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The Science Behind the PRINT.Have you ever noticed how brilliant and true to life the colors are in the prints you receive from a professional photographer? Skin tones look natural, shadows are smoothed out, and scenery is striking without overwhelming or overshadowing the main figures. You may not realize, but it’s not accidental, coincidental, or lucky. There’s a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to provide you with prints with the most realistic, most vivid colors.The most important thing a photographer can do is to pick out one or two local labs that she knows and trusts. Working closely with these labs, the photographer calibrates her own monitor to the lab so the colors she sees precisely match the colors from the printer. Typically the photographer will have a piece of specialized hardware that attaches to the monitor and reads the color off the screen. This device helps optimize the brightness, contrast and color output and works in tandem with Photoshop to display your images with the most accurate color display possible. This ensures the colors she sees on her screen will be the exact colors you get. Before you receive your print, she will look at each one critically and have it reprinted if it isn’t perfect.A professional print goes through the same process that old-school film prints used to go through – light is shone on light-sensitive paper and run through a chemical process. These are true photographs, not just inkjet prints like you can do at home.Sometimes it’s nice to purchase a digital file from the photographer as it allows you to do many other things your photographer can’t do. You can post it on Facebook or Instagram, use it as your computer wallpaper, put it in that family calendar, or maybe even create a fun mug or throw for Mother’s Day. It’s great to be able to do all those things. However, if you plan on having prints made to frame, be sure to talk to your photographer first. She can recommend what labs to use to ensure you will be happy with your print for years to come. It’s not uncommon for people to take a digital file and send it off to a discount store to print some copies, only to be disappointed that they aren’t the quality they were expecting.A framed family portrait can grace the walls of your home for years and can become a treasured family heirloom. Make sure you give it the proper care and respect by starting off with the best possible print you can.