PSE 6 for Mac: Prints that are dull and yellow

[mateo58]

When I choose my paper profile a distinct yellow cast appears in the print preview image. The yellow disappears in the preview if I choose "Color Handling: Printer Manages Colors" but the prints still appear dull.

I calibrate my monitor with a Spyder 2 and
use Canon ink with Ilford Galerie Smooth Pearl Paper.

I have downloaded the profile from Ilford twice.

I'm new to PSE and the Canon Pro 5000 is about 2 months old.

I have attached some "screen grabs" so hopefully someone can spot what I'm doing wrong.

Thanks

[Jeff Perry]

Are you turning color management off on the printer dialog?

I assume you meant Pro 9000 in your OP and not 5000?

In the printer dialog, you have Canon paper (gloss) selected. Not sure how much difference that will make.

I frequently (not always, usually after printing several different images) get a weird reddish color cast in the initial preview (in the print setup) but in the final preview it is always correct.

Jeff

[mateo58]

Hi Jeff,

I guess I don't know what you mean by...

"Are you turning color management off on the printer dialog?" and

"In the printer dialog, you have Canon paper (gloss) selected"

I thought I have Ilford selected?

You are correct, the printer is a Canon Pro 9000.

[ljameso1]

The is a bug between PSE and macs. In PSE under edit>color choose no color management or the print will be double managed and screwed up. In the print dialogue make sure printer manages colors is selected. Brightness of the print may take some tweaking depending on how bright you keep your monitor screen, as that may give you a false idea of how bright the image is.

[mateo58]

OK, thanks.

Would profiling the printer eliminate the problem?

Was thinking of getting a Spyder 3 Print but was hoping there was a cheaper alternative.

Mateo58

[Jeff Perry]

Mateo, the other issue I brought up was the paper setting in the printer's dialog, (third screen capture) that shows the Photo Paper Pro which is a Canon glossy paper. Not sure what options that drop down will give you, but perhaps there is a semi-gloss or try matte if you still don't get acceptable prints after following the instructions above.

Jeff

[mateo58]

If it is indeed a "bug" and that "no color management" needs to be selected then making a paper profile would have no effect would it?

I don't really spend $300 on a Spyder 3 Print and end up with the same results.

Thanks

Mateo

[ljameso1]

I use the mac's built in calibrater rather than another add on. Works pretty well. The no color management is just for adobe PSE. Select printer manages colors in print dialog. I usually calibrate the monitor just prior to printing. See the icon that looks like a light switch in the dock? Double click and go to displays>color>calibrate and follow the instructions. This will get your screen to display accurately for the ambient room light. I don't use paper profiles. The following article is by a friend who is a pro. John Gregor of Cold Snap Photography. You may find it helpful.
Custom profiles are specific printer profiles that are written for specific printers and paper types. Custom profiles typically run about $100 per profile. I own and use three different Epson Printers; I select from approximately 8-10 different media types (I like to experiment so my paper stocks are in constant flux.) The only problem that custom profiling will solve is the bank account balance of the service bureaus providing me the custom profiles!

Here is what I have found after several years of working with printer profiles and dozens of different photographers who have taken print making or digital imaging workshops from me.
Generic profiles work pretty well when you are working with the latest generation of printers, and camera files. If your camera or the printer is older than about 3 years the profiles may or may not work well. If your paper profile is coming from a smaller paper company it may not work well. Most of Epson's and Hahnemuhle's profiles are pretty good-I have not had much luck with Moab's profiles.


What to do when a paper profile does not result in a good looking image:
Don't freak out it's not the end of the world. Go back to the ProPhoto RGB color space image file. Convert to Adobe 1998 RGB Color space. Edit the image as you normally would in Photoshop. When you are ready to send it to the printer select "Printer Manages Color" in the printer dialog box. With Epson Printers you should select the "Color Controls" under "Media Settings/Mode." This means that in essence you are allowing the printer to profile the image prior to output.


Is this a bad thing? Epson is a multi-billion dollar world-wide corporation. They employ over 72,000 people (by comparison Adobe employees a little over 7,000, and most paper manufacturers are considerably smaller yet) don't you think that the Epson Corporation has the resources to hire people who can figure out how to make an image file look pretty good when it comes off of their printers? Try it you might be surprised. I suspect that the results are the same when working with HP or Canon printers.


Using this method will mean that you may have to print a test print and then adjust the color and or density/contrast before making the final image.
Something that I usually need to do even with the best of printer profiles.


In particular I have found that Moab Entrada paper profiles render an image that is contrasty and wholly un-appealing. However, when I send an Adobe 1998 RGB image to the printer (with some extra magenta added to the file) it comes out of the printer looking very nice. The colors are soft and pastel like, a very acceptable print.


Don't be afraid to experiment. This is the only way that you will find a color management workflow that will work for you.

[mateo58]

Thank you very much.


Mateo

[ljameso1]

You're welcome. Hope it helps.