i've got about 2500 [40-50 years worth] slides that i have scanned with a nikon ls-40 then "optimized" them in ps 6.0. these were done in tiff then converted to jpeg 12 and burned to cd-r's. i want to have 4x6 prints made from them and placed in an album. everything has been done to them except image sizing them and applying usm. i have read some on usm and even done some of it. but, i really "don't" know where i "actually" am on it. whether they need more amount and radius or not. i generally try to range the amount from 70-150% and radius from 0.6 to 1.0. but its actually only a "guess". what i do is initially enlarge the picture such as on a dress pattern or on jewelry and guess at a setting and see what the "difference" is in toggling between usm on and off. if the "difference" [on the dress pattern or jewelry] is alot then i try to back off the amount[sometimes along with the radius] to where the"difference" in "toggling" is not too great. but here again i am only "guessing". the little window to me in ps 6.0 usm dialogue box is hard to tell anything from. that is why i enlarge the actual image itself. questions-
1- any advise on the above?
2- i don't use a printer to print my photo. i took some to walgreens lately that i applied usm mask on and it helped over the same photos that usm was NOT applied to. but again, it was only a "guess". i don't want to"guess" on all 2500 of these. i want them to be "optimum" when i'm done. in other words, i don't want to make any boo-boo's at this stage of the game.
3- Shutterfly will print them for 22 cents each, but they don't apply any sharpening. is there any credible lab that i could hire to apply usm "optimally" on all the photo's [at a reasonable price]? i would want them to be printed on Fuji archive photo paper and glossy. if you recommend any labs please give name an phone number.
4- thank you-
tramp