Printing photos from PS processed images

Stephen P

I'm having a little difficulty in finding out the best way to prepare a photo for printing in Photoshop CS5. On screen the photo is quite large looking and it's a large file. I want to be able to take some photos to a photo machine and just print them in 6x4in. Before when I've done this the photo doesn't look great on the paper, there might be a white line on part of the image at the side where the image didn't properly centre etc.
What do I need to do in PS first before putting the photos onto a disc and going to a machine?
Any tips would be appreciated

Heebie

Just from a simplified workflow standpoint.. you should have basically 3 steps. Each step should have it's own versions of the files involved. (and there are more step in a more advanced workflow.. this is REALLY basic.)

The first step is capture/shooting..which gives you raw images. (obviously a bit more complex if you need to develop the film & scan them.)

The second step is to edit the files.. you should not save over your originals, but make new copies of the files that you do all your editing in. (so that you can always revert to your originals if you really mess up.)

The third step would be preparation for printing. Here you open your original file, resize it to the size & resolution that you want it to print at, add borders if you want them, apply color profiles that relate to the printer if you want them. (If you don't have a specific color profile for the printer it's going to.. using a generic sRGB color profile is a good idea.) Flatten the image, and then do any sharpening you want to do, at the resolution of the print. Then.. save a NEW copy of the file as the type of output that the lab you're bringing it to will accept. (8-bit/channel JPG most likely.. some good labs will take others.)

The resolution to use in the final step will usually depend on the print equipment itself.. but using 300dpi at the size it is to be printed is a good guideline.

Resizing the image yourself before you bring it to the lab should keep the lab's equipment from resizing it again. (If the lab's equipment resizes it, it will most likely soften any sharpening you've done etc..as you resizing it would..which is why you don't do the sharpening until you're at print resolution.)

There's still tons more that could be mentioned, but the most important are going to be to crop/resize to the size and resolution you want, and convert it to a color profile either specifically for the equipment you're printing on.. or a profile that has a fairly small color gamut like sRGB.

Stephen P

Many thanks for that detailed and helpful reply. Would the above also apply to the printing machine like those in chemists? I suppose if I wanted to print a nice picture larger than the standard 6x4" I'd want to spend more time on the print output quality?

Heebie

Yes, that should also help with the kiosks you'd find in a chemist's... although you'll get better quality from a photolab that runs it through their real photographic equipment.. and probably also get a better price from them.

Stephen P wrote: »

Many thanks for that detailed and helpful reply. Would the above also apply to the printing machine like those in chemists? I suppose if I wanted to print a nice picture larger than the standard 6x4" I'd want to spend more time on the print output quality?

Stephen P

Heebie wrote: »

Yes, that should also help with the kiosks you'd find in a chemist's... although you'll get better quality from a photolab that runs it through their real photographic equipment.. and probably also get a better price from them.

Thanks again for your advice