Reducing screen brightness for more accurate prints?

[Griffin McPherson]

I’m still trying to figure out how to make prints that are accurate. I’ve seen some people say online that to get a more accurate print you should bring your screen brightness down so you use lighter values in your digital work, that way the print won’t come out dark. Have any of you had luck with doing something like this and are there any additional tips you might have?

[Melissa_Bailey]

@Griffin I think there's something to this, because I normally work with the brightness on my screen at a one or two and don't have to fiddle with an image too much for it to print accurately.

However, I still have to fiddle with it! When I edit files for print, I up the brightness by 5 - 10%, and I've found that after doing that, prints are pretty accurate.

I recommend doing a test run if you have a desktop printer, and if the printer you're ordering prints from offers it, a physical proof. The proof is really the only way to accurately determine the print quality, as there are so many factors that have an effect on the outcome: the colors you're using (will the light-based pixels accurately transfer over to ink-based printing?), how your screen displays color (every screen is a little --or a lot--different, depending on how it's calibrated), how the printer's screen displays color, the color profile you're using, the color profile the printer uses, the printer that the printer uses, the variation of colors and pigments in inks, etc.

Since there are variables you can control and a lot of variables you can't control, my strategy is to get as close as I can to how I intend the image to print, check the proof, and then accept that it still might not turn out as planned. Big variations, yes, those should be corrected at the proof stage. But small variations will happen. I don't sweat those small variations ... overall, the image will still look good and the only one who will even notice the difference is me.

So that's my approach, anyway, good or bad or in between. Hope it helps!

[Griffin McPherson]

I realized an potential issue. I’m painting digitally and my reference photo is also displayed on the screen so is turning my brightness down pointless in this case because the brightness of the reference photo is also being turned down? Should I print out the reference photo instead?

[willicreate]

Past instructors would tell us students to alway have our references printed out. But it raises another question: how good is the printer? I used to get yelled at for going to Staples for printing One instructor went as far as having us get prints made at a photo print shop.

If you're able to invest, I would recommend purchasing a monitor with IPS technology. A cheaper option is to purchase a display color calibration tool, SpyderX being highly regarded.

[Melissa_Bailey]

@Griffin well, the issue isn't how you're viewing the image on the screen, correct? You want to make sure that what you're seeing on the screen will accurately translate to print. The only real way to do that is to print out your artwork and see if it's too light or dark, then adjust accordingly by editing the artwork in Photoshop or similar program. (Not the original file--always keep the original! Save the original as a new file, then edit that new file.)

That's why getting physical proofs from a printer is such a good idea -- there are so many variables along the way.

[lpetiti]

@willicreate I hate when professors do that. We don't all have access to the best prints, either by location or price.

[Griffin McPherson]

@Melissa_Bailey I was told by the printer to avoid editing as much as possible though because the more you edit the more quality you use. Though I realize there’s almost always a little editing that has to be done.

[Griffin McPherson]

@willicreate yeah my professors always made sure we had good prints. Though honestly once you have a decent enough image via print or screen I feel like having the right value you range is more important than colors. I’ll often take some creative liberties with the colors anyways.