Hi all. I was hoping someone could help me out here. I am trying to do some prints that jsut keep coming out dull. They look good in the Nikon editing software, they look good in my image viewer, they even look good in Photoshop 7 UNTIL I hit print with preview. Then the colors desaturate and I get exactly what I see in the print preview. Dull lifeless images. It seems that the color issue is somewhere between PS7 and the profile. I have gone through the tutorial post here a while back (http://www.computer-darkroom.com/ps7-colour/ps7_1.htm) which is great for the monitor but the printing profile setup is confusing, at least to me. TIA for any suggestions. I REALLY don't want to have to pay a print shop to print these. Magick Michael

I have the same problem. I use PSP9 but with no sucess. I fine tune "everything" and it looks good in the monitor but the print is dull :((( !!!

Dunno, but based on the results you describe, it almost sounds like the levels have not been adjusted - leaving you with washed out blacks and muddy highlights. If the levels have not been set, the image mat look fine on screen, but will print muddy as heck. just a first guess. Another thought - is your printer set up to print RGB or CMYK? Some printers offer this choice, and when set different then the image, some strange things can happen. Wolf

THe problem actually starts BEFORE printing. The print looks exactly like the "Print With Preview" preview. Problem is that doesn't match the workspace image. You can see the problem once you click on "Print With Preview". I just can't seem to fix it! I feel like I have read everything on the Adobe and canon sites. (Canon's sucks btw) I want a Epson 2200 for Christmas! At least its a Post Script printer!

Here is a screenshot of the problem. Notice the color in the woman's cheeks (my boss btw). Notice in the preview image the washed out look of the entire image as well as her cheeks. Can you say frustration?

Which printer are you using.....? Epson 2200? Have you tried printing using the ICC profiles for the paper you are using? If you do a soft proof, View > Proof Setup > Custom, you can then make final adjustments to the image based on the soft proof..... If you are using the Epson 2200, there are good instructions at the Luminous Landscape website.

That brings up another question - what kind of paper are you using?

I wish I had a 2200! Of course at this rate I may go get one tomorrow! believe it or not the ICC for the media made it worse. I disgarded that ICC and I am using "Adobe RGB (1998)" anywhere I can make the setting, printer, PS7, Windows... If I oversaturate by 10-12% it seems to print OK but that is such a waste of time. Maybe I should dump everything and get a G5 with OSX and an Epson. Now there is a thought. But then there is all that software to replace. ugh.

For these I am using Jetprint Premium paper. The prints are for my boss, not for anyone who actually has good taste.

Attached Link: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/und-print-mgmt.shtml

And I just thought of one other thing, and you'll see it here too in the link..... turn off Printer Color Management if you can. Do not let the printer's drivers handle the color management, let Photoshop do it. I always get crappy prints if I forget to turn it off in the printers driver.

Attached Link: Dilbert

@zhounder > prints are for my boss, not for anyone who actually has good taste. Do you read Dilbert, too? MGD

Attached Link: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/monitor_profiling.shtml

Click on the link to find out how to calibrate and profile your monitor. Also Michelle advice is spot on. Since I have started using the ColorVision spyder and Photocal software package I've had no problem printing what I see on the monitor is what I see printed.

Excellent advice Michelle - especially about turning off Color Management! Also, try converting a copy of your image to CMYK and check the gamma warning before you print. Dee-Marie

Message edited on: 11/10/2004 09:47