Is it time to upgrade?

[rightmovephotography]

I have the spyder 5 express.  I am happy with the color, but the prints are dark.  I don't mean brightness, I mean the black point. On my monitor, the darks show texture but the prints just about wipe it out.  Will a better version of Spyder allow me to adjust the black point, 'cause if I need a new calibrator, I would prefer to get it this tax year.

[Damien Symonds]

4 hours ago, rightmovephotography said:

Will a better version of Spyder allow me to adjust the black point

Not as such, no.

Have you ever had a satisfactory print match with this screen/calibrator/lab combination?

[rightmovephotography]

No not really. I just accepted that that was the way that it was.  I was just hoping for more of a wysiwyg with the prints. I could get the result I want if I increase the shadows slider but don’t know how much to increase without getting a print first. 

[Damien Symonds]

The Spyder Express is very basic tech.  I'm fairly confident to say that you'll get a better match with a new device.

[rightmovephotography]

I bought the elite and recalibrated but I am still fighting the blacks in the images, at least the ones that are shot with a lot of contrast.  I would appreciate any suggestions you might can give.  I took a crappy cell phone shot of the print so that you can see the difference that I am facing.https://www.rightmovephoto.com/p993328276/ec3434915

[Damien Symonds]

New lab time.

[rightmovephotography]

You know, I was wondering about that.  I have used Bay photo for years so I thought, maybe I should check with another lab.  This image is from Nations photo.  I also got a set from the local drug store that is not as dark but still fairly dark.

 

[Damien Symonds]

I don't know anything about Nations, but I do know you must never use Bay.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/askdamien/posts/4143619009031601/

[rightmovephotography]

Yeah I read your post, that prompted me to look at nations.  Can you look at the original jpeg and tell me if the left side is as dark as what the print shows?https://www.rightmovephoto.com/p993328276/ec3434915

 

[Damien Symonds]

It's dark, but all the detail is visible, just.

If you can see visible detail on your screen, but not your print, then it's a printing problem.

[rightmovephotography]

I really want to get into the raw class but not until I get the screen/print issue resolved.  Let me get a set from White house

 

[rightmovephotography]

I have gotten prints from Bay, Nations, White House, and my local drug store.  My screen is not putting as much black in the image as the prints are.  I tried to play with the gamma but that changes colors.  Is there anything else I can try?

[Damien Symonds]

Well, calibrate with lower brightness, I guess.

[rightmovephotography]

I calibrated with a setting of 70, you said don't go lower than that.  I guess I will just have to push the shadows and brightness as much as I can, certainly more than I have been.  We can talk more next week in the raw class.

[Damien Symonds]

I said you shouldn't have to go lower than that, but it seems likely that your room light is bad, so you'd better go lower.

[rightmovephotography]

I got side tracked with life but want to revisit this dark room thing,  Since I can't see your room. nor you mine, can you set your camera to f8 iso 200 and tell the shutter speed on a flat white sheet of paper?   Mine is 80.

 

[Damien Symonds]

I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

[rightmovephotography]

You said my room was too dark.  I am trying to compare my lighting with yours.  Since I can't see your room to gauge the amount of light in your room versus  mine, I was hoping to use camera settings to see how much darker my room is.  Your shutter speed should be a lot faster than mine if your room is a lot brighter...right?

 

[Damien Symonds]

Don't overcomplicate this.  Does your room have windows?

[rightmovephotography]

yes i have windows - sliding glass doors - vertical blinds are closed, most editing is done at night anyway.  

[Damien Symonds]

Right, but if you compare your screen to your prints during the day when there's nice light in the room, how's the match?

[rightmovephotography]

Wow, I recall you wanting the curtains closed so that there is consistency in the room light.  Let me wake up the sun and get back to you.

[Damien Symonds]

17 minutes ago, rightmovephotography said:

Wow, I recall you wanting the curtains closed

Yes, because your artificial lighting should be as bright as if the curtains were open.

[rightmovephotography]

Sigh, you win, my room is too dark.  With the windows open, the black point is right.  So, I can edit just fine at night in my dark room but calibration is a day time only thing for me huh?

[Damien Symonds]

NO YOU CAN'T BLOODY EDIT AT NIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!