Dummy Run Problems

[swanlinnet]

In preparation for the arrival of our photo' printer I have today done a dummy print run with a couple of 'photos here.

First I put the photos we already have' in Photoshop and tidied them up a bit. Next I created a new blank Canvas in photoshop at 6x4 size.
Finally I the photo on this 6x4 canvas and saved it as a Jpeg.

The colour quality of the photos' looked ok but the first thing I noticed that was wrong was that I have had to sacrifice
a bit of the original photo so the background colour of the new canvas did not create a white border.

For example, the original photos had to be stretched in Photoshop onto the new blank Canvas
And to stop the white background colour of the canvas from showing up on the print I had to stretch the original photo.

This has meant the photos now look
elongated. rather like Edvard Munch's painting called the Scream !!!

Does anybody know if I need to get a guillotine-type machine in order to simply cut the photos ? In other words, could I have simply put the photo on a large blank canvas
in Photoshop and then cut the photo out ?

Any help really appreciated here.

[stcstc]

yea i do it all the time

i use a roll and use a program called qimage

it allows me to just stick a whole bunch of images on a big sheet and then cut thm out later

[Custard]

Hello Swanlinnet, I'd make three points.

First, regarding your comment about "stretching" the original image. Photoshop 5 is coming soon and the web is already agog about one new feature in particular, "Content-Aware Fill". You can read about it, and see an impressive demo, on Adobe's web site here,

http://cs5launch.adobe.com/

Second, if I read one of your previous posts correctly, you're about to get a large format printer. If you plan on laying out lots of smaller photos onto a single large sheet of paper you'll find this is a tricky job in Photoshop, which was never really designed as a printing platform. You might want to investigate specialised software called Raster Image Processors or RIP's. Some large format printers come with dedicated RIPs, which makes the job of laying out images a lot simpler. Personally I use a RIP called Image Print, but there are several alternatives.

Third, assuming you're moving up to a large format printer then this is a pretty complex deal. I've no idea about your previous experience and intended operation, so forgive me if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs, but if you're a relative novice you might want to explore getting some formal training in areas like colour management, paper profiles, and software skills. I only say this because there can be a fearsome cost in terms of paper and ink (and disgruntled customers!) if you try and climb this learning curve without any assistance. One suggestion would be to contact a service provider such as Northlight, their web site is here,

http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/stuff/

Best of luck!

[swanlinnet]

Thanks chaps the much needed suggestions. It's all well-received.

Good to hear a new version of photshop is on its way.

Thanks for the help.

swanlinnet

[stcstc]

you shouldnt ever need to stretch a photo, it sounds like the image is just the wrong shape for a 6:4 image

it kinda depends on the camera and if it was cropped etc

is there a reason why it needs to be exactly 6*4?

and a small word of warning about rip software, all rips are not the same

in fact quite a few of them are not great for art printing etc, they are designed for the sign printing market

image print is one that is designed for the art market, BUT it comes at a price, its something like half the price of the printer you just bought


qimage, is a kinda rip, not a true one, but gives you a lot of features of a rip. and its less than £100, which if your printing photos etc its great for that for the price

[swanlinnet]

Stephen thanks.

I have heard of Versaworks and other RIP software that specifically are for sign printers.

I have just been watching a demo' of qimage. It seems ideal . Does this software work on rolled paper or is it just for
individual sheet printing do you know ?

I have not yet got the printer since I am still trying to weigh the best optio cost wise and how it will
perform long term. I am working setting up the workshop and what is taking most of my time
is researching what to get and what not to get ....it's a tricky process since there are so many
different kinds of hardware, printers and software not to mention the picture framing side.

But it's all good stuff and very interesting.

[stcstc]

yes qimage will work with roll paper


what you do is setup your paper size and then it will print and cut from a length of a roll

[Custard]

Hello Swanlinnet, just to be clear, a RIP may or may not be appropriate for you, it all depends on what printing you intend doing.

If for example you see yourself printing and framing for wedding photographers, which tends to involve lots of fairly complex layout work, then it's probably required. Likewise some monochrome processes, especially if using different and uncommon paper types, benefit from a RIP. But on the other hand, individual fine art colour printing on standard stock makes a RIP less important. It's all down to your intended applications. Plus some large format printers come with dedicated RIPs, and indeed some even include the facility to calibrate and write your own paper profiles. Incidentally, how familiar are you with colour management?

[swanlinnet]

Thanks Stephen and Custard

So grateful for this help.

Custard, I shall not be doing wedding photography but wll be printing photos like the one I uploaded earlier.

As for colour profiling,I haven't a clue but I will be looking into this since I do understand from what I have learned
here that colour profiling is an important aspect.

[IslandViewJake]

Surprised no-one's mentioned Lightroom. For storing, cataloguing and searching a lot of images, this is the application. It works as a database by using keywords of course. BUT the best thing about it is its printing module. It will handle 'swanlinnet's' problem with ease. Design your own printing templates with it. Well worth looking at. Version 3 is due out any moment. The Beta 3 test is at the moment available from Adobe for free download, but that's not going to last for much longer, no doubt.

[swanlinnet]

Thank you Jake.Will add it to the list of software that needs looking at.