Auto-Color = Peachy skin tones
Cam-in-Hand
Registered Users Posts: 3 Beginner grinner
I just got a HUGE order from SmugMug/EZprints. I had selected "auto color" because I have no real color calibration on my computer. I shoot people, and the face is usually a large percentage of the photo. This batch was of about 40 portraits of preschoolers taken outside with various lighting conditions and crazy reflective light off of slides, etc. Also, all sorts of different skin tones. I did my best with my own color correction in Adobe RAW 5.5 (I shoot Nikon), and decided to leave the rest up to the "Auto-correct" option.
I fear this was a huge mistake! I would say atleast half of the prints (about 300) have peachy skin tones and almost pasty lips (like the color was drained from them). I have looked and looked on this forum, and can't find anyone else with a post similar to this.
Which makes me wonder - am I being too critical of the coloring, since I know what they really should look like? And maybe no client (or less than 5%) would even notice, nor care? I usually have my clients order right from Smugmug, so I rarely see any prints, and so far, no one complains, but I certainly am concerned about the quality of my product. I am new to this and so I am hoping for some advice from other portrait-style photographers who shoot regular ole clients (families, local, non-events) in natural light. Have you had similar issues with EZprints and auto color? Has anyone complained? Does it bother you?
And yes, I know, I now have the option of using Bayphoto hand correction, and considered it. but, my margin of profit was so small for this project, and I felt it a safe bet to go with EZprints.
What to do what to do....?
I fear this was a huge mistake! I would say atleast half of the prints (about 300) have peachy skin tones and almost pasty lips (like the color was drained from them). I have looked and looked on this forum, and can't find anyone else with a post similar to this.
Which makes me wonder - am I being too critical of the coloring, since I know what they really should look like? And maybe no client (or less than 5%) would even notice, nor care? I usually have my clients order right from Smugmug, so I rarely see any prints, and so far, no one complains, but I certainly am concerned about the quality of my product. I am new to this and so I am hoping for some advice from other portrait-style photographers who shoot regular ole clients (families, local, non-events) in natural light. Have you had similar issues with EZprints and auto color? Has anyone complained? Does it bother you?
And yes, I know, I now have the option of using Bayphoto hand correction, and considered it. but, my margin of profit was so small for this project, and I felt it a safe bet to go with EZprints.
What to do what to do....?
0
Comments
I hope your final JPGs were sRGB and not aRGB.
If they are aRGB, your colors would be off when printed.
Facebook ♦ Flickr ♦ SmugMug
SmugMug referral coupon code: ix3uDyfBU6xXs
(use this for a discount off your SmugMug subscription)
We guarantee every single print, no matter the reason, so don't sweat it. Let our print specialists examine your photos and we'll sort you out, promise!
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
Hi Andy, Thank you for the suggestion. I actually already had done it. It's being taken care of - I've selected out the ones that are peachy, and Smugmug is re-printing them via Bay Photo with correction. I totally appreciate the help - it's partly why I've gone with Smugmug in the first place. Customer service ROCKS, as usual. and I'm really pleased that Bay Photo is an option now. I'll only use them in the future.
BUT, I will say that I'm still perplexed about the whole "Auto-Color" situation. I was told by a Smugmug hero that "auto color" is not in fact, what I understood it to be. In response to my problem with the peachy coloring, The hero said "You should know that EZPrints color correction is an automated process that always increases exposure and saturation, and is likely the cause of the problem here. It does not deal with white balance, whereas Bay Photo correction does." Now, I had seriously done my homework here, read everything Smugmug.com has about both "Printing: Color correction" and "Getting great prints" in the help section. And I have just gone back and re-read the "Printing Color Correction" page. The information there just does not jive with what the Hero tells me. However, what the Hero tells me certainly appears to be true in my photos. She said she looked at my images, which tended to be warmer, and therefore, with increased saturation from "Auto-Color", they turned peachy.
I'm left wondering what "auto-color" really is supposed to do?
BUT, I will say that I'm still perplexed about the whole "Auto-Color" situation. I was told by a Smugmug hero that "auto color" is not in fact, what I understood it to be. In response to my problem with the peachy coloring, The hero said "You should know that EZPrints color correction is an automated process that always increases exposure and saturation, and is likely the cause of the problem here. It does not deal with white balance, whereas Bay Photo correction does." Now, I had seriously done my homework here, read everything Smugmug.com has about both "Printing: Color correction" and "Getting great prints" in the help section. And I have just gone back and re-read the "Printing Color Correction" page. The information there just does not jive with what the Hero tells me. However, what the Hero tells me certainly appears to be true in my photos. She said she looked at my images, which tended to be warmer, and therefore, with increased saturation from "Auto-Color", they turned peachy.
I'm left wondering what "auto-color" really is supposed to do?
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
Please continue to work with my color specialists, thanks!
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter
Portfolio • Workshops • Facebook • Twitter