File Prep For Commercial Printing

[Rock Daddeo]

I'm eager to learn more about preparing my photo files for commercial printing and enlargement. I want to ensure the file I see on my monitor is as close as possible to the final printed image. Links to information, or your personal advice, would be welcome. I don't think I want to go as far as purchasing a calibrator for my monitor, but I'd like to get the image as good as possible with what I now have available to me. Here's what I'm using:

Late-2009 iMac 27-inch
3.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Adobe Suite CC
All files are RAW

I know my way around PhotoShop, and I'm now learning Lightroom. Most of my photos are outdoor landscapes. My goal is to enlarge, mount and frame my best photos for display in my home. I welcome any recommendations for vendors who provide good service. I'm not looking for state-of-the-art, ultra-expensive reproduction, but I don't want to sacrifice too much quality for dollars. I'm new at display photography, and paying top dollar would be a waste at this stage of my hobby. In a nutshell, I'm looking for a reproduction company that offers the most value for the price.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Fred Kingston_RIP]

Nations Photo Lab - Professional Photo Printing and Digital Photo Finishing Services Online

 

[Fred Kingston_RIP]

This book is excellent for exactly what you want. It walks you through all the latest technology of printing and sending off photographs... The author has been a beta user, and consultant to Adobe and their Lightroom products since day one...The Digital Print: Preparing Images in Lightroom and Photoshop for Printing: Jeff Schewe: 9780321908452: Amazon.com: Books

 

[Rick M]

I believe nations will send you some samples of your uploads to compare. I use them a lot. I find I process my prints a tad brighter/lighter as printing on paper is not as bright as your screen.