CS2 Proof Setup, Color Settings & PwP Question

Hi all. A question for the print experts out there... With CS I was getting excellent color match between my prints and monitor renditions. Unfortunately the color match between monitor and prints with CS2 seems to be off. I narrow the problem to three areas but don't have enough knowledge to determine what I should be doing:

1. In the View>Proof Setup what should I check....custom, working CMYK, Windows RGB, Monitor RGB etc ?

2. With CS2 Colour Settings pane, can someone give me an idiot's guide to what I should be setting for my Working Spaces and Color Management Policies tabs. I am shooting RAW and then post processing with CS2 for print on a Canon Pixma i8500 inkjet printer. My current settings are Custom as follows:
Working Spaces:
RGB: Adobe RGB (199
CMYK: US Web Coated (SWOP) v2
Gray: Doy Gain 20%
Spot: Dot Gain 20%

Color Management Policies:
RBG: Preserve embedded profiles
CMYK: Off
Gray: Off

Conversion Options:
Engine: Adobe ACE
Intent: Relative Calometric
Use Blackpoint Compensation and Use Dither (8-bit/chammel images) both checked.

3. With Print with Preview, my color management options are:
Color Handling: Let Photoshop determine colors
Printer Profile: Working RGB - Adobe RGB (199
Rendering Intent: Relative Calometric
Black Point Compression checked

I feel really quite intimidated by what I don't know. Every time I think I'm getting close to understanding what I need to do to get great prints, something like the CS2 upgrade comes out of left field and conuses the heck out of me.

I appreciate it's somewhat of a long and detailed post but if anyone could help, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks
Gordon

Try setting your working space to
Gray Gamma 2.2
Spot Dot Gain 20%

In the section that says Working Space click on the RGB Adobe RGB(1998)
drop down menu arrow, slide the scroll bar up or down and you should see

Monitor RGB- (This should be your monitor profile)

(IE Mine says (Dell 21” Monitor set on 19-04-2005)

DO NOT SET THIS AS YOUR WORKING SPACE, KEEP THAT AT
Adobe RGB 1998
This is to check if Photoshop is recognising your monitor profile

If not go to
start/control panel/Appearance and themes/Display
Click on the settings tab, then the advanced tab, then color management
And check that your monitor profile is set as the default.

COLOR MANAGEMENT POLICIES
Preserve Embedded Profiles
Tick all three boxes

ADVANCED CONTROLS
Leave this alone


In the print with preview if you are not using a ICC profile you should click on

COLOR HANDLING Let Printer Determine Colors
RENDERING INTENT Perceptual

If using an ICC Profile

COLOR HANDLING Let Photoshop Determine Colors
PRINTING PROFILE (This will be whatever the profile is for the paper you are using IE (Epson Premium Semigloss 2880,ICC)
if using Epson premium semigloss

If you take a look at my website www.rosswilliamsphotos​.com you can read a short tutorial on printing with or without ICC profiles


Top-Cat
_______________

Eos 1D Mk II
Eos 10D With Grip
16-35mm f2.8L
24-70mm f2.8L
70-200 f2.8L
100-400mm IS f4.5-5.6L
100mm Macro
580EX Speedlight + Manfrotto Tripod + Manfrotto Monopod
Photoshop CS2 Epson 2100 Printer

Top Cat,
Thanks SO MUCH for your reply. I will go home this evening and try out what you have outlined. Really appreciate you getting back to me.

Just one thing - referring to my initial question, when looking at photos on my monitor in CS2, what should the View > Proof SetUp default be set to?

Best
Gordon

Hi Gordon

You need to use View > Proof setup when you are ready to print your photos and only then if you are using an ICC profile to print.
For normal viewing just leave in off and view in your default colour space
Adobe RGB 1998.

When using proof Setup Photoshop tries to give you a representation of what your photo will look like when printed.
Use Ctrl+Y on your keyboard to change from your default colour space to your chosen Profile.


Top-Cat
_______________

Eos 1D Mk II
Eos 10D With Grip
16-35mm f2.8L
24-70mm f2.8L
70-200 f2.8L
100-400mm IS f4.5-5.6L
100mm Macro
580EX Speedlight + Manfrotto Tripod + Manfrotto Monopod
Photoshop CS2 Epson 2100 Printer

Hi everybody,

I'm just about to buy an iP8500 printer and after reading the other posts I wonder what my setting should be. I have PSCS and have a spyder to set the screen.

As yet I have no idea about paper or an ICC, if I need one.

I have been using the colour setting shot at www.colourmanagement.n​et as standard.

Any suggestions for Proof setup and colour settings. Here in UK we use Adobe RGB 1998 & Euroscale coated v2 (CMYK).

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

JOJO