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Posted by admin Posted in: dasBlog No Comments » July 2005

Steps to perfect printing

I’ve just learned a new way to print my digital photos.  Now the colorfrom my printer matches my screen spot on.  I learned this method from TheEpson Online Experience which outlines how to do this using an Epson printer. I have a Canon i9900 color printer and so I had to figure out how to make the methodwork on a Canon instead of an Epson.  Here’s how I do it:

Step One

When you are finished editing your photo (or sooner if you’d like) you needto choose the correct output color space so you can see how your photo isgoing to look printed.  This is easy to do in Photoshop.

On the toolbar choose View -> Proof Setup -> Custom…

Once you see the proof setup dialog box you need to choose the correct profile. I use the “Canon i9900 PR1” profile because it matches my printer andpaper.  You may need to experiment with this on your system to make sure youget a correct match.

Make sure “Preserve Color Numbers” is unchecked.  You want to mapyour source color space to your output color space, and this will mess that up.

In the “Intent” dropdown box you’ll see four choices.  Youshould stick to “Relative Colorimetric” and “Perceptual” atfirst.  Choose one and see how the image looks, then choose the other and seeif you like that better.  Choose the one you like best, it doesn’t matterwhich one you choose, just choose the one that makes the image look its best to you. It will be different for each photo.

Make sure you keep “Use Black Point Compensation” checked, this will helpto map the color space correctly.  You can play with the other check boxes, butthey won’t have any impact on the output.  Once you have the settings selectedclick “OK” to close the dialog box.

Now you are ready to print.

Step Two

On the toolbar choose File -> Print WithPreview (or ALT+CTRL+P).

Make sure you have “Show More Options” checked.  In the drop downbelow “Show More Options” choose “Color Management” (see screenshot).

Now you need to tell the printer to use the color space that you used in the proofsetup.  Choose the radio button after “Proof”.  This shouldhave the color space that matches what you setup in the View->ProofSetup menu.

Next make sure your “Print Space” settings match the choices you madein the Proof Setup dialog box.  You can see from the screenshot above the myProfile is “Canon i9900 PR1” which is the same as what I chose when Iset up the proof, and my Intent is “Relative Colorimetric”.  Leave the“Use Black Point Compensation” checkbox selected.

Taking these steps will tell the printer that you want Adobe to manage the color output. Now we have to tell the printer driver not to override your settings.

Step Three

Click the “Print…” button.  You’ll see the print dialogbox appear.  Before you print we need to set up the printer.  Click the“Properties” button and you’ll see the printer properties dialogbox appear.

In this dialog box you’ll need to do several things.  First select thecorrect media type, I’m using Photo Paper Plus Glossy in this example. You’ll also want to make sure you have the correct paper size and orientationsetup (not shown in the example).  I also like to make sure “Preview beforeprinting” is selected.  This keeps me from printing on the wrong sizedmedia, or doing something stupid like printing landscape for a portrait shot.

The important thing for color management is to select “Manual” in theColor Adjustment area.  After you select “Manual” click the “Set…”button.  The Manual Color Adjustment dialog box will appear.

Make sure “Enable ICM” is selected.  After you’ve done thatjust click “OK” to go back to the printer properties dialog box. You can now click “OK” to get back to the print dialog box.

Click “OK” and you’ll begin the process of printing.  You’llsee the print preview screen, if everything looks good go ahead and click “StartPrinting” to tell your printer to make the print.

For more great photo tips and printing techniques sign up for the EpsonOnline Experience.  It has a lot more detail on things like color space,black point compensation, resolution, etc.  It’s worth the $30.

Posted by admin Posted in: Photography No Comments » July 2005