Colour/ Printer Managment Difficulties in Photoshop

[WillS 2]

Hi Guys, this is really complicated, can anyone help?

Got an issue with my printers settings on photoshop, where the prints on glossy paper (and normal papers actually) are not true to my monitors (calibrated) representation of my photos.

I'm currently running an Epson 1290 on Windows 7. I have learnt through my difficulties that this model of printer is over the hill when it comes to download support from Epson, so I've been using the 'Inbox' Win 7 driver, which on the face of it works quite well. However its colour rendition is awful; dark and a touch on the over saturated side. The colours were fine when I had the printer running off an XP system.

Are my 'Colour Settings' all wrong in Ps? What should they be if so?

I've downloaded some ICC profiles from Epson for the different paper media's and let Photoshop manage the colours, but the result are even worse.

Without buying another calibrating device or even a new printer what can I do to bring all my colours into line?

Will

[AndyStevens]

Hi Will,

There could be a simple answer - what you describe as 'dark and a touch on the over saturated side' could be down to double colour management depending on which version of Ps you're using. And using specific profiles twice (the ICC's from Epson plus the PS-applied profile) will make it worse.

If it's CS3/4/5, stay with the Ps Manages Colour option but then use the printer dialogue option to turn off colour management in the printer. CS2 and before let you do this in the Print with Preview screen but not in later versions (progress?). If you don't do this, the Photoshop Manages Colour will apply the correct settings to output based on what you see on screen but, if you select an option under Printer Profile, you will then be adding a second set of settings which will over saturate the print.

Try the PS Manages colour and then use the printer dialogue box to ensure colour management is off in the printer. Hopefully, this will give you a print out of what you're seeing on screen.

Good luck!
Andy

[GeoffWessex]

I'm starting to think that 'calibrating the monitor' is fine. But perhaps 'calibrating the monitor to suit the printer' would be an option.... having to profiles availabe to use - one for normal use and one for when you're planning to print.

[AndyStevens]

Yes Geoff, you should really calibrate monitor and printer - especially if using fine art or special papers.

The good thing though is a lot of paper manufacturers will now do this foc for you. Get a 'target' from the paper manufacturer, print the target with all colour management turned off, post the print out back to them explaining whichpaper, ink and printer were used. They can then create the profile which you then install and use. Most will do this free if you buy their paper - others wil charge a modest fee (which is way cheaper than a printer calibrator). A lot may well have the profile already from previous clients - it's always best to get your own as even identical printers can give different results.

[WillS 2]

Thanks for your help Andy, but your pointers didn't work. I think the problem I've got here is the 'The Progress of Time' (i.e. Epson's lack of support for Win 7 users for the Stylus Photo 1290).

When I let Ps take control (with the right ICC for the printer and paper, whilist disabling colour managment in the printers properties) the results are bad, when in theory it should work. Are there colourspace difficulties with Adobe RGB, as opposed to sRGB?

On the upside I've managed to wrangle almost perfect prints when the printer manages the jobs now. I reckon with a little more adjustment in the printer properties (just a little lightening) I should be spot on.

I somehow feel that this problem could have been avoided if I had bought a Colourmunki calibrator, rather than the Spyder 3 Elite, I would be able to calibrate the printer properly myself. However credit where credit is due the Spyder is excellent and half the price of the Colourmunki.

Many thanks for your help again

Will

Originally Posted by AndyStevens

Hi Will,

There could be a simple answer - what you describe as 'dark and a touch on the over saturated side' could be down to double colour management depending on which version of Ps you're using. And using specific profiles twice (the ICC's from Epson plus the PS-applied profile) will make it worse.

If it's CS3/4/5, stay with the Ps Manages Colour option but then use the printer dialogue option to turn off colour management in the printer. CS2 and before let you do this in the Print with Preview screen but not in later versions (progress?). If you don't do this, the Photoshop Manages Colour will apply the correct settings to output based on what you see on screen but, if you select an option under Printer Profile, you will then be adding a second set of settings which will over saturate the print.

Try the PS Manages colour and then use the printer dialogue box to ensure colour management is off in the printer. Hopefully, this will give you a print out of what you're seeing on screen.

Good luck!
Andy

[AndyStevens]

Hi Will,

That's strange, that should have worked...

AdobeRGB1998 vs sRGB is one of those 'have we really got time to debate in infinite detail the benefits of each' kind of conversations. For printing, ARGB98 is better - it's a bigger colour gamut and gives better colour gradations. sRGB is better for onscreen stuff (I think of 'saturatedRGB as these are usually stronger coloured files to cope with being backlit by a screen).

Spyder vs Colormunki? Spyder wins every time - and I've never seen a Colormunki in a client's office.

If it's working with Printer Managing Colours, that's good. Just remember to do the +10 Brightness type thing before hitting 'Print'.

Cheers
Andy