Second Set of Eyes on Darkness of a proof

BradfordBenn

Hello All-

I have been soft proofing a Blurb book in Photoshop CS5, and am having a really hard time with one of the shots I am working on. It is a picture of our late great dogs Marty and Chloe I want to get into a book for the wife for Free Loot Day. Marty was a white Great Pyrenees and Chloe was a black Newfoundland. However when I look at the image after I adjusted it under soft proofing view I think it might be too dark.

First my setup, I am using an iMac27 with the glossy screen (only option) and a Huey Pro for calibration. I calibrated the monitor and then used the Blurb icc profile under soft proofing in PSCS5. However I am still worried that when I look at the image under non soft proofing situations it is too dark.

Here is the corrected image:


Here is the uncorrected for softproofing image (basically SOOC RAW):


I am worried that when I look at it under soft proofing without darkening it, Chloe was grey more than black. So I adjusted the Black Point and it looks better under soft proofing. I was hoping to get a second set of eyes on it to assuage my fears.

I don't think the Blurb books are covered under the SmugMug guarantee, but the bigger reason I worry is that I want to get the gift right the first time. So any and all comments are welcome.

basflt

my 2 penny's
on my non proofed , non calibrated monitor , #2 looks correct
in #1 , the darks are too dark
hope it helps

Peano

The top image (labeled "corrected") is too dark. In the black areas here, the shadows are blocked (0.0.0.). There is no shadow
detail in those areas, nothing but solid black.



For what it's worth, I would consider a square crop for that one, with a vignette to pull attention into the center of interest.

BinaryFx

For me, this image is all about contrast/detail - in both highlights and shadows.


Regards,

Stephen Marsh

divamum

Technique, schmechnique - the real thing here is................. PUPPPIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, moving on to the question: agree with the others in that #1 is too dark. #2 doesn't look "grey" on my Huey-calibrated laptop monitor - her coat looks to have that slightly bronzy quality on the dark fur (which I'd suspect is probably the reality, since most Newfies I've seen looked like that). FWIW, my laptop monitor can be a little low contrast, but I don't find it lacking much pop in the SOOC (could use a little more, but it's not washed out).

So.Sweet.

arodney

You should be calibrating your display to match the output WITH the soft proof on. See:http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/why_are_my_prints_too_dark.shtml

BradfordBenn

Thanks for all the input and comments. I recalibrated with soft proof on I tweaked and tweaked and think I am sticking with SOOC as it is the best looking. In terms of the square crop, I actually ended up with a portrait crop based on where I am using it, a Free Loot Day gift for the wife.... no one tell her, okay?

BradfordBenn

Now comes the hardest part, waiting for delivery!

BradfordBenn

Got delivery of the Blurb book and the color was good. Some pics I was right on and got good correction on others I was a little off. Including this one. The sharpness is there in that one can see the individual hairs coming out, however Chloe's shading of hair is not there, it is all black with no depth. However it was still successful cause it made the L&T wife smile.