Advice please?

[summerdreamn]

April 13, 2009 at 10:22 pm

hi folks,

i haven’t posted in ages! still lurking though.

I want to get one of these enlarged, don’t know yet if i want to go with canvas or acrylic print or (any other options, steve?)

This one has no PP except for converting to BW. What does the conversion look like to you? I don’t know what it is with my local chemist but any BWs i print look totally washed out, too bright, no contrast, no details, so i don’t know if its my conversion or what.

Also, if i’m getting this around 16×20, should i brighten the eyes a bit more and maybe sort out the blotchiness of the skin?

view large: http://www.flickr.com/photos/summerdreamn/3431963743/sizes/o/

This one, i used coffee shop powderoom and it looks pretty false so i might leave out the skin smoothing if i get it printed.

view large: http://www.flickr.com/photos/summerdreamn/3436227104/sizes/l/

What do you reckon, lads?

Thanks!

[deboy]

April 13, 2009 at 11:23 pm

Have you tried Harvey Norman instead of the local chemist,
They have a great service, and a lot cheepeeeeer as well,

[smelltheglove]

April 14, 2009 at 10:40 am

I would soften the skin if enlarging it, in corel paint shop pro there is a tool called skin smoothing although you get eh false look if you go too high or you can use the blur tool at a low strength in photoshop.

I though similar with a pic i sent to steve for printing, it lacked contrast and when he checked teh levels he noticed there wasnt enough white so maybe try that.

[summerdreamn]

April 15, 2009 at 4:48 pm

thanks, guys. no harvey norman near me so can’t try them.

i must check the levels to see if that makes a difference. i just read somewhere that some machines don’t print the BWs very well but i don’t really understand that. i might get a test print before i order anything too big anyway.

i think i like the serious expression more than the smiley one, but i’ll probably change my mind again in five minutes. :)

[Broadford1]

July 13, 2009 at 2:24 pm

Both lovely shots, but for me, No. 2 has the edge.
Enjoy your print.

[miki g]

July 13, 2009 at 2:34 pm

I think most machines in chemists are tuned for colour rather than B&W. I have tried several and all have had the same result. If you know of anywhere near you who does handprinting it might be the best bet as you can show them what you’de like it to look like. Nice shots and good luck with them

[summerdreamn]

July 13, 2009 at 3:24 pm

thanks! :) i’ve gone for the more serious expression in the first one :)

[stcstc]

July 13, 2009 at 3:36 pm

first of all there are soooooo many options for display

if your doing a canvas, do it properly

places like harvey normans and the local chemist use cheap canvas etc to make their margins higher etc. I use a very high quality fuji canvas that cost a little more but is sooooo worth it, for exmple its actually white most canvas has a tinge of cream in them

secondly if your doing a canvas you really want to do it with a pro when its B&W particularly as it needs to be managed correctly, domestic photolabs like harvery normans and the chemist will employ people on a low wage to press buttons and generally they wont have any real understanding (i say generally as there are some people who do know)

if you want to give me a shout i can show you lots of options etc in my studio

s

although i am away on holidays on friday (wohooooo) until tuesday 4th august

[summerdreamn]

July 16, 2009 at 9:25 pm

thanks, steve, i wouldn’t pass you for my canvas! I am still playing around with a few different photos. have fun on your holidays!

[eshortie]

July 20, 2009 at 11:16 am

I really like both especially the second.
I have found I never get decent prints from the local chemsits or fuji store especially with B&W which are always over exposed and lacking contrast.

Now I use a crowd called photobox.co.uk, upload the same files to them and get perfect prints exactly as they appeaed on screen and should be. Very cheap too for larger prints although they don’t do canvas from what I know and your probably better doing canvas right.

[nickmoran]

July 20, 2009 at 10:44 pm

I prefer number 1,the overall tone looks more natural to me,the skin has more texture possiblly because of the light you were shooting in.I know most people would say that the childs face should be more outstanding as in no#2,but i find it a bit too bright,lacking detail and a bit too soft.I would print no#1!!

As for canvas printing,is it any good?I may be wrong,but did photographers ever strive for canvas prints??if you like the picture to stand proud,this could be done with an alternative framing solution.