Overcome common issues and start producing more reliable print results using these easy steps
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Tips for producing reliable print results
Outputting printed images that accurately match digital files is a common problem for modern photographers. There are many intervening factors that can influence print quality between the post-processing and print framing stages, from inaccurate monitors to mechanical or digital failures. If files are poorly handled in software or printers are badly maintained, print integrity is easily compromised. An effective practice is to consider and identify potential issues in the photographer’s approach to image editing and their regular print schedule, so that a tailored strategy can be defined and print quality increased.
ADD NOISE FOR BANDING Banding is a common problem in highly processed colour images or where gradients have been drawn in Photoshop. It is caused by a lack of colour information in the file, so that the steps between colours become unnatural, forming discernible boundaries. One solution is to use Filter>Noise>Add Noise in Photoshop, set Amount to around 2.5%, choose Gaussian Distribution and check Monochromatic. This will break up these defined borders and minimise banding effects in prints. Noise should not be visible.
SHARPEN FOR PAPERMany photographers apply standardised sharpening to their images, based on subject type and camera equipment used. However, a round of bespoke print sharpening should also be added at the end of the processingworkflow, based solely on paper type. Glossy papers often yield very high detail, so greater sharpening may be necessary to ensure sharpness visibility. For canvas prints, lower sharpening and noise reduction are needed, as the textured surface is more forgiving.Incorrect sharpening and paper pairings can ruin the print impact.
KEEP CARTRIDGES COOL Caring for your printer and inks is a critical part of ensuring print consistency and quality. Ink cartridges should be kept at or below room temperature to prevent them from becoming overheated, which can introduce air bubbles and reduce print performance. Equally, very humid environments can cause separation of the dyes within the ink, affecting colour quality and uniformity. If uncertain, err on cooler conditions, as inks are not adversely impacted by moderate cold.
PRINT A TEST CHART While calibrating a monitor is seen as an essential step in the post-processing workflow, creating an accurate printer profile for each paper type frequently used is often overlooked. Download ICC Profile targets from your paper manufacturer and use a calibrator. Custom profiles give better print colour accuracy.
SCREEN TO BRIGHTEN If your printed images suffer from slightly underexposed shadows, duplicate the Background layer in Photoshop, set the blend mode to Screen and reduce the Opacity to around 15%. Run a test print and increase the opacity to around 30% if necessary, keeping an eye on the highlights.
CONCLUSION As with many aspects of a professional workflow, printing requires a tailoredapproach – depending on your requirements and the materials you are using – to achieve the best quality. Fine control of source file quality and print management are both essential steps.
MULTIPLY TO DARKENAs an inverse solution to underexposed prints, a one-step solution to overly bright images is to use the Multiplyblend mode, at similar opacities.Using these methods is less precise, but it is easier to track changes and tailor effects than working with AdjustmentLayer values.