Please take a few seconds to submit your response to an easy multiple choice poll. Thank you for your feedback!
Posted by Harley Goldman on February 10, 2010 at 9:09 PM
Interesting little poll, Michael.
Posted by Ed Cordes on February 10, 2010 at 9:26 PM
Informative poll. I do use the profiles provided by Red River for Red River papers. Results are usually pretty good. Sometimes the prints are a bit dark.
Posted by Mark Stahlke on February 11, 2010 at 1:47 AM
I always use the paper manufacturer's profiles. I consider the paper and profile a package deal. If I'm unhappy with the output, I don't use that paper, I don't care if the problem is the paper or the profile. If a paper mill doesn't provide profiles for my printer I won't even try their paper.
It's my opinion that custom profiles should not be necessary. If two identical printers can produce different output from the same input then the printer manufacturer has a quality control problem. Unfortunately, poor quality control seems to be quite common.
When I bought a 24 inch printer I chose the Canon iPF6100 partly because these printers have an internal calibration routine. In theory, all calibrated iPF6100s should produce identical output so, in theory, the paper manufacturers should be able to provide high quality profiles.
Cheers,
Mark
Posted by David Bostedo on February 11, 2010 at 11:21 AM
It's my opinion that custom profiles should not be necessary. If two identical printers can produce different output from the same input then the printer manufacturer has a quality control problem.
I would say, Mark, that you are wrong in this instance. Every manufacturer of electronics has some inconsistency in their product due to tolerances in manufacturing and testing of the component parts. A good design will minimize these (as will good calibration of equipment) but there's always going to be some minor variation. Whether or not these variations cause a difference that matters to you is more a matter of opinion. (So in theory, no two printers will produce identical output, and even if calibrated and in spec these differences might be noticeable.)
But custom profiles for your particular printer could provide improved results, even if you think the manufacturers' profile is doing a good job. Of course, it's possible that the variance between the manufacturer profile and a custom one would be too small to notice. In that case, you've gotten somewhat lucky. I certainly wouldn't dismiss a paper you really like just to avoid getting a custom profile though. (And they really aren't very expensive compared to the cost of paper.)
You either subscribe to color management or you do not. In order to have a closed-loop color managed system, one must employ custom profiles. By NOT using custom profiles, you're submitting to manufacturing intolerance and guesswork. The whole point of CM is to save paper and ink and to get the same results across a variety of media and printers. This can only be done with great accuracy when using custom profiles; it's just "close enough" otherwise.
Wide format printers have very close tolerances; desktop printers not as well. When good quality papers can run several dollars per linear foot, it seems foolish to not invest in a custom profile, especially when there are several inexpensive custom profiling solutions. Similarly, it seems foolish to me to abandon what might otherwise be an outstanding paper because the canned profile didn't get you the results you expected.
For what it's worth, I re-profile every time I change to a new roll of paper. Overkill maybe (unless the paper manufacture has made a change; this happens more often than you realize), but saving money and time and producing only the very best prints are of paramount importance to me.
Posted by Harley Goldman on February 11, 2010 at 1:18 PM
Mark, I would also disagree with your premise. If I really like a paper, I will not reject it just because the manufacturer profile is not perfect. That makes no sense to me, especially when I can get it perfect with a very low priced custom paper profile.
I now get custom profiles for every paper I use. I find that 9 times out 10, the custom profile gives me better results. If it works, go with it.
Discussion
6 repliesIt's my opinion that custom profiles should not be necessary. If two identical printers can produce different output from the same input then the printer manufacturer has a quality control problem. Unfortunately, poor quality control seems to be quite common.
When I bought a 24 inch printer I chose the Canon iPF6100 partly because these printers have an internal calibration routine. In theory, all calibrated iPF6100s should produce identical output so, in theory, the paper manufacturers should be able to provide high quality profiles.
Cheers,
Mark
I would say, Mark, that you are wrong in this instance. Every manufacturer of electronics has some inconsistency in their product due to tolerances in manufacturing and testing of the component parts. A good design will minimize these (as will good calibration of equipment) but there's always going to be some minor variation. Whether or not these variations cause a difference that matters to you is more a matter of opinion. (So in theory, no two printers will produce identical output, and even if calibrated and in spec these differences might be noticeable.)
But custom profiles for your particular printer could provide improved results, even if you think the manufacturers' profile is doing a good job. Of course, it's possible that the variance between the manufacturer profile and a custom one would be too small to notice. In that case, you've gotten somewhat lucky. I certainly wouldn't dismiss a paper you really like just to avoid getting a custom profile though. (And they really aren't very expensive compared to the cost of paper.)
Wide format printers have very close tolerances; desktop printers not as well. When good quality papers can run several dollars per linear foot, it seems foolish to not invest in a custom profile, especially when there are several inexpensive custom profiling solutions. Similarly, it seems foolish to me to abandon what might otherwise be an outstanding paper because the canned profile didn't get you the results you expected.
For what it's worth, I re-profile every time I change to a new roll of paper. Overkill maybe (unless the paper manufacture has made a change; this happens more often than you realize), but saving money and time and producing only the very best prints are of paramount importance to me.
I now get custom profiles for every paper I use. I find that 9 times out 10, the custom profile gives me better results. If it works, go with it.