color balance when printing at costco...

[cryssi]

I have a question that hopefully someone can help me with? I've made 8x10 thank you photo collages for our bridal party, and have run a test print at costco. The color is off on the prints, and it is very dark. Now I'm pretty sure I know why this is happening, but was hoping someone could help me fix it. I was going to send another print with the auto color balance turned off. Please tell me if this is not going to work.

I think that the black backround is what's throwing the color balance all out of whack. That and some pictures are from day, and some night.

Should I just scrap the whole idea and do the collages manually?

Any advice would be great.

thanks!

c

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Costco play around with your colour balance too much. You can't even ask them not to do so because their machine is set to automatic colour balance.

I no longer print at Costco (they used to be able to over-ride it, but not anymore).

PS: I'm talking about Costco Canada in my area (5 Costcos altogether), don't know whether you can request the same in the US.

 

[Anewman]

Costco play around with your colour balance too much. You can't even ask them not to do so because their machine is set to automatic colour balance.

I no longer print at Costco (they used to be able to over-ride it, but not anymore).

PS: I'm talking about Costco Canada in my area (5 Costcos altogether), don't know whether you can request the same in the US.

In both of my local Costcos I have always written in the special insturctions box "NO AUTO CORRECT" and they have always been very good about it, well 99% of the time. Only once have they not followed instructions but they REprinted them for me at no cost. This is If I did not upload them ahead of time, and if you do this in store it MAY add time to that ONE HOUR garrantee.

I mostly(now) upload and then pick up instore. When you upload you can EDIT OPTIONS and one of the options is "TURN OFF AUTO CORRECTIONS."

 

[Anewman]

I have a question that hopefully someone can help me with? I've made 8x10 thank you photo collages for our bridal party, and have run a test print at costco. The color is off on the prints, and it is very dark. Now I'm pretty sure I know why this is happening, but was hoping someone could help me fix it. I was going to send another print with the auto color balance turned off. Please tell me if this is not going to work.

I think that the black backround is what's throwing the color balance all out of whack. That and some pictures are from day, and some night.

Should I just scrap the whole idea and do the collages manually?

Any advice would be great.

thanks!

c

I ALWAYS(instore or uploaded) turn off auto corrections, that is the only way you can be 100% sure what the color/contrast will look like.

But I do not understand what you mean by "Should I just scrap the whole idea and do the collages manually?"

What is manual vs Costco?

 

[cryssi]

ah yes, what I meant was should I just go out and buy collage frames or multi-opening pre-cut mats, print up 4x6's and cut and assemble the old fashioned way...

I was trying to be high tech and photoshop the whole thing...

 

[Anewman]

ah yes, what I meant was should I just go out and buy collage frames or multi-opening pre-cut mats, print up 4x6's and cut and assemble the old fashioned way...

I was trying to be high tech and photoshop the whole thing...

Ah, I get it. I forgot that persons still did that...

I really dont think you should have trouble with Costco.

With Auto corrections on you could get great results 90% of the time, but what happens when you have that important print and the computer(@costco) thinks that the image needs a little pinkish hue or it decides to blow out the wedding dress.

To get best results without AUTO CORRECTIONS, you need to have a decently calibrated monitor. Because with AUTO CORRECTIONS turned off a poorly calibrated setup will become very apparent, the minilab will no longer be compensating.

I suggest you print a few test 4x6s(some daytime/night/flash/etc...) with auto corrections off and see what you get. They are only 17 cents each.

 

[cryssi]

thanks! I've just sent a print with autocorrections turned off...if that still doesn't work...back to photoshop I go...

 

[boBQuincy]

Chasing color and exposure problems on prints can be very frustrating and time consuming. I have spent my share of time trying to deal with these nuisances and finally (a few years back) realized the small investment in a monitor calibrator would be more than offset by the savings in paper, ink, and my life expectancy.

There are some inexpensive (and not so great , but adequate) calibrators, I use ColorVision's original Spyder for LCD and it works well. With these when you find out what type of printer the lab uses you can set up the image for that printer.

Photoshop also lets you see what the effect of the printer & paper will be (view proof colors), and it can be a dramatic change from the beautiful screen image you just created.

Microsoft, Adobe, Canon, Kodak, HP, and others are working together to make color management a lot easier. For now it is a big pain in the butt, but it is a lot less trouble than endlessly chasing color & exposure issues.


boB

 

[Anewman]

Chasing color and exposure problems on prints can be very frustrating and time consuming. I have spent my share of time trying to deal with these nuisances and finally (a few years back) realized the small investment in a monitor calibrator would be more than offset by the savings in paper, ink, and my life expectancy.

There are some inexpensive (and not so great , but adequate) calibrators, I use ColorVision's original Spyder for LCD and it works well. With these when you find out what type of printer the lab uses you can set up the image for that printer.

Photoshop also lets you see what the effect of the printer & paper will be (view proof colors), and it can be a dramatic change from the beautiful screen image you just created.

Microsoft, Adobe, Canon, Kodak, HP, and others are working together to make color management a lot easier. For now it is a big pain in the butt, but it is a lot less trouble than endlessly chasing color & exposure issues.


boB

OH yes 100% agree with BOB.

Even with a Calibrated setup, if you leave AUTO CORRECTIONS turned ON the minilab can decide that the colors are not right and make adjustments.

 

[cryssi]

Ok, well I took a gamble and lightened my images. I had a color laser print of the original collage and the costco print. I made a new color laser print of the lightened one and compared it to the original laser print. It was visibly lighter, so I thought that it would work. Sent the image off to costco and it came out exactly like I wanted.

Moral of the story is, if you are too lazy to calibrate, you can always do it the hard way...LOL I only wasted 2 prints, or about $3.

I guess you have to know that a color laser print won't be nearly as saturated as a photo print, so adjust accordingly...

...oh and turn autocorrect OFF!