General Photographic Chat

**Ogofmole** · #41 (**permalink**) 31-12-2008, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by cannockwolf

Well I have my prints back from DSCL and what a difference they are much brighter and not desaturated very quick and also cheaper! definitely a thumbs up from me

Just had a quick look at their website, did you download their printer colour space. I will have a better look when I get home. It is now 17.45 on New Years eve, so getting a quick knap before seeing the new year in here in Hong Kong.

cannockwolf · #42 (**permalink**) 31-12-2008, 13:17

no i have my computer calibrated so i really didnt want to start messing that up so i sent the same files i sent to photobox, happy new year LOL

**Ogofmole** · #43 (**permalink**) 05-02-2009, 18:36

I have just received five 10in x 15in prints from Photobox and again they are very dull and flat, I will phone them tomorrow. But in the meantime as I need these prints for a competition, I have ordered the same size prints from DSCL which were half the price, just got to wait now to see the image quality.

**Dennyboy** · #44 (**permalink**) 05-02-2009, 19:07

they were always very good, mine from new year looked flat and i have my screen calibrated as well.

**Ogofmole** · #45 (**permalink**) 05-02-2009, 19:16

I have always been happy with Photobox for many years, so I have tried to stick with them. But the last few orders, I have not been very satisfied, so I'm now looking elsewhere.

AndyCole · #46 (**permalink**) 05-02-2009, 20:07

I've used photobox since going digital a few years back, in fact I've not used anyone else. Their prints are slightly dull compared to what you see on the screen. I've always lived with it, after all, a screen is backlit. A print is only going to be as bright as the light shining on it! If you want to match your screen to their printers, you could re-calibrate it to match the free calibration print they send you. You can always swap screen profiles over at the click of a mouse, right?

They also have a tip on their 'quality' page that suggests you can use a profiled printer. Their large format printer is profiled and you can put several small images on a large print, which automatically goes to that printer, and get better matched results, apparently. Thinking about it now, my large prints did look pretty nice compared to the smaller ones.

Andy.

EDIT Just looked at DSCL and I can't believe their prices! 95p for an A3 print?! Is that right? What's the catch?

**Dennyboy** · #47 (**permalink**) 05-02-2009, 20:25

i use a calibration device to ensure my screen is as well calibrated and colour matched as it can be, i use the sRgb colour profile they say use and i always had good image results which did match my screen when i compared them. It is only recently the prints dont match my screen which is calibrated evey two weeks. (it does match their print really closely) I think they have switched paper quality.

tobyphillips · #48 (**permalink**) 05-02-2009, 20:37

I have had some A4 prints done for a friends wedding and they were as you have said....much too dark. I moaned to them saying that I have a spyder elite pro for a calibrated working colour space and that the prints should not look as they do. I also suggested they looked on google for dark prints problems with photobox as we are not the only ones!!
They have since resent the order with their apologies and said it was a quality control error and will not happen again.
This resent batch was an absolutely perfect match of my screen colours/brightness etc. The difference between batches was amazing.
Worth a moan and they should resend better versions!!

**Ogofmole** · #49 (**permalink**) 05-02-2009, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyCole

If you want to match your screen to their printers, you could re-calibrate it to match the free calibration print they send you. You can always swap screen profiles over at the click of a mouse, right?

They also have a tip on their 'quality' page that suggests you can use a profiled printer. Their large format printer is profiled and you can put several small images on a large print, which automatically goes to that printer, and get better matched results, apparently. Thinking about it now, my large prints did look pretty nice compared to the smaller ones.

Andy.

EDIT Just looked at DSCL and I can't believe their prices! 95p for an A3 print?! Is that right? What's the catch?

Hi Andy, Like Dennis the Photobox calibrated print matches my monitor pretty close, I have never had my monitor calibrated, I just adjusted my monitor to match the Photobox prints, which for years have worked perfectly, this problem has only been over the past 4-6 months, where some prints are printed perfect but more often now they are dull and flat. I know of quite a few people who now with there calibrated monitors who are having the same problems. Anyway I will give them a call tomorrow afternoon.

As for DSCL, the same order was only £6.49 inc P&P while Photobox was £15.45. But I have not seen the image quality Yet, can't be worst than Photobox at moment. will let you know.

**Ogofmole** · #50 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 12:42

Just had my 10in x 15in prints from DSCL, and they are superb, just as I see them on my monitor. They were delivered flat in a nice solid cardboard package. I will certainly be using DSCL again.