Turning of Pixma Pro9500 Mk II color management

I see a number of threads on color management with the Pixma Pro9500 Mk II, but there is one thing I am still trying to figure out. BTW, I use Windows 7 with Photoshop CS5.

I let Photoshop manage printing colors. And, I have downloaded the profiles for my favorite paper - Ilford Gold Fiber Silk, for this printer. I also calbrated my monitor. But, I'm still having some color issues, especially when the colors are darker.

My question: I went into the printer configuration manager and set color management to 'none'. My question is "what about all of the other settings that are there for things like rendering mode (ex: perception, relative) and paper type? Are they meaningless at that point?

I'm wondering because I still have to set the paper dimensions in this dialog (versus in Photoshop) so I want to make sure of any other settings I need to make there too.

Thanks!

-Pete Houston

First, regarding the Ilford paper. In addition to the ICC profile, Ilford provides a media type setting and other pertinent printer setting instructions. You should have gotten a PDF file along with you ICC profile download.

This info is also coded into the ICC profile file name. PPPGIIn means the media type setting is Photo Paper Plus Glossy II and NO printer color management. Ilford generally recommends Relative Colormetric unless the colors are very saturated and vivid, then try Perceptual.

In your printer settings dialog, you should go to the Main tab, and under Color/Intensity, select Manual. Click the Set button and in the next window, under Color Correction, select None.

For any other color issues, you should start with a properly calibrated monitor and softproof before printing.

Thank you very much for your reply.

Just to make sure I understand... Let's look at a scenario:

1) I go into the Canon configuration dialog and say (paraphrased) 'None' in the Color/Intensity dialog.

2) In photoshop CS5; I set "Photoshop Manages Colors" and tell Photoshop to use the Ilford profile for Gold Fiber Silk for the Pixma Pro9500 Mk II that I got from the Ilford site.

3) Do I need to do any other paper type settings in the Canon Configuration app? Here's how I think about it: I set 'Matte' in the config app, and what comes out is no different than if I had set 'glossy' because that setting is being ignored by the printer because I said 'none' above.

Thanks!

(I may just test this tonight, BTW)

phouston wrote in post #11446588
3) Do I need to do any other paper type settings in the Canon Configuration app? Here's how I think about it: I set 'Matte' in the config app, and what comes out is no different than if I had set 'glossy' because that setting is being ignored by the printer because I said 'none' above.

In the color/Intensity area, you should see Auto or Manual. Select Manual, then click the Set button. In the nex window, select None.

In the Media Type list, select Photo Paper Plus Glossy II. (per Ilford).

Go back and study the PDF from Ilford.

Thanks again... I'll do that.

(And, I'm going to conclude that the setting on paper type does have an effect even when the color management is set to 'none'. I think that's confusing. If the printer isn't going to play in the color management path, it shouldn't touch anything.)

phouston wrote in post #11446859
Thanks again... I'll do that.

(And, I'm going to conclude that the setting on paper type does have an effect even when the color management is set to 'none'. I think that's confusing. If the printer isn't going to play in the color management path, it shouldn't touch anything.)

The media type controls the rate of ink flow. Wrong setting and you'll get a light print or ink pooling. You had the correct instinct to select matte, but Ilford's instructions should be taken verbatim.

I am sure you are right, and I can't wait ot go try this. I was actually set on 'Semi Gloss' and I sustpect that resulted in more ink going on the paper, hence my darker prints.

I wouldn't be at all offended if you didn't want to answer this last question, but per your advice, I read the PDF up and down, and I can't figure out where it says to put "Photo Paper Plus Gloss II" into the printer driver. I can see Appendix 3A where that mapping is stated (and the name of the driver I get from Ilford tells me this is the setting I should use) but I don't see instructions that say I have to put that into the driver configuration. I thought this info was in there for when you wanted the printer to do color management.

All I see are instructions for setting the color management field, and the print quality field.

THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP!!!

Thanks! Just FYI, I went to the Canson site (I use their BFK Rives paper too) and they specify the media type for each of their papers, and tell you to specify it in the printer driver configuration.

I really can't wait to try this. Maybe you can imagine how it feels to be calibrating everything, and still have every picture come out too dark!

And, how great it is that people like you are willing to help!

Some people get great results with Ilford's profiles and recommended printer settings, some don't. For the best prints with third party or OEM paper, nothing beats getting a good custom profile made.

http://people.csail.mi​t.edu/ericchan/photos/​profiles.html

I tried doing what you suggested regarding setting the media type, and the results were considerably better. In fact, I will probably invest more now in monitor calibration (which I did, but I made some tweaks afterward, and I think I need to unwind those.)

Two other thoughts:

1) I am going to get a custom profile for my Ilford paper, and compare the results.

2) I've been communicating with Canon support on this, and they said that the media type doesn't matter. Given I saw the difference when specifying the media type, I think they are off base, which speaks further to how confusing this can be.

I will report back at some point regarding whether the custom profile did anything. I had one in the works, but it was printed with the wrong media type setting, so I need to resubmit my printouts.

Thanks again!

For reference, I'm using the exact same setup at home (Photoshop CS5, calibrated monitor, 9500 Mk II printer, Ilford Gold Fibre Silk paper and Ilford ICC profile), and I get an almost identical match between what I see on the screen and what gets printed. It should be very close.

Thanks for your post, although I may have more questions in the future!

One I must ask: Do you set the media type when you use the Pixma's configuration utility (where you would also set the 'None' for color management)? I am only asking because Canon online support has given me both the 'yes it matters' and 'no it doesn't matter' answer in the very same e-mail thread. I trust you a lot more since you have been living with this setup.

I didn't get the chance to print some different settings for comparison to verify that media type must be set, but I did change the media type to Glossy II and what came out looked pretty good. What I'd like to do is print exactly the same picture with the media set to 'Matte' like it was before and see how different the images are.

BTW, I also printed the same picture using Canson BFK Rives (very matte/rag) and used the Rag media setting. And it rendered with exactly the same colors as the Ilford with the Glossy II setting. (Yeah!)

And, it all looks reasonably close to what's on my screen -- although the best 'softproof' I get is when I select 'Monitor RGB' as the device I'm simulating; if I select the Ilford profile, what softproof shows me is a little less like what comes out than if I'm using the Monitor RGB setting.

Part of me is saying "You are lucky, you have achieved your goal, don't touch anything"

phouston wrote in post #11452092
One I must ask: Do you set the media type when you use the Pixma's configuration utility (where you would also set the 'None' for color management)?

That's pretty much a universal thing, no matter whether it's a Canon, Epson, or HP printer. When you're printing with an ICC profile from a color managed application, the printer still needs to know the nature of the paper being fed through it.

You shouldn't be softproofing with the monitor profile. I think these presentations will help you with softproofing:

https://seminars.adobe​.acrobat.com …ncher=false&pbM​ode=normal

http://tv.adobe.com …soft-proofing-your-image/

Hi,

I have the same printer, I have downloaded a number of profiles inc the ones you are talking about, allowing for the back lighting of your monitor the prints i get are 1st class with all manufacturs profiles.