I've just started printing with my new Canon 5000 which I like a lot. However, usually the prints don't come out quite the way I would like. Normally, they are a bit too dark. I am not sure what the procedures are for adjusting either the computer or the printer in order to get the colors I would like. Profiling? Calibration? etc. I use a MacBook Pro.
Any advice would be most appreciated. Thanks, Tim Stenning, Forks, Washington
I'm sure you'll get more replies on this, but the first step should be calibrating your monitor. Then you can print to profiles for your printer and the paper you're using (these are usually supplied by the manufacturer or you can have custom profiles made).
Posted by Tim Stenning on May 14, 2007 at 12:24 PM
Rod,
Thanks for the tips. Its: calibrate the monitor and print to profiles. This'll be fun to figure out. Tim
Tim, in a color-managed workflow each device has its own profile that is used to translate color information to keep it consistent. The monitor profiles ensures that what you see on the screen can be accurately translated into what the printer can produce, so it is the most essential part.
Printers generally come pre-packaged with profiles for different papers and inks from the manufacturer. If you want to print on a different paper you will need to obtain a profile for it (these are often available from the paper manufacturer).
Keep in mind that these bundled profiles are generic and that each printer is slightly different so the next step will be to get custom-made profiles for your printer with the papers you use. Still, don't do it until you have tried using the canned profiles to see if they satisfy your accuracy requirements.
Hi Tim,
Have you seen this website yet? http://canonipf5000.wikispaces.com/FAQ It's been a great resource for me to supplement the meager documentation that came with the printer.
Calibrating is still step 1, but there is one other issue to be aware of that can make your prints block up a bit in the shadows if you use the Photoshop 16 bit print plug in to print to your IPF5k. http://canonipf5000.wikispaces.com/Relative+Colorimetric+Bug . There are a couple of workarounds in the linked article.
thanks to Mike. I'll be looking at buying a colorometer. perhaps an I-1 Display 2 from X-RIte. All new to me. And i'll check out Mike's web site suggestions. Apparently dark prints can mean something as simple as using a too bright computer screen. That is, prepare your To Be Printed files with a screen that is a bit dim (and in a dark room). And I must disable the auto-screen brightness knob.
But, also, Derrick at Opteck in Seattle recommends getting the colorometer ($250) which has the necessary software to come up with distinct luminosity numbers. tim
Discussion
6 repliesAny advice would be most appreciated. Thanks, Tim Stenning, Forks, Washington
I'm sure you'll get more replies on this, but the first step should be calibrating your monitor. Then you can print to profiles for your printer and the paper you're using (these are usually supplied by the manufacturer or you can have custom profiles made).
Thanks for the tips. Its: calibrate the monitor and print to profiles. This'll be fun to figure out. Tim
Printers generally come pre-packaged with profiles for different papers and inks from the manufacturer. If you want to print on a different paper you will need to obtain a profile for it (these are often available from the paper manufacturer).
Keep in mind that these bundled profiles are generic and that each printer is slightly different so the next step will be to get custom-made profiles for your printer with the papers you use. Still, don't do it until you have tried using the canned profiles to see if they satisfy your accuracy requirements.
Guy
Have you seen this website yet? http://canonipf5000.wikispaces.com/FAQ It's been a great resource for me to supplement the meager documentation that came with the printer.
Calibrating is still step 1, but there is one other issue to be aware of that can make your prints block up a bit in the shadows if you use the Photoshop 16 bit print plug in to print to your IPF5k. http://canonipf5000.wikispaces.com/Relative+Colorimetric+Bug . There are a couple of workarounds in the linked article.
Cheers,
Mike
But, also, Derrick at Opteck in Seattle recommends getting the colorometer ($250) which has the necessary software to come up with distinct luminosity numbers. tim