We’ve just discovered that our feedback forms over the past few weeks have not been working!!

So if you’ve sent us a message - and not heard - we’re very sorry!

I have removed the forms in the meatime - and if you need to contact me please email us on sam@samsphotolab.com

Looks like there could be bigger problems with the post than first thought.... Special Delivery option should get your post to you the next day - we’ll charge cost + £1.50 - and with the exception of strike days there’s a money back guarantee!

The DHL service we’ve started to use is not a guaranteed next day - but has a “high probability” of next day - however, with loads of people moving their post elsewhere all the carriers are a bit overwhelmed....

You get a tracking number emailled to you so you know where they are!

Some people have found it near impossible to get their iMac screen dark enough to calibrate...

Try http://www.charcoaldesign.co.uk/shades which lets you darken the screen..... I’ve not had to do this myself - as I have a nice MacPro & 30” Dell screen for most of my work... (I did think about getting a second one as the Mac supports 2!)

In the event of a post strike we have negotiated a good rate for DHL - £10 (£8 after discount) on all weights up to 30Kg (that’s a lot of photos!) for a DHL24 service - which is a 85% next day service...

The only downside is that these will collected from the lab at lunchtime and not at 5pm as we do with post - so if we have to go to this a job that arrives on Monday up till close of business (6pm) will be dispatched Tuesday (most orders).

Lets hope the post office and their workers can agree - as it’s the best option for most orders...

You now have the ability to rotate prints through a few degrees - rather than just 90 steps - ideal to sort those squint images - or to make them more....


Just click on this triangle and you get a slider - just slide and see the image rotate.... this also works in album layouts!

Look out - we’re about to roll out some new items - first on the list are calendars....

We’ve had an upgrade from ROES - in the credit card box they now need your COUNTRY - nothing to do with Scottish bit for independence!

You’ll have to do it just once - it will remember it like all the other details except the CVV number, which must add each time...

If you work in a room without good daylight - please consider getting one of these lights

One of the most important thing any photographer can do is to ensure your monitor is calibrated.

Why?

Well, once you’ve done this, your screen looks the same as ours - and more importantly, the same as the prints we make.

As it comes out of the box, your monitor will be far too bright and too cool. So, you’ll tweek it, and make it far too dark and yellow.

Many people have bought a calibrator which doesn’t address the brightness - so the colour of their files will be good but again, the files will be far too dark.

Our suggestion for a calibrator is the Gretag i1 display. Gretag are used in virtually every pro lab I have visited in the UK.


At the moment you’ll be able to get these for just £139 from Colour Confidence - it’s where we source all out kit. This model will do all your monitors....

Now - just remember calibrating you monitor is just part of the things you need to do - make sure you get a light to check your prints by if you don’t have good daylight in the room you work in.
Talking about the room you work in - also put a neutral gray (or B&W photo) behind your monitor so you’re not looking at bright colours - and same goes for the desktop - both your physical one and the one of the computer...