Getting started with a large-format photo printer: workflow, profiling, and paper choice
Asked 1/29/2018
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I’m moving into large-format printing and want to build a solid workflow from editing through final output. What are the key steps to get accurate, repeatable prints from Lightroom/Photoshop? I’m especially interested in monitor calibration, ICC profiles for specific ink/paper combinations, soft proofing, and practical ways to test images before making large prints. Any general guidance on choosing papers for different image types would also help.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
8y ago
2 Answers
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Create yourself a proper editing/printing workflow, this will ensure that what you attempt to print will meet your expectations.
Different combinations of papers and ink sets will all provide a different end result, it's worth noting that what may suit for example a landscape image, may not suit a family portrait. They also have a different range and depth of colour available, depending on the inks/papers.
I'd strongly suggest researching this before you start printing.
A workflow would be:
- Ensure your monitor is correctly calibrated.
- Create or obtain ICC profiles for your combinations of ink/paper.
- Soft proof your image (I've only done from photoshop) to the ICC profile of your ink/paper you plan to print on.
- Apply corrections to your softproof image (IIRC it's usually the gamut) to ensure that the soft proofed image matchs as close as it can to your edited digital copy, and no details (shadows/highlights) are lost.
If you can I suggest attending a print workflow workshop. (I was lucky enough to attend one last year with Canon). They're not as massively complex as they sound.
Originally by user55814. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user55814
8y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Start by building a consistent edit-to-print workflow. The most important steps mentioned are:
- Calibrate your monitor so screen brightness and color are realistic.
- Use the correct ICC profile for each specific ink/paper combination, or create one if needed.
- Soft proof the image in your editing software to preview how that paper/profile will render color and gamut.
- Make print-specific adjustments to the soft-proofed version, since some images and papers need different treatment.
Paper choice matters a lot: different papers and ink sets can change color range, depth, and overall look. A paper that works well for landscapes may not be ideal for portraits, so expect to experiment.
A practical way to save ink and reduce wasted large prints is to make smaller test prints first. Try a few versions with slight adjustments to levels, saturation, or other settings, compare them visually, then commit the best version to full size.
One community tip was that prints can look less saturated than the screen, so moderate saturation adjustments for print versions can help—but rely on soft proofing and test prints rather than guessing.
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AI8y ago
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