Metal Print Consistency

Pono PhotoPono Photo Registered Users Posts: 68 Beginner grinner
edited August 23, 2012 in SmugMug Support
So I had a few metal prints made and hung them for a show. They all looked fine. Some people liked them and wanted to buy copies. I sent them to my web site and they put in their orders. Then came the issues.

I have now seen the prints they were shipped. None of them look the same and none of them look like the version that I received as well. Bay Photo has now redone the prints and reshipped them out. I have not seen those yet, but will once they arrive.

I have color correction checked in the gallery. I did this because I know the prints come out darker than what displays on a normal backlit monitor. I have previously tried to do the color correction myself, but the image looks so bright displayed on the site. Then that is what people expect for one, and for two, it's not what I want the image to look like.

So here is the question. Is there a way for me to upload two versions of the image? One for display on the site and one to print from? If this is possible, I can make the display version look like I want it to, and have the brighter version to print from that will look the same as well.

I live on a small island in Hawaii. This issue has already messed with my reputation here, and in such a small place, word travels fast. If I can not get consistent prints made, things are just going to continue to go downhill from here. Also, when they do the "color correct" before printing, do they not save that data at all? Or is it just a random thing of whoever happens to be working does a quick tweak and that's that?

Any help here will be most appreciated!

Comments

  • PapalouiePapalouie Registered Users Posts: 17 Big grins
    edited August 23, 2012
    Pono Photo wrote: »
    So I had a few metal prints made and hung them for a show. They all looked fine. Some people liked them and wanted to buy copies. I sent them to my web site and they put in their orders. Then came the issues.

    I have now seen the prints they were shipped. None of them look the same and none of them look like the version that I received as well. Bay Photo has now redone the prints and reshipped them out. I have not seen those yet, but will once they arrive.

    I have color correction checked in the gallery. I did this because I know the prints come out darker than what displays on a normal backlit monitor. I have previously tried to do the color correction myself, but the image looks so bright displayed on the site. Then that is what people expect for one, and for two, it's not what I want the image to look like.

    So here is the question. Is there a way for me to upload two versions of the image? One for display on the site and one to print from? If this is possible, I can make the display version look like I want it to, and have the brighter version to print from that will look the same as well.

    I live on a small island in Hawaii. This issue has already messed with my reputation here, and in such a small place, word travels fast. If I can not get consistent prints made, things are just going to continue to go downhill from here. Also, when they do the "color correct" before printing, do they not save that data at all? Or is it just a random thing of whoever happens to be working does a quick tweak and that's that?

    Any help here will be most appreciated!

    Hi, you can get a hold of me directly at larry@bayphoto.com to get some details and resolution to this issue. We can look at previous orders to see how different they are from each other. You should not have to go to the complication of displaying an file that is different than the one you print from, this is a standard workflow and should be seamless for you. After taking a look at a couple of orders we will have more info. Sorry for the issues. Larry.
  • TheOnlookerTheOnlooker Registered Users Posts: 168 Major grins
    edited August 23, 2012
    Pono Photo wrote: »
    So I had a few metal prints made and hung them for a show. They all looked fine. Some people liked them and wanted to buy copies. I sent them to my web site and they put in their orders. Then came the issues.

    I have now seen the prints they were shipped. None of them look the same and none of them look like the version that I received as well. Bay Photo has now redone the prints and reshipped them out. I have not seen those yet, but will once they arrive.

    I have color correction checked in the gallery. I did this because I know the prints come out darker than what displays on a normal backlit monitor. I have previously tried to do the color correction myself, but the image looks so bright displayed on the site. Then that is what people expect for one, and for two, it's not what I want the image to look like.

    So here is the question. Is there a way for me to upload two versions of the image? One for display on the site and one to print from? If this is possible, I can make the display version look like I want it to, and have the brighter version to print from that will look the same as well.

    I live on a small island in Hawaii. This issue has already messed with my reputation here, and in such a small place, word travels fast. If I can not get consistent prints made, things are just going to continue to go downhill from here. Also, when they do the "color correct" before printing, do they not save that data at all? Or is it just a random thing of whoever happens to be working does a quick tweak and that's that?

    Any help here will be most appreciated!

    There really isn't a way you could upload two copies, and make one available while the other is only for viewing. What you might want to check out is the PROOF DELAY option. It comes highly recommended by us so any issues can be fixed a bit quicker. This way, you can have a viewing copy, and when folks order prints you can replace the image and give that updated copy to the lab.

    Also, when the lab makes changes. the photos are hand-corrected, and that information is not brought back to the site.

    We are sorry that the bad order is beginning to ruin your reputation, but we do ALL we can to make sure everything is right. We have this TREMENDOUS print guarantee, and will reprint / refund as needed to make things right. There is never an order that goes out where we won't do our best to keep you and your clients happy. thumb.gif

    So, checking out proof delay would be a great start, and if you haven't already, contact support at help[at]smugmug[dot]com with the order numbers, and we'll have our image specialists check out the order and let you know what options might be best for you.

    ...And, thank you, Larry!!

    -KevinW
    Support Hero
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