate printing?
and then they also said I should be working in 16bit not 8bit ?

 

[Karlie Kingi]

https://workspace.queensberry.com/downloads

 

[Damien Symonds]

16 minutes ago, Karlie Kingi said:

their ICC Profile and requested I used that profile for accurate printing?

How did you "use" it?

16 minutes ago, Karlie Kingi said:

and then they also said I should be working in 16bit not 8bit ?

That's a load of crap.

[Karlie Kingi]

I downloaded thier icc and clicked on it and it dramatically changed my image colours and then didn't even match when I did print through thier icc 

 

[Damien Symonds]

Whoa, shit, no, that's NOT how you use a lab profile.

This is how you use a lab profile: https://www.damiensymonds.net/2010/03/bit-about-soft-proofing.html

[Damien Symonds]

Ignore the lab profile for now.  It's only for photos with very vivid colours.

Let's concentrate on what's important.  Which calibrator do you have?

[Karlie Kingi]

I have a x rite color munki smile

[Damien Symonds]

Oh shit.

Well, that's why you can't get an accurate calibration.

Throw that thing in the bin (it's not even worth selling) and get a proper one.

[Karlie Kingi]

Oh sickening 

Gave you got any information or resources on recommendations for calibrators?

[Damien Symonds]

https://www.damiensymonds.net/which-monitor-calibrator-to-buy/

[Karlie Kingi]

Thank you so very much 

[Damien Symonds]

I'm sorry it's bad news.

For a long time I had an article on my website about the Smile, because I bought one too (for testing purposes).  And it was so terrible that I wrote a strongly-worded article warning everyone not to buy it.

In my recent overhaul of the website I removed that article because I thought the Smile was safely in the past.  I didn't realise it was still haunting some people.

[Karlie Kingi]

I really appreciate your site and every bit of knowledge you provide I'm starting to learn quickly that even walking into a photography shop who sold me the colormunki are just there to sell things 

[Damien Symonds]

Yeah

[Damien Symonds]

@Karlie Kingi have you got a new calibrator yet?

[Karlie Kingi]

Hi Damien 

yes it finally came I ordered it just before our lockdown and arrived this morning super excited I got the Datacolor spyderx elite my plan is to tomorrow calibrate and then do a print test and then continue on with my learning with you :) 

[Damien Symonds]

Hooray!

But NOOOOOOOOO!

You can't calibrate unless you have prints with you!  You can't wait until after calibration to get prints.

Do you have any prints?

[Karlie Kingi]

I already ran a set of prints pre calibration but then I was under the understanding I was to run another set of prints to then compare them to my calibrated screen or does it no longer matter?

[Damien Symonds]

No no no.  Do you think your lab will change the way they print just because one of their thousands of customers suddenly calibrated?  Of course not.  Prints are prints.  You don't need to get new ones afterwards.

The purpose of calibration is to make your screen match the prints you already have.  Not just the good ones either.  ALL your prints.

[Damien Symonds]

@Karlie Kingi is your calibration ok now?

[Damien Symonds]

@Karlie Kingi?