Hi William Ironically, I used the Online shop of Media Markt (Photolab Germany), because only there I can set an option mark next to my uploads to let them uncorrected and uncropped (with borders) by the lab :-( In the shop, I have no option on the film ordering bag for that and I did speak to the staff there. They told me that the lab "should" follow my instructions .... I do not know what DPI they use, I send photos for 20x30cm at 300dpi or 360dpi and the upload software tells me I can expect the "best quality" with that. For example, it shows only "good" for 240dpi.
But, I can not understand why you can not tell a customer the *exact dimensions* of a print and why there is such a big difference of up to 10% in only one direction (length), is this such a science ? On the other side: Since I do some negative scans myself, I'm amazed how good the labs sometimes work with faulty negatives on the prints. Far better than I can with my very limited photo editing skills. That has to be said too ;-) thanks and greetings Markus >>> Even when I explicitly state that I do not want any corrections >>or crops >>> on >>> my photos and even when >>> the online service seems to guaranty that, >>> I still **never** receive what I ordered nowadays :-( >>> They can not even tell me the *exact dimensions* (only only >>estimates on >>> the website) of >>> the enlargement, so 30 centimeters length could be as well 27 >>centimeters >>> on >>> the print! >> >>If you are shooting digital, make sure you have a calibration on >>your system >>that matches the calibration on the lab. Make sure your files are >>tagged for >>the same DPI as the lab, and then size the file to what you want. >>Make sure the colour space you send to the lab is one they recognize. >> >>If you are shooting film, remember that you are working with a >>human being, >>not a faceless automaton. >>Don't be condescending to the lab tech, they deal with fools all >>day long. A >>bombastic fool is worse than the regular sort. >>I spend so much of my time fixing peoples screw ups that I tend to do it >>automatically. This means that I am second guessing the >>photographer out of >>habit. If I guess wrong, I appreciate being thanked for trying but....., >>rather than being told off by some jerk that figures his picture is >>something special (most of em are just another bride with a >>scared chicken >>expression or a baby with Chef Boy R Dee on his face, and your >>pretty sunset >>is something I have seen a dozen times before, probably done better 11 of >>those times. >> >>In all cases, deal with real people at the lab. The online web >>service that >>they foisted on me gives me the willies. >> >>And not the regular kind, either. >> >>William Robb >> >> >>
