BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Printing Digital Pictures

Photography Question 

J. L. White
 

More Printing Questions


I shoot digital, Nikon D100, and have been asked to take pictures at an outdoor wedding as a favor for a family member. I'm wanting to know what might be the best way to get really nice matte finish prints. I normally shoot in jpg fine (L). I don't have software to process RAW files, should that be acceptable. I'm sure there will be no prints larger than 8 x 10. I'm in Oklahoma, if anyone has any experience in labs here. Thanks for any info you can offer.


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July 08, 2004

 

Dave Cross
  Hi, JW. The RAW converter should be available from the Nikon website. I REALLY recommend that you use RAW - it is so much easier to fix problems (white balance, etc.). Particularly with a one-off event such as a wedding, you can't go back and re-shoot if the bride's dress looks yellow in your pictures. That said, jpeg fine should be OK, but if you need to do any editing, save the file as TIFF so that you don't get any additional compression artifacts. Remember, every time you edit and save as jpeg you throw away a little more data.

As far as your matt finish is concerned, check out the various inkjet papers, look at matt acrylic varnish (also adds protection to the print), or talk to your local photo lab - they should be able to do silver-halide prints with a matt finish.

Let us know how you get on. Don't forget the large white card and assistant to hold it, get some reflected light under the ladies hats. Cheers,
DC


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July 09, 2004

 

J. L. White
  DC: Thank you so much for the information. I had not even thought about the reflector ... I will add it to my list of things to take! I will think on the RAW format a bit. I don't have a lot of cards, or large ones at that, wouldn't get too many shots on them in RAW, but will experiment a bit. Thanks again!


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July 09, 2004

 

Micah Unruh
  J.W.
I've used True Color lab out of Oklahoma City. They've printed all of my senior portrait work. I'm an amatuer and they have worked with me and educated me on several things. They do work for some of Oklahoma's finest photographers.
-Micah


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July 13, 2004

 

LYNN CLUESS MANZIONE
  Hi-
My answer to you is regarding the printing of your files. Since it is a wedding you will be shooting- I assume you have a lot of printing to do. My suggestion is to go to shutterfly.com. You can upload your images, manipulate them to a degree, and let them do the printing. You will have your prints mailed to you within a few days. You can choose matte or glossy and your proofs will all be numbered. Hope this helps. Lynn Cluess-Manzione


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July 13, 2004

 

Morgen T. Thruston
  Hi J.W.,
I also have a D100. I have a 1 gigabyte microdrive and when I shoot in L mode I can get enough for a wedding (about 322 pics). Look on the internet for some, mine was only $175. The next thing would be developing, I wouldn't suggest shutterfly only because they are too expensive and they don't go large enough. If the family will be paying for the prints they may want to go up to 11x14 or even 20x28 and you can't get that from shutterfly. I use photoaccess.com and I have been pleased with their work for jpeg but if you shoot in RAW then you should use True Color Lab in Oklahoma. They are more money but you will like the end reults. Happy shooting!
-Morgen


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July 14, 2004

 

farrah
  HELLO
I always go to sams club. It is a reasonable way to develop those digital pictures. And still get a great quality with a matte finish. Go to sams club one hour photo center The prints in 4 x 6 are only 18 cents and 5 x 7 are only 68 cents and then you can do 8 x 10 for a $1.96. And wallets for 20 cents each. You can add text and do black and white or sepia. This way you can get the prints quickly and are resonable. They can take an hour. You can also edit them on there and add them to a cd for the couple or yourself. It is really fun.
Then if you want to order 11 x 14 or 20 x 30 You can order them at samsclub.com. For under $4.00 for 11 x 14 and under $18 for 20 x 30. They do a really good job. I am sure you would be happy with them and the newlyweds would be too!!!

hope I helped!!
-Farrah


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July 19, 2004

 

J. L. White
 
 
 
I survived the wedding, took 250 pictures in jpg fine. I did make one mistake but thanks to the wonders of digital the photos turned out okay:) I switched to program auto, chicken that I am, and forgot to shift my metering to matrix so some of the pix were overexposed from metering off the black tuxes. But all in all it turned out okay and what is most important, the bridal couple were thrilled. I'll try to upload three pics here if I can figure it out.


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August 22, 2004

 

J. L. White
 
 
  Bride
Bride
side light from a window with warm reflector

J. L. White

 
  during the ceremony
during the ceremony
bride and groom during the ceremony 300mm lens

J. L. White

 
  Bride and Groom
Bride and Groom
after ceremony, 50mm 1.8 lens

J. L. White

 
 
I survived the wedding, took 250 pictures in jpg fine. I did make one mistake but thanks to the wonders of digital the photos turned out okay:) I switched to program auto, chicken that I am, and forgot to shift my metering to matrix so some of the pix were overexposed from metering off the black tuxes. But all in all it turned out okay and what is most important, the bridal couple were thrilled. I'll try to upload three pics here if I can figure it out.


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August 22, 2004

 
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