Prints a bit too dark

Helvegr

Hi -- Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this question, I only do so because I printed some images with Bay Photo via Smugmug.

I printed a few landscape photos on the Kodak Endura Metallic paper (never tried this paper before). Granted the image is a bit on the dark side.

http://helvegr.smugmug.com/Photography/Portfolio/12147209_NkMxz#983968419_DQB3d-A-LB

However it printed darker then I expected. Any tips as to what this may be an indication of? I realize its hard without seeing the print, but is my monitor still to brite perhaps (its turned down to 20/100), or does this paper tend to run dark?

Any tips are appreciated. For the cost of the 10x30 print, i don't want to have to run too many test prints.

Steve Cavigliano

Hi
We are sorry to hear that you weren't happy with your prints. As you point out, we can see where the photo is a bit dark. Compounding this is the fact that photos will print 1.5-2 stops darker than they appear on today's heavily backlit monitors. And with much less dynamic range. As they will be viewed using reflective lighting.

This is usually a big problem with the darker tones. Since you can see shadow detail on your monitor. Yet these areas print almost black in the print. You will need to brighten the parts of the image you wish to have print brighter. I usually use a Curves Adjustment layer to brighten the tones below, say 50-60. This brightening shifts the tonal data (and opens it up somewhat) from being bunched up against the black limit (left limit). Shifting this data more towards the white limit (the right limit).
http://www.smugmug.com/help/too-dark

I hope I have cleared this up for you. If not, you can contact us on the Desk. Or, our Finishing School can also help you with this.

Have a wonderful evening :cavig
Cavig