Auto or True? I can't tell

pigeon

I just received my first test order from SmugMug. For one image, I selected true and also another of the same image with "auto".

It's a candid photo of someone. One photo came back with the skin tone really red, and the other one looks perfect. I'm *thinking* the perfect one is TRUE color (of course!) but I want to know for sure.

How can I tell?

thanks,
teresa

Andy

pigeon wrote:

I just received my first test order from SmugMug. For one image, I selected true and also another of the same image with "auto".

It's a candid photo of someone. One photo came back with the skin tone really red, and the other one looks perfect. I'm *thinking* the perfect one is TRUE color (of course!) but I want to know for sure.

How can I tell?

thanks,
teresa

order # please?

pigeon

233895

Andy wrote:

order # please?

Andy

The auto color version is going to be lighter (better exposed), have better skin tone, better overall contrast, and sharpness.

True (no adjustments)


Auto (with our Auto color)
http://smugmug.jot.com/WikiHome/PrintingAutoOrTrueColor

marlinspike

I wish there were a way to pull contrast out of the auto color's function. I would take the auto sample you posted and do USM 13% 60px 0threshold if it were a sports picture for instance, but I think auto would pull that contrast back, no?

pigeon

OK - I've read up on Auto Color (i2e) on your web site.

Are these adjustments done automatically, or is there human intervention on each order?

If auto - what are the settings in i2e that are applied?

thanks so much,
teresa

Andy

pigeon wrote:

OK - I've read up on Auto Color (i2e) on your web site.

Are these adjustments done automatically, or is there human intervention on each order?

If auto - what are the settings in i2e that are applied?

thanks so much,
teresa

It's Auto. No humans involved, unless you count Baldy (our cofounder and president, and me, and the experience of a zilliion prints...)... we have set I2E to give the types of result you see here and on our Wiki page I linked.

pigeon

I've looked, and I see the "what", but not the "how".
Unless I'm missing it, could you and Baldy share your I2E settings?

Or are you saying the default I2E settings do this magic??

-teresa

Andy wrote:

It's Auto. No humans involved, unless you count Baldy (our cofounder and president, and me, and the experience of a zilliion prints...)... we have set I2E to give the types of result you see here and on our Wiki page I linked.

Andy

pigeon wrote:

I've looked, and I see the "what", but not the "how".
Unless I'm missing it, could you and Baldy share your I2E settings?

Or are you saying the default I2E settings do this magic??

-teresa

Hi Teresa,

ABE- 50
ACE- 50
MCE- 100
shadow enhancement - 60
highlight enhancement - 100

brightness 15
contrast highlights 0
contrast shadows -20
all the rest, 0

smugger

If we play with photos in photoshop and upload them to our liking then do you think auto color is still a good option to choose or will true color work ok...

i.e. If I put a photo already through levels and curves in photoshop, is it still a good idea to use auto color?

Andy

smugger wrote:

If we play with photos in photoshop and upload them to our liking then do you think auto color is still a good option to choose or will true color work ok...

i.e. If I put a photo already through levels and curves in photoshop, is it still a good idea to use auto color?

It entirely depends on how you process your photos If you can do as well/better than our Auto, then by all means, choose True. If not, then Auto will usually help the situation.

Show me some examples and I can help!