Photoshop Notes

If you want to print images at CostCo using Photoshop, this is my workflow.

First steps:

  • Set the color space on your digital camera to Adobe RGB (1998) This doesn’t affect RAW files, but will be the largest color space for Jpegs
  • Always shoot in Raw. You can also shoot in RAW + JPEG if you think you’ll be using the JPEGs with minimal editing for the web and don’t want the slower RAW workflow.
  • Calibrate your monitor with a Datacolor Spyder. Datacolor is up to version 5 and X now.

You can use older versions of Photoshop, I’m using CS6 from 2012 so these instructions may not work if you’re using a more recent version.

Set Adobe Photoshop to the Adobe RGB (1998) color space. Edit > Color Settings

Image editing in Photoshop.

  • Depending on the size you want the output to be, File > New should use these parameters at 320 PPI for output to Costco:

8×10 = 2560 x 3200

8×12 = 2560 x 3840

11×14 = 3520 x 4480

12×18 = 3840 x 5760   $3.00 (this is the size I get the most)

16×20 = 5120 x 6400  $10.00 (I skip this size and just go to 20×30 for the same price)

20×30 = 6400 x 9600  $10.00

16×20 and 20×30 are printed offsite and I haven’t been able to obtain a printer profile or printer brand and model yet. I’m still working on this, but it looks doubtful. I have printed 12×18 several times and think that this is the best size to print or a 20×30 if you want it larger. I did get a 20×30, it was printed on Kodak paper that looks like the luster paper from the Epson prints we got from the lab.Not sure the strike through is true anymore. I think they print on site now but will check. Quality from a 10MP camera and res’d up to 20×30 at 320PPI looks pretty good. A 20 MP Canon 6D looks amazing at 20×30. Note that if you are not happy with the print, cost co will refund your money so you can make several test prints if needed. I still want to try out the Photoshop plug ins to help you res up and maintain the same quality, but haven’t yet.

Printing:

Find the printer profile you need from Drycreekphoto. Note that each costco has their own printer profiles so you have to be specific including the type of paper you want your prints on.

Download the icc profile for your printer and copy it to Library/ColorSync/Profiles for Macs.

Convert your printing copy of the psd file to the printer profile, Edit > Convert to Profile, Select the Profile you just copied to Library/ColorSync/Profiles, save as a jpeg, don’t embed the color profile.

Run some test prints to get an idea of how the printer prints. I had to adjust my Brightness from the initial test print. I typed right on the print Brightness +10, +15, +20 etc until I found the perfect Brightness level and then I printed out several in different sizes once I figured out how the printer would interpret the color and brightness. This may take a few iterations to get right, but high quality prints can be had with this method from Cost Co. In general, the image should be about 1 stop lighter on screen to come out looking bright enough on paper.

Full Frame Printing:

Unlike a film lab where you can just tell them to print full frame and an 8×10 will have white borders on the top and bottom, you have to create this in Photoshop yourself by:

  1. Prep your image for printing keeping in mind the width of the final output. The Crop Tool can be constrained to a specific size. If you want 1/2″ to 1″ borders you will have to reduce your image size by that much. So if you want a 1/2″ border all around your image you should size a 12×18 image to 11×17 and then paste it into the 12×18 file in step 2.
  2. Create a new file according to the file sizing above.
  3. Copy and paste the image into the new file created in step 2
  4. Convert the Adobe RBG (1998) editing profile to the printer profile.
  5. Save as a jpeg, don’t embed the profile, upload to Costco.

Costco Photo Center:

  1. You have to be a Costco member
  2. http://www.costcophotocenter.com
  3. Create an account
  4. Upload your photos. Make sure you click on Full Resolution and not Fast!
  5. Turn Auto Correction Off!
  6. Select pick up at your closest Costco, the one whose printer profile you used.
  7. Prints are ready in 2 hours!
  8. If you don’t like them you can get a refund at customer service.

Reference books 
Note that the De Anza library has several books on photoshop. I would recommend the following: 

  1. Photoshop CS4 Visual Quickstart Guide
  2. Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book
  3. Mastering Digital Printing by Harald Johnson (De Anza Library)
  4. Practical Color Management by Eddie Tapp (De Anza Library)

People in class say that Scott Kelby and Martin Evening books are pretty good too.

Videos
 High quality and free instructional videos are available through Adobe TV! Youtube and other websites have free instructional content too.