Setting up elements

[malcom]

Oh dear I am in trouble already. Elements manual says first set up elements for colour management. Instructions on finding windows tabs don't seem to match windows XP. Setting windows to neautral grey using RGB value 128??? Where do I find that!!!Then it goes on to say don't do it if you have an LCD screen as these are unreliable to judge. Instead use colour management that came with the monitor documentation. That will be hard because I don't have any monitor documentation that I know of.

The elements manual also says use the gamma set up software that was installed with elements..Where do I find that!!!! Or use the Adobe gamma wizard??? Where do i find that also!!!

I have clicked on colour settings in Editor which give 4 options the manual does not indicate which option I should select

1..No colour management
2..Always optimise colour for computer screens
3..Always optimise for printing
4..Allow me to choose

It was set on number two when opened. Which is better. 1,2,3 or 4

Baffled to the point of jumping out of a first story window.:D

[malcom]

Update. Ok I found the RGB 128 grey on the desk top. Cannot fathom where to find Adobe gamma. Does not show up on my control panels..:confused:

[willpresley]

It is located in CONTROL PANEL -- APPEARANCE AND THEMES -- in the lower part.

[malcom]

Sorry have searched and searched the control panel as suggested and it is just not there..Help.:confused:

Also I cannot find the Adobe gamma wizard that is said to be installed with elements 4
Have searched the installation disk and find nothing there either.

[willpresley]

Do a search from the start menu -- include hidden files and search on the word "GAMMA" -- you'll discover if Adobe Gamma Loader and Control Panel Extension are even on your machine. Then post back.

[malcom]

Found both Adobe gamma and Adobe Gamma loader

Adobe gamma @ C\programm\common files control panel ext.
Adobe gamma loader @ C\program\common files application

There but I still cannot find in control panel!!

I'll take a look at the program folders next....

[willpresley]

Malcom - I've posted a picture of my Control Panel -- Under Appearance and Themes -- you should have the file there because everything else checks out.

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=16fsMlhGffwWhPFaUHmoz6BSfuKIra0

[malcom]

All I have in the lower section is

Display
Folder options
Task bar and start menu

No
Adobe Gamma or color


By the way I was looking in the wrong display panel I thought you meant the one found by right clicking properties on the desk top

[willpresley]

OK -- you might try a reinstall; which is cheaper than buying software to calibrate your monitor. Turn off Spyware, Virus, and Firewalls -- you won't lose any of your data or pictures since you won't delete those when you uninstall -- this may be what is needed to get the Adobe Gamma back.

[malcom]

It's a brand new computer have not had chance yet to stock with images. Only installed elements two days ago.

[willpresley]

With computers they sometimes do wierd things -- something as a simple reboot could fix the problem for you. Let's try that first.

[malcom]

Re-boot made no difference. I said I would take a look at the folders that came up in the search except I cannot find them either. Would they be hidden!! if so how do I show hidden folders

[willpresley]

From Control Panel - choose TOOLS from the top menu, then Folder Options, then View from the tabs at the top and in the entries you'll see a Hidden Files selection. Show Hidden Files. Should put you onto the game.

[malcom]

I am lost again. Cannot find an option called "Tools" Sorry looking in the wrong place again. Not used to XP as i have had win 95 for a long time

[willpresley]

OK -- I was assuming you were familiar with XP, let me do a couple of screen shots to help you along. Back in a few.

[malcom]

No luck I just cannot find any folder which has C\program\common files which is where gamma is located

They all have C\program\adobe etc


By the way if I do locate these folders will I be able to run the applications or settings from there!!!

[willpresley]

OK -- Click on START - then select CONTROL PANEL and at the top of that window you'll see the menus -- Select TOOL, and in the drop down box go to Folder Options, then select the tab labeled VIEW.
First Link is Control Panel
http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1VXK6lhOt0hLHo6JqFjyfohKyhQ

Next is the folder options box with view selected

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1aLLoHwdXniKcX0TD1acNq2Wzh2AgN1

Then select the APPLY TO ALL FOLDERS button.

[malcom]

I have to thank you for your help I did sus it and looked for the required folders but as you see in my previous message I cannot find folders that do not have Adobe in the address line.

The gamma location folders found did not have Adobe in the address line.

[Norm F]

Sorry to interject here guys. Malcolm, when you open your control panel, click on "switch to classic view," upper left. Adobe Gamma should show as an icon in an alphabetical list.

[malcom]

Done that and Gamma has shown. Now what can I click on it from there without causing problems

Is that the gamma loader application or Gamma settings in the control pannel!!!

[willpresley]

Here is all the listings (the first is a duplicate) with addresses.

If you have all these files then I don't know why you don't have Adobe Gamma in the Control Panel.

Getting the hang of XP takes some doing -- I remember it was a learning curve but haven't looked back and really enjoy it now.

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1p5jdaZQwc1G9Uk6j1P24ZIoKH9td7

[malcom]

Many thanks found both Adobe gamma and loader gamma.

Is it ok to run both from the folder!!!!

[Norm F]

I'm lost on color management from here. For me, I loaded elements, made a few settings adjustments within preferences and ended up with true monitor to print color right off. Have you tried to print anything yet from elements. Maybe you'll have good color already.

If you need to calibrate, i think you'd just click on Adome Gamma and select the wizard option.

Good luck.

[malcom]

I have printed one item but not from elements. I used Epson quick print application. The result was close. Don't know enough about xp or elements yet to set up a print routine using elements.

Monitor manual which I eventually found reccomended the monitor be set on sRGB. done that and the monitor display looks much better. Do need to know about setting up however as in the past my prints have required manipulations in the printer driver.

[Norm F]

Will!! Come back please. I just had another suggestion on how Malcolm might locate Adobe Gamma but I have no clue on how to help from here.

[malcom]

I have clicked on the Adobe gamma icon but not the loader one which is an application.

The gamma icon gave me a control pannel window with a "wizard" option and other settimgs. I don't know why it wont appear in the normal control panel. I have put a short cut on the desk top however so as not to lose it again

Is it possible to put the short cut into the control panel where it should have been in the first place.

[willpresley]

I use HP printers -- I set my PSE to Adobe RGB and only calibrated my monitor to get middle gray point set. My HPs print great results and I haven't had to manipulate anything.

I think with the Epson printer we'll have to defer to someone with that kind of printer to get advice.

Just pick a picture in Elements and choose File Print -- send it to the printer and see what you get. If it is a problem post a new thread titled Printing with Epson Printer and you'll get some very good advice.

Basically if you get great quality prints then there isn't any more adjustments needed.

[Norm F]

Darn it Will. That's what i was going to say. :D

[malcom]

willpresley. I will do some test printing before commiting myself on a path I am not familiar with and once again many thanks for your patience and perserverence and screen shots.


Norm F. Many thanks also.

Tomorrow is another day lets see what trouble I can get into next..:D

[malcom]

Update. Good news...Messed about first by printing only from epson print software and driver. Results well pleased so far... Very close to screen image so calibrating is on the back burner unless things go pear shaped when I experiment further


Bad news in part...When printing from elements first attempts resulted in reds going black and whites a dirty green. Total disater.The reason it appears is because I elected to turn off colour management in the epson driver thinking my elements setting would take care of it.

I think I read in some threads that colour management should come from one or the other but not both.However when I printed fron elements with the epson colour management turned back on it seems that epson was in control again and not elements as the printing once again was quite good.

I think i must be doing something badly wrong when setting elements up for colour management. Or simply don't yet understand the principles involved. Early days I need to mess about more before I really know what questions to ask... Regardless of what I am doing wrong I got mostly quite good accurate print quality in relation to what the monitor is showing.