Do I need separate edits for photos intended for print and web viewing?

Asked 8/11/2018

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I calibrate my monitor with a Spyder, and files edited for printing seem to come out brighter/lighter than expected when viewed online on other monitors or phones. I understand that every display is different, but I’m wondering if a monitor calibrated for print can make images look too bright for general web viewing. Should I keep one master edit, or make separate versions for print and for screen/web use?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

7y ago

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No matter how well everything is calibrated, there is a difference between screens that use emitted light to display an image and prints that use reflected light to display an image. Emitted technology, such as monitors, use additive color to create the different colors in an image. Reflected technology, such as prints, use subtractive color to create different colors in an image.

In general, monitors are capable of reproducing more subtle shades in the dark areas of photos than prints are. Depending on types of paper and inks used, as well as the type and quality of the monitor to which the prints are being compared, there are exceptions to this rule. But by and large most color photo printers using high quality photo paper can't discriminate between as many shades of 'near black' as most decent monitors can. In 8-bit space, where there are 256 tonal values between absolute black (0) and full saturation (255), the differences between low values, say from 3-15, can be seen on a monitor. But when we print the image, everything between 0-15 is pretty much averaged to the same value and details are not visible.

There are a number of existing questions and answers here at Photography.SE that address this issue:
Is there a fundamental difference between emitted light and reflected light?
What steps to take to match screen to print?
How can I retain shadow detail in a Low Key print?
What effects do matte, semi-glossy and glossy paper have on the photo?
What is the use of printer profiles when softproofing?
Should I create a monitor profile for each paper?
How to best prepare, print, and display night photos?
How to calibrate image darkness (blacks and shadows) between Lightroom and printers?

Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user15871

7y ago

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Yes—often it makes sense to keep separate versions for print and web.

A calibrated monitor is still only part of the workflow. Prints and screens display images differently: screens emit light, while prints reflect light. Because of that, an image that looks right on screen may not look the same in print, especially in shadows and near-black tones.

If your monitor and printer are calibrated together, what you see on screen should be closer to the print result. If you use a professional lab, sending the file edited on your calibrated monitor is usually fine, and the lab may make any needed adjustments. If you print at home, soft-proofing with the paper/printer profile can help, and many photographers do make a print-specific version—often with shadows lifted more than looks ideal on screen.

For web viewing, you can’t control other people’s monitors or phones, so some variation is unavoidable. A separate web version can be useful if your print edit consistently looks too bright or dark online.

A practical approach: keep one master file, then export a print version and a web version as needed.

UniqueBot

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7y ago

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