Just wondering when post processing how can that effect the photo if you were to print? I have only ever done this through iphoto and sometimes the prints are not so sharp or look artificial. I am now using Lightroom though. I am doing a friends babies baptism this weekend and although I don't process too much I still like to tweak and I am concerned that if she gets some printed that they might look a little artificial.
Thanks in advance
Cybelle :)
Apart from enhancing tone, color and fixing all those little imperfections, the important thing to remember when printing is to get the resolution right. 200 pixels per inch on an Inkjet printer is probably about right. If the picture has been prepared for the web, this will probably be at about 72 and that really doesn't cut it when printing. The Print module of Lightroom should see to this, in the bottom right corner of the screen. I would bet that this is the root cause of your concerns.
Cybelle, as @frankhymus mentions, resolution is the key with respect to the size of print you're trying to produce, as well as the starting image pixel resolution. Printing is a tricky thing since color matching can be important, but commercial print locations are usually pretty good (like Costco, Walgreens, etc.). Keep the resolution as high as you can that way you have some flexibility when you go to picking your print size. With that said, try to print at 240 px/in or better. Most commercial sites you upload to will review the uploaded image and tell you what size it recommends.
@frankhymus@mikegifford Ah ok great, thanks guys... that makes sense. I'm not great with that side of things but you've definitely given me some knowledge that I was oblivious to. Thanks for responding to my post.
I'll have a look at Lightroom tonight. :D
Do you have an uploaded example of one that has not printed as expected ? I looked through your album & I think you 'see' composition and lighting flow in scenes really well!
The tweaking presets in LR are generally quite gentle & do a good job.
The exif data for your camera settings in some of your recent shots has f2.8 & Auto ISO. If you add any exposure tweaking on top of a large amount of noise and then add auto / large noise removal you can get an artificial / melted / softened look. ( just guessing it might be what you mean??)
The histogram for the 'Little A' shot you posted for example has a lot of clipped highlights (the shape of the graph goes off the scale to the right) and the exif is Exposure: (1/500), Aperture: f/2.8 and ISO 1250
Your camera is pretty good as managing ISO - but it might work to drop the f stop one or 2 stops and nudge the ISO settings back a bit? ( I use auto/100/400 depending on the situation). I can see the lighting in the room made this challenging to even get the shot - do you have an option to use bounce flash at all? - see http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2012/eos6d_builtin_flash_alternative.shtml for other ideas
Capturing the best exposure at time of shooting will give you the greatest amount (and quality) of data for a clear image. You can always take away data in post-editing but it is pretty difficult to add it back again. When I have pushed noise reduction in LR too far it tended to go a bit blurry/blocky looking. I now *alway* use the NR mask option using the alt key & slider http://www.tipsquirrel.com/noise-and-sharpening-in-lightroom/.
see also http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-do-noise-reduction-in-lightroom/ for some good general info
Just my thoughts - I might be on the wrong track completely. Good luck with your shoot, I am sure you will capture some wonderful images. :-D
@ltodd Thank you for your detailed response. I haven't printed much since using an SLR. I printed a lot when I was using my compact point and shoot and the results were ok but once I started editing (just with iphoto) the results weren't that great. I also I had a huge drama a few years ago when my external hard drive decided it didn't want to work anymore (cringe) and lost all my photos and the examples (from my old SLR) that I printed and could show you would be on that. I haven't done much printing since then.
In the 'Little A' pic, that is the lowest that my lens can go in aperture so that's the best I could do in that situation and unfortunately I don't have a speed light as yet. It IS on the agenda just haven't had the chance. I do have the 50mm but was using the 28-70mm at the time.
I am not very experienced or confident and have a lack of knowledge when it comes to post processing so for me the less the better, but at times I can get a little carried away and then wonder how that would be if it was printed. I guess I'll just have to get them printed and see what the outcome.
I will have a look at the tip squirrel address and the digi photo school one too. Thanks for that.
I think I need to do a little course on using Lightroom with all it's functions. I have glanced at a couple online, but with the little one it's just finding the time. Thanks so much for your input and time in replying :D
@ltodd Thanks for all the links, the noise reduction tutorials are very helpful. And yes I am sure the 6d will prove to be fine in printing. Just wanted to know what people thought. Thanks again :)
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I'll have a look at Lightroom tonight. :D
Do you have an uploaded example of one that has not printed as expected ? I looked through your album & I think you 'see' composition and lighting flow in scenes really well!
The tweaking presets in LR are generally quite gentle & do a good job.
The exif data for your camera settings in some of your recent shots has f2.8 & Auto ISO. If you add any exposure tweaking on top of a large amount of noise and then add auto / large noise removal you can get an artificial / melted / softened look. ( just guessing it might be what you mean??)
The histogram for the 'Little A' shot you posted for example has a lot of clipped highlights (the shape of the graph goes off the scale to the right) and the exif is Exposure: (1/500), Aperture: f/2.8 and ISO 1250
Your camera is pretty good as managing ISO - but it might work to drop the f stop one or 2 stops and nudge the ISO settings back a bit? ( I use auto/100/400 depending on the situation). I can see the lighting in the room made this challenging to even get the shot - do you have an option to use bounce flash at all? - see http://www.learn.usa.canon.com/resources/articles/2012/eos6d_builtin_flash_alternative.shtml for other ideas
Capturing the best exposure at time of shooting will give you the greatest amount (and quality) of data for a clear image. You can always take away data in post-editing but it is pretty difficult to add it back again. When I have pushed noise reduction in LR too far it tended to go a bit blurry/blocky looking. I now *alway* use the NR mask option using the alt key & slider http://www.tipsquirrel.com/noise-and-sharpening-in-lightroom/.
see also http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-do-noise-reduction-in-lightroom/ for some good general info
Just my thoughts - I might be on the wrong track completely. Good luck with your shoot, I am sure you will capture some wonderful images. :-D
In the 'Little A' pic, that is the lowest that my lens can go in aperture so that's the best I could do in that situation and unfortunately I don't have a speed light as yet. It IS on the agenda just haven't had the chance. I do have the 50mm but was using the 28-70mm at the time.
I am not very experienced or confident and have a lack of knowledge when it comes to post processing so for me the less the better, but at times I can get a little carried away and then wonder how that would be if it was printed. I guess I'll just have to get them printed and see what the outcome.
I will have a look at the tip squirrel address and the digi photo school one too. Thanks for that.
I think I need to do a little course on using Lightroom with all it's functions. I have glanced at a couple online, but with the little one it's just finding the time. Thanks so much for your input and time in replying :D
maybe try a free LR preset such as Newborn from http://mvrpresets.de/category/freebies/ ( http://mvrpresets.de/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/LR4freebies.zip ) http://www.jilllevenhagenphotography.com/2013/05/06/lightroom-editing-babies/ cheers!