[Pook]

First of all, you need the correct ICC profile for your printer and paper type. These can usually be found on the manufacturer's web site. If you're an Epson user (if not, why notl? everyone else is rubbish), then try here first

http://www.photoexpert.epson.co.uk/U...c_download.htm

Once you've got your profile, you need to install it. Just put the relevant profile ICC file in c:\\windows\system32\spool\drivers\colour, then reboot your machine (Win XP), If you're a Mac user, sorry, but I use a real computer.

Once the icc profile is installed, load your image into Photoshop, and then follow these steps.


1: Soft proof the image using View/Proof Setup/Custom. Set the profile to your
printer/paper type. e.g., 2100 archival matte. Set "intent" to perceptual, and have black point comp ON. Simulate paper white should be OFF. See fig.s



2: Once soft proofed, check and adjust levels/contract/saturation etc. Also,
make sure the document print size is correct. Whilst this can be set in the
print dialogue, it's FAR better to make the image the correct size using
Image/Image Size... BUT... use it as in Fig.0. This will adjust the
document print size and NOT change the resolution. (Remember to recheck
"resample image" if you DO ever need to resize an images pixel resolution ).

Fig 0




3. Print by using File, Print With Preview. (fig.1)

FIG.1



4. The print preview dialog box will appear. Set it as shown in Fig.2.


FIG.2


Print size is up to you, but remember that if cropping is critical, around
96% is best and NOT "Scale to fit media".. (you may have to fart around a
bit with this) Set the colourspace and profile settings as
in Fig.2 (using the correct ICC profile for your printer/paper). Click
"Print".

5. The print requester should appear (Fig.3). Select your printer, then
click properties. Do not just click OK.

FIG.3



6. After clicking properties, the Printer driver should appear (Fig.4).

FIG.4


Your driver may differ from mine slightly, but everything you need
will be there as it is in the diagram. Re-check paper type. Click on
"Custom", then click advanced... do not just OK it until you've done the
next steps.

7. Once you click advanced, you should see the advanced settings dialog box
(Fig.5).

FIG.5


The most important setting here is "No Colour Adjustment".... make
sure that's checked. Re-check your paper type, then set your resolution. No
less than 720, and preferably 1440... If your printer allows 2880 with
borderless printing, then this will be the best quality, but printing times
are a nightmare. Make sure "High Speed" is OFF. Click OK to take you back to
the printer driver, then check your paper and layout settings using the tabs
(Fig 6).. then press OK... Finally press OK again on the remaining
Printer Request box. It should now spool, and start to print.


FIG.6


If you follow these steps, your prints should be consistently good. Remember, that you should always use the original manufacturer's inks, especially with Epson printers. You CAN get good third party inks, such as Lyson inks, but you need special icc profiles or they will be useless, and even then, they're only really any good on Lyson papers etc. FOr best results, use Epson paper if you have a Epson printer, and only if you have a ICC profile that covers it.

If you need more help, mail me. My address is in my profile.

If you wanna use this tutorial elsewhere, please ask... it's just polite - don't pass other's knowledge off as your own, as you just look stupid when someone finds you out. :lol:

[silkstone]

Pook: Your tutorial shows that you have a lot to teach, but also a lot to learn.

Firstly, please do not rubbish any printer that does not have an Epson badge. I use a Canon i9950, and I will happily challenge you to produce better prints from your Epson than I get from the Canon, and I will get them in a fifth of the time.

Secondly, a Mac is a real computer that is used by the majority of DTP professionals. Your derogation of the Mac is unhelpful and unnecessary, especially since the PC would not be where it is now if it had not had to compete with the Mac. I use a Windows PC, by the way, but only because the majority of my work does not relate to image processing or DTP. Your remark about the Mac will not offend graphics pros, but it will give them a good laugh.

Last but not least, by all means extol the virtues of what suits you, but do not denigrate what suits someone else.

@Steve and the Mods: Sorry guys, but even when I have gone totally OTT about things like PSP, I have never, ever, rubbished someone else's choice.

Silky, I took his comments as purely tongue-in-cheek, nay jest. I doubt any offense was intended.
Unfortunately, this is the problem of the internet and faceless communications, that people have to rely heavily on emoticons and smileys to convey their true intentions and meanings. Without them, words can seem to take on a whole new meaning.
Me personally I try and see good in everything. (Except southeners, the french, and avocado...but we won't go there).

Pook, thankyou very much for that extensive tutorial, and the work you have put into it.
This is something I've needed for a long time, a step by step guide to hold my hand and take me through printing some of my work out.
I shall certainly be having a bash at it sometime this week .

No doubt many others who view it will also find it extremely beneficial.

PS. I like the irony of your joke about Macs and real computers, then noticing the Visual Style you have set .

[Steve]

Thank you Pook for the detailed guide (and you own style of humour hopefully), I am sure that many of our members will find it extremely useful. We very much appreciate the effort that you have put in to create this guide.

As Bod has said, I also see Pook’s post to be tongue-in-cheek and can’t see that he has anything to gain by rubbishing other manufacturers quality equipment and software. I use a Canon printer and a PC rather than a MAC but I can see why someone (Silkstone in this case) may see it differently and the fact that Pook is obviously knowledgeable (as seen in his other posts here) may have lent some weight to his comments if they were taken seriously. Fortunately Mr Silkstone has already replied and balanced Pook's statements.

