Matt or gloss for large prints?

[timmyb]

I want to get a couple of my photos printed in a large format to put on the wall but I'm not sure what option to go for. I think I'd prefer matt but is anything "lost" by printing it this way?

Also are there any particular post-processing things I should do? With the exception of removing dusk spots on iPhoto I don't pp as I don't really understand it. I'm going to pick between the following so if anyone has advice on anything to alter to make the print "work" better that would be great. Thanks.

 

[termina3]

Especially with those photos I'd go with glossy.

 

[Lovesong]

Print those in luster. Has the saturation and contrast of glossy, without the reflections and fingerprint magnet factor.

 

[termina3]

Print those in luster. Has the saturation and contrast of glossy, without the reflections and fingerprint magnet factor.

x2. But I didn't know anyone other than SmugMug who produced Lustre prints (well, that's because I only order through SmugMug now).

 

[compuwar]

If you're going to put them under glass or UV blocking plastic so they'll last, then go with matte, as the surface reflections of the glass/plastic will make them look glossy anyway.

 

[pinback pro]

have you tried the metallic print from mpix. those would look pretty good in metallic. real pop.

 

[ftaok]

as the surface reflections of the glass/plastic will make them look glossy anyway.

Unless you use the special "museum glass" that doesn't reflect.

 

[ChrisA]

Also are there any particular post-processing things I should do? With the exception of removing dusk spots on iPhoto I don't pp as I don't really understand it. I'm going to pick between the following so if anyone has advice on anything to alter to make the print "work" better that would be great.

Postprocessing? I'd do some minor crops and check/corect the color balance. You also need to size the file for the desiged print size, or just let the printer do it for you, but then you loos control over the process. Also sharpeing should be the last step after resizing for printing. You may want to make sure you monitor is calibrated to you can preview the prints on-screen. Make sure the color space is sRGB.

You can skip all of this if you like. It all depends on how much yu care about the quality of the final result.

Also how big are the image files and how large are the prints. You really should not gopast 300 DPI, 250 if you want to push it a bit and you will be viewing from more than arm's length

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

Don't print matte unless you're referring to rag paper. Stuff like Epson Enhanced Matte is just chalk. Horrible paper. Go for a luster paper. You will have definition in your shadows and an overall better result. Mpix.com offers a luster option.

Don't work in sRGB. The only time you should encounter this color space is when you output to the web. It is a highly condensed color space. Work in Adobe RGB, if not ProPhoto. Imagine them as various sized buckets, with the water being available colors.

What options does iPhoto give for outputting to print? I don't even have that program installed on my computer.

 

[marioman38]

have you tried the metallic print from mpix. those would look pretty good in metallic. real pop.

+1

 

[seenew]

have you tried the metallic print from mpix. those would look pretty good in metallic. real pop.

I loooooove metallic prints.

 

[timmyb]

Thanks for the advice. I couldn't find any UK options for luster or metallic so just got a couple printed in gloss and now they're happily sitting on my wall.

 

[nuwomb]

metallic prints are so sexy

 

[jonutarr]

Matte, always matte

 

[numbersyx]

Another vote for matte or luster and then place behind glass...