configuring monitor and printer

[balikian]

Just got an Epson R1800 and have been printing some test shots out. I need to learn how to work with color profiles, to be sure, but I also realized that I have no idea if what I am seeing on my monitor is "correct" or not. How do I calibrate my monitor so that what I am seeing will reasonably print out the same. One thing I am noticing is brightness and contrast is different. When the image looks alright on the monitor, the printout is usually brighter with less contrast.

I'm sure there are tons of tutorials about how to set up your system. Can someone point me to one?

thanks

scott

[mangia]

According to my experience this is a big problem, especially when you combine few different programs (Photoshop, Corel, I****rator, Inkscape etc.. ).
You probably will need specialized hardware for monitor calibration. For example http://www.colorvision.com/product-mc-s2p.php

Also try to search on Google about other hardware products.



Also check this link

http://luminous-landscape.com/forum/...howtopic=10941

[ryan s]

(Kind of OT but...) just an FYI to anyone printing in a Walgreens Fuji lab...our computers use sRGB and most Aladdin kiosks can accept TIFF images, but I don't believe I've ever had anyone with 16-bit TIFFs.

Also keep in mind when at the store, the kiosk will add some contrast automatically, and the image will most likely come out brighter than what it looks like on the screen, with more contrast. I hate how that looks, so send it over the internet. The computer doesn't get a chance to fool with your images in that case

[jdepould]

The Pantone Huey has gotten some good press and doesn't break the bank.

The 1800 is a great printer too, we have one at school and I used it a lot last semester.

[balikian]

Hey, it's me again. I bought a new monitor first. Well needed. I've running dual monitors now and the old one is insanely poor. Who knew?! Anyway, before I go out and buy a monitor calibration device, I just sort of want to get in the ballpark for a print.

I wish I could show examples, but there was a shot I took. Mild processing was done to add contrast. Anway, I thought I would preview the shot in the print dialog. Completely washed out colors. Skin tones were non-existent. I went ahead and printed it (on Red River Matte). The print out was different than the preview (loss of detail. More blacks. A section of a guy's head which showed detail on the monitor was almost completely black in the print).

It seems I have a couple questions...

1. anyone have a good reference for learning about all this stuff? Online or book (well written)?
2. How do I minimize the difference between the shot in PS and the Print Preview?
3. Should I even use the print preview?

I am so completely new and lost to printing, I don't know where to begin. I sort of feel like the printed photo should at least closely resemble what's on the monitor. I'm not asking for exact colors, but come on. What's coming out of the printer is almost like the diff between color and B&W. Not even in the same solar system.

[balikian]

I'm gonna take some screen shots and include the photo I am talking about. I'll try to get that stuff posted tonight.

[balikian]

I don't know if this helps, but I munged together the 3 different images from PS, the print preview and then a scan of the actual printout.

http://www.cheeseandbeer.com/images/...entExample.jpg

[yokolok]

you might want to try adobe gamma...i think this is a freeware - just for you to test it out...

i've been using colorvision's spyder xpress and it works well...

before you do any editing though - make sure your settings in your editing program is already preset to your intended output - e.g. the intended print paper you are using...when you installed your printer, it should have also installed several paper profiles automatically - epson paper profiles of course... - and you just have to match the profile with the paper you will be using...

Hope this helps...

[balikian]

ok, That makes sense, I guess. I just need to read up on how to use color profiles, cause I don't really know. That's got to be the problem. Cause a little knowledge is more dangerous than no knowledge, right?

I think I still need to download the paper profiles. I was just getting so confused cause there are paper profiles. There's ink profiles. What to use?!

Is there a good online resource that explains all this? If not, anyone have a good book they recommend?

[Farkled]

I too have an R1800 and so far, I been very lucky that images I see on my monitor are what gets printed. Mine is a Samsung LCD monitor and I ran two utilities that came with it: LCD Gamma and Natural Color. Did not go through the stage of comparing printout to monitor.

I have used 3 prorgams to do my image printing: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5; ThumbsPlus and Qimage. As long as I don't use Adobe I get accurate image color out of the printer.

It also helps to use papers for which you have a profile. Epson Premium Glossy (profile) also works for Kodak Professional, Ilford Printasia and probably Costco Glossy. For other surfaces, I've only used Epson papers. I always use Epson inks.