What Seams are SUPPOSED to look like

The question "What will my seams look like" can be difficult for many fabricators to answer. I have heard that it is an acceptable industry standard to have seams that are 1/8" thick. I would personally find that totally unacceptable in my kitchen. If your installer takes his time and makes sure that your tops go in level and straight and he uses a seam puller and colorized epoxy, you can make seams that look pretty darn good. It requires paying a little extra for shimming work from you installer and a willingness on his/her part to go the extra mile, but it is well worth it. If you cabinets are significantly out of level, there is only so much an installer can do. But don't let them use this as an excuse either. Have them show you how out of level your cabinets are when they come to template (with Formica removed, of course). Sometimes it's easier to just cop out and say to the customer that it's the cabinets fault when, really, the installer has 2 more jobs to do that day and doesn't have time to fiddle with yours. Also, if you choose natural granite with swirls and obvious color variations in it, then seams will be more visible due to your choice in granite and not your installers abilities.