We have seen this time and time again on the web and sometimes we just can’t tell if members that we don’t know are being humorous or rubbishing other equipment. I would like to think its not the latter as that is against our rules, hopefully this is just a misunderstading

[MyPix]

i think everyone should chill out a little 8) ,

pook did make jokes ( imho )
silky over reacted (again imho)

we all have a lot to learn in all aspects of life , and it is way too short to start conflicts over taking photographs,

it is a good tutorial that should contribute to the site , maybe being edited slightly to be neutral and put on the tutorial pages,

MyPix

[feeson]

A quick link http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/12641-1.html with regard to the intent used in printing, to boil it down there is no intent that is right every time for printing every job, I keep mine on relative colourmetric 95% of the time and your post just reminded me why something printed a bit blue the other day insted of black so thanks for that.

As someone who has worked in the printing industry and as a PM of a design group I know just how attached these folks are to their MAC's, it is simply they know their way around the system and dont want to change and as I was charging these guys out at £200 an hour I dont think a few weeks retraining them on how to switch a machine on would be economical :roll:

When I have got into a serious argument with designers (basically its a great way to bait them into a fight) every time they come out with the crushing final argument in favour of the MAC - "they look good" - stunning reason for spending all that extra cash.



And canons are poo cos I dont have one :wink:
[/url]

[silkstone]

Apologies to Pook and everyone for overreacting. Moral: Do not reply to threads at two o'clock in the morning when you're full of cold and can't get to sleep.

[feeson]

Originally Posted by silkstone

Apologies to Pook and everyone for overreacting. Moral: Do not reply to threads at two o'clock in the morning when you're full of cold and can't get to sleep.

Quite right, you should only do it at 2am and full of drink like what I do's
Oh the many, many wonderful mornings when I've woke'n up and said "did I say that?"

[Steve]

Originally Posted by silkstone

Apologies to Pook and everyone for overreacting. Moral: Do not reply to threads at two o'clock in the morning when you're full of cold and can't get to sleep.

I don't think an apology is required, there is nothing like a little controversy to spark interest in a subject and all you did was offer a different perspective

[MyPix]

Group hug

MyPix

[Pook]

The epson comments were a joke... I thought that would be obvious. If they gave offence, then I apologise, but it's just a printer... not like I dissed your wife! :lol:

I'm aware that many other printers are superb, so relax. I personally use epson, but that's just my personal choice.

The same applies to all printers however. Having the correct ICC profiles for your printer and media is the only to be consistent.

If you can't find one for your printer/media/inks, then you could alwways invest in a profiling system such as the Gretag Macbeth Eye One, but it's pricey. There are also people who will come and make a custom profile for your entire workflow, from scanning to printer, for around £75. Once this is done, what is on your screen, WILL come out of your printer.. guaranteed. The only problem with paying someone to create a custom profile, is that monitors drift over time.

Using an "off teh shelf" icc profile like I suggested, is a good compromise. It may not be PERFECT, but it will be good. I'm pretty certain other manufacturers will provide them, but I can only vouch for Epson personally.

There is always more than one way to skin a cat so to speak, and that tutorial is almost certainly not going to be the definitive way to print, but I've found it to be the most reliable from a colour point of view, and judging by other similar tutorials on other sites.... give or take a step or two... it would seem to be born out by others too.

Try it and see anyway, but remember, you need the correct ICC profile installed in order for it to work, and it will only give good results when you use the genuine inks and papers, and only those papers supported in the ICC profile.

Keep shooting and keep learning. The day you stop learning new things, is a sad day indeed. Been doing this for years, and I still learn at least one thing about photography every day. Remember, this forum is about helping one another get better.. all of us.

Regards

Mr Pook

[Pook]

Originally Posted by feeson

When I have got into a serious argument with designers (basically its a great way to bait them into a fight) every time they come out with the crushing final argument in favour of the MAC - "they look good" - stunning reason for spending all that extra cash.

My PC looks good... see the show us your darkroom thread. Long gone are the days of PCs being beige boxes.. thank God. Thing is... Macs DO look good.. but they also look the same as every other Mac.

Again... the Mac dissing was also a joke.. just like the Epson thing. Mac OS-X is cool (which is why my desktop, as you can see in the above screenshots, looks suspiciously like OS-X).. Macs are OK... just the lack of customisability (is that a new word?) would bother me. Incidentally however... this machine I'm on is faster than a hi-spec G5, and cost £400 less.... but that's neither here nor there really. The best PC is probably always going to be very similar in performance to the best Mac, and any differences will be minimal, and in most cases, not even measurable in real life situations.

Once you load Photoshop... all computers are the same anyway... a nice graphics card and decent, well profiled monitor will stand you in better stead than a fast computer alone.

Aye unfortunately there are always going to be differing opinions with regards to which brand is the best, or which product is better.
Hey I'm an Epson lifer, but if someone called them absolutely rubbish (as many people have), I simply choose to ignore their comments, it doesn't bother me in the slightest. My printer isn't shedding tears or refusing to come out of the office for fear of ridicule so why should it bother me?

Besides, Canon suck anyway Up the Epson!!!!*



*The above statement is void of any fact or basis, and is based solely on conjecture, rumour and hearsay.

[Matty]

hey cool, if we can think up some things like Nvidiot and fanATIc we can have some serious fun!

[Pook]

Originally Posted by EosD

hey cool, if we can think up some things like Nvidiot and fanATIc we can have some serious fun!

I just buy what's best at the time. When I built this latest machine, the Radeon 9800 pro was the best card for the money... prior to that I had Nvidia stuff.... when it comes to rebuild, which will be soon, then I'll just buy what's best at the time. Brand loyalty only goes so far with me.. if someone else brings out a better product, then I jump ship faster than a hydrophobic rat.