Comparing images onscreen to final print. Help needed.

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parasko

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Hi all,

Can anyone advise at what percentage should images be viewed onscreen to accurately reflect the final look of the printed image?

I understand that you should always check your image at 100% when making adjustments in post but does the final print actually look like the 100% view or is it more like 50%? Or does this depend on final image size?

For example, I am experimenting with the new 'shake reduction' sharpening filter in PS and I want to know how heavily I can apply this filter. At 100% artefacts appear in the image, at 50% they are not noticeable.

Sorry for the basic question and I hope it makes sense. I don't have any printing experience (and I don't have a printer as yet) so I am only viewing scanned images onscreen.
 
I find there is little comparison. You get a completely different look on screen compared to an analogue print. Scans are nice to get an idea but you have to see a paper print to fully assess an image.
 
I find 50% to most accurately represent the print regardless of the print size. I edit at 100% but then check at 50% to get an idea of what the print will look like.
 
I tend to keep in mind that it'll generally look darker (backlit vs light reflected on) and that it probably won't be as sharp as the monitor.
 
I've actually had pretty good luck with screen/print appearance from digitally-shot images. I have a 27" iMac, am using PS5 and an Epson 3880 printer, and the 11"x16" prints on Exhibition Fiber look exactly as on the screen (so it can show the good as well as the not-so-good!). I've been wanting to switch papers, but not sure how that's going to affect that delicate balance that I currently have. Maybe I should just leave well enough alone!
 
For color / printing proofs you can set up Photoshop to show you a "soft proof." This will load the printer / paper profile to show you what your final output should look like based on your current image and your chosen output media.

For most editing (IE sharpness / clarity), I will work at 50% and zoom in to 100% only if there are fine details in the image or if the image will be printed for exhibition.

Soft proofing links:
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/soft-proofing.shtml
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0SGGqeV0J4 (youtube tutorial on how to use soft proofs in photoshop)
 
parasko said:
.... does the final print actually look like the 100% view or is it more like 50%? Or does this depend on final image size?
...
Click to expand...

There are many variables:

  • Monitor resolution in PPI
  • Printer resolution in DPI
  • Image resolution at the printer (at the chosen print size) in PPI

That said, I find that in Photoshop with an image that both will print at 300ppi AT THE FINAL PRINT SIZE on a reasonably sharp printing material (e.g. glossy print material) and is presized in PS to be 300ppi at the print size I get a reasonable preview on a high quality monitor if I view at PS's "33%" setting.

If your software and/or the printer driver will be resizing the image to get the specified image size and printer resolution you can never reliably get a good preview of image resolution.
 
Thanks for all your comments.

If I was to hypothesise with the following variables, can you advise further:

1. Image = A scanned 35mm transparency scanned at highest resolution of 4000dpi with my Coolscan 9000; file size 130mb.
2. Screen = Latest iMac 21.5-inch (1920 x 1080)
3. Printer = Epson 3880
4. Required Size of Printed Image = 11x 16 inch or 13 x 19 inch @ 300dpi

If I view the image at 50% onscreen, will this provide me with an accurate indication of the final print?
 
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