Digital cameras: Choosing the best photo printing service Photo problems
If your photo prints come back looking like a dog's dinner, don't automatically blame your camera or the photographer for poor prints.
Looking to improve your photography skills? Make the most of your talents with a Which? Best Buy digital SLR camera.
The images below show just what differences there can be between well and poorly processed versions of the same image.
Loss of detail
Take a close look at these temple prints.
On the left, the intricate roof panelling is clear and the sky is vivid blue.
On the right, the white shades have been overexposed, so the temple roof lacks any detail and the sky appears washed out.
Colour balance
In these close-ups taken with a flash, on the left, there’s a good colour balance and the child’s face has smooth, natural skin tones.
In the photo on the right, the same child looks slightly ill thanks to an unnatural green tint – again this photo has been overexposed.
Spotting photo problems
It can be harder to spot problems with images if you don't have another version for comparison, but there are a few things to watch out for.
If you're not sure if it's your poor photography or the processor to blame, look for colour bias.
Simply check the colour of a part of the photo you're familiar with, such as a cloudy white sky. If you see unnatural colour, such as a heavy tint of yellow, red, blue or green, reject the photo.
Check too for loss of detail that was there in the on-screen image - like that displayed in the poorly processed temple image above.
Other common faults include under-printing (too dark), over-printing (too bright), and badly cropped edges or unsightly white borders.
Which? legal expert Peter McCarthy answers some of the most common questions about your rights and photo processors.
What should I do if I'm not satisfied with how my photos have been processed?
Under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, the processor has to use reasonable care and skill and must use materials of satisfactory quality. If it doesn't and the photos are not of satisfactory quality, it will be in breach of contract.
Ask the processor to put its breach of contract right by reprinting the pictures correctly. If it gets it wrong again, ask for your money back and get the photos produced elsewhere.
If the second processor charges more than the first, you'd be entitled to ask the first to pay the difference.
What should I do if a company claims to have posted my photos but I haven't received them?
If the photos get lost in the post, the company hasn't fulfilled its contractual responsibilities.
Contact the company and give it a chance to put its breach of contract right by redeveloping the photos and sending them to you again.
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For advice on using a compact digital camera, as well as editing and sharing your photos, see also our book Digital Photography Made Easy.
