Canon Pixma Pro9000 Mark II + Lightroom 3

So I took the plunge and decided to start printing at home.

I got a Canon Pixma Pro9000 Mark II (running on Windows 7).

I am using OEM ink & the following Canon Papers:
4x6 Photo Paper Glossy
8.5 x 11 Fine Art Paper Photo Rag
8.5 x 11 Matte

My goal is to be able to print color correct images from lightroom - so far no luck. I have however got acceptable prints using the Canon software (Easy PhotoPrint EX).

With the Canon software my workflow is as follows:
1) Monitor(Dell IPS panel) calibrated using Spyder3 pro
2) Do my editing to RAW images in lightroom
3) Export a jpg in sRGB colorspace
4) Run the Canon software and follow the instructions

The prints are not perfectly matching my monitor but the skin tones seem acceptable to me. Is this workflow correct?

Printing via Lightroom:
1) Monitor(Dell IPS panel) calibrated using Spyder3 pro
2) Do my editing to RAW images in lightroom
3) Open the print module & select paper size from File - Printer Settings
4) From the print module: Select paper type, have lightroom handle color management

These prints consistently come out with red skin tones.

I have read I need to disable the printer handling color management via the printer driver. This is where I'm confused. Am I supposed to change these settings under the printer's properties or via the Canon software that I see on my taskbar & if so which settings do I change?

I do have Photoshop CS3 but I'd rather not use it. I'd like to do everything in Lightroom.

I dont know how it works with the Canon, but my Epson R1900 I can right click the tray icon for the printer and goto printer settings. On the Advanced page there is a color management section with the following choices:

Color Controls
PhotoEnhance
ICM

Selecting ICM gives me the options to select profiles and etc and there is a checkbox that says "Off (No color Adjustment)"

I honestly prefer to print from CS3, I tried LR3 but couldnt figure it out. It had attempted to print a 8x11.5 on 4x6 paper even tho I set the margins to 4x6 and the colors were horrid. Im sure I could have fixed it but things seemed so much easier in CS3 for me.

In Lightroom you need to work directly with the printer driver. I haven't heard of the Canon software being provided as a Lightroom plug-in, but in the Print module you want to go right into the driver settings. I don't have a Canon printer and can't give specifics, though.

buurin wrote in post #11593105
These prints consistently come out with red skin tones.

Until you get a grasp on the correct print settings, you should judge the print quality from a standard test image, not your own photos. Here's a good one with lots of color and different skin tones:

http://cmac.smugmug.co​m …_3P7qj#5637776_​3P7qj-O-LB

This site was originally written for the previous 9000 model, but the printer dialog is the same. (You have to scroll down pretty far to see the printer settings):

http://www.canonpro900​0.com/

ChasP505 wrote in post #11595031
This site was originally written for the previous 9000 model, but the printer dialog is the same. (You have to scroll down pretty far to see the printer settings):

http://www.canonpro900​0.com/

Not the same, but close enough that you should be able to figure it out. If not, just say so (or PM me) and we'll get you squared away.
Also, on that page, be sure you go to the part about letting the application control colors; before that, he tells how to let the printer control the colors, which you don't want.

LR's print module will take you to the printer driver, which is where you make the change.

I to was having problems with to much red when I got my 9000 MII. I print from the canon software and had to go in and lower the red tones to get it correct. I to use Lightroom for all my editing but have never printed from there. May need to try it.

43 North wrote in post #11604686
I to was having problems with to much red when I got my 9000 MII. I print from the canon software and had to go in and lower the red tones to get it correct. I to use Lightroom for all my editing but have never printed from there. May need to try it.

This is sometimes caused by having Preview before Printing selected in the Canon printer settings. Make sure you don't have this option selected.

ChasP505 wrote in post #11604746
This is sometimes caused by having Preview before Printing selected in the Canon printer settings.

I always have that checked and don't have the red problem. Is that supposed to be specific to the 9000 or Canon printers in general?

ChasP505 wrote in post #11604746
This is sometimes caused by having Preview before Printing selected in the Canon printer settings. Make sure you don't have this option selected.

What does preview before printing have to do with a red color cast?

Is this a bug in the Canon software or am I misunderstanding something?

buurin wrote in post #11593105
I have read I need to disable the printer handling color management via the printer driver. This is where I'm confused. Am I supposed to change these settings under the printer's properties or via the Canon software that I see on my taskbar & if so which settings do I change?

I do have Photoshop CS3 but I'd rather not use it. I'd like to do everything in Lightroom.

No help here but I have a similar problem as far as disabling the canon color management for the Mac printer driver for the same printer. In my case I use Aperture and when I spoke to the color mgmt folks for the Spyder Pro 3 at Photoplus NY in October, they said they had some help on there site on how to disable it. I need to go check this out but its funny how we have one thing in common (printer) and the same problem.

Thanks for Chas for the links, I was able to disable color management in the printer driver. I've successfully printed on both Canon & Ilford papers using their ICC profiles.

I've switched to just using Photoshop CS3 for printing & I am now getting good results.

I like CS3 since it gives me the ability to soft proof... Being able to see how the rendering intent will affect the print is very useful, sometimes the difference is significant.

I do not like the fact I have to export as TIFF/PSD in order to work in photoshop. The files are big and I only need them temporarily.

I like the layout options in Lightroom, so my next step will be to try to do the layout in lightroom and the actual print in photoshop.

buurin wrote in post #11605120
What does preview before printing have to do with a red color cast?

Is this a bug in the Canon software or am I misunderstanding something?

Preview before Printing does cause a color cast with some Canon printers.

I know it was specifically identified as a problem with 9000 mkII, but Red River warns not to use it with ANY printer.

http://www.redrivercat​alog.com/profiles/bull​etin.htm

buurin wrote in post #11605919
I do not like the fact I have to export as TIFF/PSD in order to work in photoshop. The files are big and I only need them temporarily.

You don't have to export as TIF or PSD. Only if you want to stay in 16 bit.

ChasP505 wrote in post #11606202
You don't have to export as TIF or PSD. Only if you want to stay in 16 bit.

Oh right, I could export as JPG. Good point.

I have a habit of only working on PSD/TIFF in photoshop, I don't even know why - I dont use 16-bit files.

I still don't like the idea of having to export a file, after I am done printing I have to delete it from my disk & the LR catalog. Printing from lightroom would cleanup whatever files it exports after the print is complete.

True, if you print out of Lightroom, you are cool! If you only want to go to Photoshop to print, maybe with some special processing, well, OK, you have to delete the tiff if you don't want to preserve the "project".