Printing RGB vs CMYK

[pinfante]

New to printing from PS.

With all of the issues about RGB vs. CMYK, how do I know if I am getting a true reproduction of my image?

I know that if I print a jpg or gif, it looks very different on paper. Am I going to have this sam color issue with photos?

I find this very confusing, and can't seem to find a definative answer in the books that I have.

Thanks.

-Pat

[dn7elson]

pinfante wrote: I know that if I print a jpg or gif, it looks very different on paper.

I find that the color output of my HP970c is virtually identical to the source.

I took time to calibrate my system and calibrated from my scanner, through software and then the printer, so the chain from scanner to printer is set, but I have noticed no color variation from the images from my G2 through the printer either.

Make sure that you have calibrated your monitor so that the images that you view are the true color. You may find that the printer is printing the colors of the image, but that your monitor is changing the color in rendering the image on your screen.

[pinfante]

If I was to send you a jpg bitmap graphic file, could you compare the screen colors to what prints on your system?

Also, what is the procedure for calibrating the printer? I only see a procedure for screen calibration. For the printer it is implies that you need the specific profile file for the pinter that is being used.

Thanks.

[pigasus]

Pat,

What printer are you using and what software? If it's an Epson photo printer and Photoshop 5 or higher, I can give you advice, as I am familiar with that setup. You should be able to get a reasonable result without too much trouble or expense. Most people never have to bother with special profiles for their printer. If you set it up properly, the Epson will give very good results right out of the box.

Pigasus

[pinfante]

I am using Photoshop 6.01 and an HP Photosmart 1115 inkjet printer.

I am under the impression that there is always an issue printing what is on the screen with the same colors since printers use CMYK and the screen uses RGB. I am told that there are some RGB colors that just cannot be reproduced via CMYK.

Hope you have better news for me.

Thanks.

-Pat

[dn7elson]

pinfante wrote:
If I was to send you a jpg bitmap graphic file, could you compare the screen colors to what prints on your system?

Sure, just attach it to an email sent via the icon at the left.

Also, what is the procedure for calibrating the printer? I only see a procedure for screen calibration. For the printer it is implies that you need the specific profile file for the pinter that is being used.

My color scanner (HP3c) has a color profile that it generates from memory and sends either directly to the printer or to software to be printed. The resulting image is again scanned and the scanner reconciles/calibrates the colors.

The former calibrates the scanner directly to the printer. The latter, the scanner via the software to the printer thereby calibrating scanner image through software through printer.

If you can do this calibration, and then calibrate the monitor you are pretty well set. This all naturally assumes that you have a scanner with calibration image.

What are you using for the color profile for the HP? My HP970c currently has Color Management set to sRGB Space Profile, which seems to work very well with the digital camera (G2).

[vettman87]

Dale, You seem to know about calibrating HP printers. I have a HP 1115 photosmart printer and a Canon G2 digital camera. When I print, I do not get the result that I see on the monitor using Photoshop 6. I've been told, by people in a Canon G2 discussion group, that it is a matter of calibrating the printer, monitor, camera, and even the scanner to all produce results that are the same as viewed on the monitor. I have calibrated the monitor, but can not find anything on the printer. YOu mentioned a "profile" for your HP printer. I do not know how to find one for my HP 1115 or what to do with it. Can you point me towards some information that would help?

Thanks,
Mick

[dn7elson]

vettman87 wrote:
YOu mentioned a "profile" for your HP printer. I do not know how to find one for my HP 1115 or what to do with it. Can you point me towards some information that would help?

The HP1115 only uses the sRGB ICM so this is what you should set the color profile to. The profile should be on the driver/printer software CD and is likely already installed on your system.

Take a look at the following for more info:

http://h20015.www2.hp.com/en/document.jhtml;jsessionid=B4UKLTX4MDTGHQEXGR5UOSQ? reg=&cc=&prodId=hpphotosma43048&lc=en&docName=bpy20608