Digital
Ilfochrome Classic (Cibachrome)
What
to send ?
Jpeg's are a brilliant way to compress image files, but they are "lossy".
You can't take a 5 megapixel image and scrunch it down to 300Kb without
losing something.
Tiff's are preferable - with Tiff's you can use "LZW" compression,
which is completely loss free.
Don't worry if your image is Jpeg - most print very well!
If you have a slow internet connection obviously you have to choose
between long upload times, compression, or sending a CD.
As
far as sizing goes, the Lightjet prints at 300dpi - anything over
this, at final print size, will not improve quality.
Likewise, if
your image is 16 bit please reduce to 8 bit before sending, as this
will reduce file size.
Images will be printed as 8 bit
To
resize the image yourself
You
can size your image to the desired Image Size (12" x 8"
for instance), preferably leaving "Resample Image" unchecked.
In some cases this will result in a resolution less than 300dpi -
don't worry!
The bare minimum resolution is around 50 dpi, if you can live with
viewing the print from 1.5 metres away, or more.
Alternatively
Tell
us the print size, and we will do the rest.
Profile
If you would like to convert your image to the Ilfochrome ICC profile before sending please download this profile for PC's.
If you are using a Mac please email and I will send you a profile suitable for Macintosh use.
Where you put the profile is not really important as long as you can locate it when browsing from Photoshop, but you may find existing colour profiles at the following locations and put Ciba 50 with them:
For PC's - C: Program
Files/ Common Files/ Adobe/ Color/ Profiles
For Mac's - User/ Library/ ColorSynch/ Profiles
If you wish to set Ciba 50 as the default RGB colourspace, go to "Color Settings" under the "Photoshop" menu, then using "load RGB" at the top of the RGB Pop-up within "Working Spaces", navigate to wherever you saved the profile, and load the profile "Ciba 50.ICC".
To view the image using the profile, under "Image" menu select "Mode", then "Convert to Profile".
"Ciba
50" should be available as a destination Colour Space.
(Do not use "Assign Profile)
This
will give a closer idea of how the image will print onto Cibachrome.
Image
Control
When
it comes to colour balance, tone, and the rest, of course you have
almost unlimited control in Photoshop.
Careful use of image controls may well produce the result you are
after, and what you see on screen will be close to how the final Cibachrome
looks.
After
any image manipulation it's worth checking "Levels" to make
sure the histogram of your image is not too broken up. This will show
as a comb like structure in the histogram curve.
There's
more information on Levels, Unsharp Masking, etc, including screen
shots, on the
B&W page
Digital
Cibachrome Prices
Go
to Upload
Back
to Top
