An Introduction to Online Viewing . . .

After viewing images on the Internet, occasionally someone will call me and say, “The pictures are not very sharp.” Of course, the images ARE sharp--with the exception of an occasional candid taken at a wedding. From time to time, the reception halls are so dark it's hard to get perfect focus...so you'll have to forgive me from time to time. Sorry, but I can't see in the dark!

Keep in mind that an image on a computer screen is rarely as clear and sharp as a finished photograph. Why? It's simple: images on computer monitor screens are made up of PIXELS (think of them as square dots). While the images you view on the screen will never be as sharp as a continuous tone photograph, you can get an excellent idea of image quality on a good monitor.There are a couple of variables that determine how sharp images appear on your monitor:

1. Compression. To make the images load in a reasonable amount of time for people on dial-up modem connections, I have to trade image quality for speed. I could forgo compressing the images, but I would have to make the images smaller so they would load faster. Compression makes the images not quite as sharp, but they load faster. The originals, which have NOT been compressed, are fine.

2. Your monitor. I'm not trying to insult you, but if you are using an $89 monitor and a $19 graphics card, nobody's images are going to look good on your computer. This was painfully evident to a local collector of farm toys when I photographed her for a magazine cover. I posted them on my web site for her to see. She complained mightily that I did a TERRIBLE job, because the images were so blurry she couldn't identify who was in the images! I told her they were very sharp on my monitor. Of course, I'm using a high-end 19" LaCie monitor and graphics card. She called to apologize when the magazine came out and the image on the cover was tack sharp...

More About Color & Your Monitor...
From time to time, I receive calls from people who say “The color of my photographs are not very good when I view them on the web! They are too dark (or too light, etc.)...will the photographs I order be like this?”

The answer, of course, is no. Why do the colors look too dark or too light on your monitor? Well, first of all, refer to Section 2 above (Your monitor), which will explain a lot of why there is a problem. Second of all, if you are like 99% of all home computer users in America, you are not working on a calibrated monitor. What's a calibrated monitor, and why is it important?

Well, most professionals use a monitor calibration system (normally costing several hundred dollars) to insure their monitor is balanced to a standard. This is the only way they can send their digital files to be printed and insure that the color they see on the monitor will closely match the color in the final prints. Notice I didn't say exactly match...that's because you can never match a monitor (which is a tube that has light being "shot" towards the viewer) to a flat, reflective piece of art (such as a photograph). You can get them close by using a calibration system. This is why we calibrate our systems.

The cost of these calibrators is more than the average casual or recreational computer users wishes to spend, so the color and/or density (lightness/darkness) on your monitor will most likely be completely different from those seen on your neighbor's computer...or even another computer and monitor in your own home!

Please rest assured that final prints that you order will be printed to Kodak professional standards and be of pleasing color. Pricing and ordering information is on the Pictage web site. Just follow the links to get there. Having problems? You can always call Pictage TOLL-FREE at 1-877-PICTAGE (1-877-742-8243).