Color Management

[Cobalt Blue]

Hi all. I'm a new user - awaiting my PSE 5 shipment while I continue using my free demo. I also picked up a book to help guide me though PSE 5 and, hopefully, minimize the questions to you!

One issue I'm having - and if this isn't the appropriate place to post please forgive & direct me - is getting my printed photos (at a photo place) to look like those shown on my monitor. I'm getting some disappointing results. Any free tips or tricks? I'm trying to avoid spending any more money for a while...:)

My monitor is a Samsung LCD with a DVI connection. I have set my color space in PSE and my monitor to sRGB. However I'm not getting consistent results on the print end.

Thanks!

[Juergen D]

You probably need to calibrate your monitor. Here is a thread which covers your question very well (and yes, you did come to right place :) ) :
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15398

Juergen

[Light and Shadow]

If you are sending your print work to lab, I would first have a conversation with them for some directions. A calibrated monitor is helpful to make sure the color is correct but if the color doesn't match the lab output it means nothing to you.

My lab provides a print output with a digital file. It is a proper exposed image with skin tones and other color standards. http://orderpicture.com/instructions/images/COLOR_TEST.jpg

The lab should provide you with printouts of their printers for this file. If your monitor matches their printer then you are good to go.

[sandie]

Make sure you ask the lab if you should be having your computer on full color management in PSE5 or NO. sometimes if you are printing at home you mistakenly put full color management in computer with PSE 5 AND in Printer but since you are printing with a lab this could be that they are having full color management in the printer and you are putting full color management in computer and this DOES NOT WORK WELL.
Also as others have said, find a friend with a calibrator for your moniter.
Where do you live, if in MA let me know, I have one that can do multiple moniters and will save you some $$ til you can buy one. You need to calibrate for each lighting situation you have like office and in den etc.

[Cobalt Blue]

Thanks for the advice. I read the other thread and it was helpful. I still have a couple of questions.

Is color management and profiles the same thing? It sounds from Codebreakers post that if the print lab does color management I shouldn't be using any color management/profile in PSE (like Sandie said)? Codebreakers points in #2 & #4 seem contradictary unless you're printing at home.

I have been trying to match color visually on my monitor against a printed file I got from www.thedigitaldog.com (similar to yours L&S). I'm close but can't get the saturation I need - not sure of what I do on the monitor to affect this.

My Nikon D50 is set for sRBG output(either I or II). I had my monitor & color setting in PSE 5 adjusted to sRGB. I'm looking at another print lab that has an ICC profile on their site for their printer. Is this what I would choose my monitor and PSE 5 to use if I were to print there?

Help!:eek: I feel I'm making this more complicated than it really is...maybe I should just go buy a Canon i9900 and forget about it!

[Juergen D]

This is a complex issue, to say the least. There are many opinions as to which settings work best. One safe bet is to go with what works for you. I would at this point go with Sherman's advice (or buy the 9900 :)) :
If you are sending your print work to lab, I would first have a conversation with them for some directions. A calibrated monitor is helpful to make sure the color is correct but if the color doesn't match the lab output it means nothing to you.
Also, here is some interesting reading on the subject. It deals with full Photoshop, but applies to Elements as well:
http://www.computer-darkroom.com/ps8_colour/ps8_1.htm

Juergen

[Cobalt Blue]

Thanks for the tips, Juergen. I've done test batches of prints and found a version of Samsung's MagicTune that has helped out as well. I think my color is on. Now I'm just working on the brightness factor.

Thanks again!