34 25 January 2020 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113

Matthew Richards

Matthew began his career as a broadcast engineer for the BBC

in London and for companies across Southern Africa. He then

became a technical author, before moving into journalism and

photography, for which he’s enjoyed assignments in the UK and

worldwide. He currently specialises in reviewing cameras,

lenses and photographic accessories.

Technique PRINTING

Make your

prints

charming

Want to look good on paper? Our 15-step

troubleshooting guide will help ensure that

what you see on screen is what you get in print

1

Calibrate for
correctness
All too often, your printed photos can
bear little resemblance to the digital
image you see on screen. The prime
culprit is your computer monitor, which
is likely to need calibration. Even
screens that have dedicated sRGB and
Adobe RGB modes can lack accuracy,
and settings can drift over time, so it’s
worth investing in a calibration tool like
the Datacolor SpyderX Pro or Elite.

2

Paper chemistry

There’s quite a chemistry between

printer ink and photo paper. These two

components are carefully formulated by

inkjet printer manufacturers, so that they

work together to give optimum colour and

tonal accuracy, and the best definition

without colours running into each other

on the page. It’s best to stick with the

printer maker’s own photo papers (or a

directly supported alternative) to ensure

the best results and resistance to fading.

The SpyderX Pro

(£158) or Elite

(£246) calibration

tools can make a

huge difference to

screen accuracy

© GETT Y IMAGES