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Printer profiles make better prints, but where to get them and what to use
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ส.ค. 2024
- ICC printer profiles help you make better prints, but are the ones from printer manufacturers any good? Should you get custom profiles, or choose paper suppliers who provide profiles...
Keith looks at the different sources of profiles, including the option of making your own.
If the printer manufacturer doesn't provide profiles, then consider paper suppliers who do - there is often little to be gained by using big name paper brands - many of the suppliers Keith has used are every bit as good as the top brand names, and provide free custom profiling.
00:00 Start
00:45 Profiles for printers
01:10 What the profiles do
02:52 Are printer manufacturers' profiles good enough
04:13 Using 3rd party papers
04:30 Why profiles are provided
05:15 What about custom profiles
06:09 Making your own profiles
07:53 Choosing 3rd paprty paper suppliers
09:07 Are custom profiles better
10:25 Marketing at work
11:20 It's the paper, not the name on the box
13:28 Black and white and profiles
14:40 Rendering intents
15:44 Profiles - just use them...
For an example of making your own profiles - this time for the ET-8550, see: • Epson ET-8550 printer ...
This video is a gentle reminder of a theme that has run throughout my entire adult life (well over 50 years). Striving for perfection is only limited by one's bank account. As my mother used to say, "I was blessed with champagne taste but cursed to live on a beer budget." Thanks again, Keith, for a first-rate video. All your hard work is greatly appreciated.
Thanks - it's very easy to rack up the bills if you really go for this stuff ;-)
Good morning Keith! After 45 years as an artist, I was able to learn about ICC printer profiles today. Thanks to your video, even a very old dog can learn some really new tricks! My sincerest appreciation! Best regards, Robert
Glad to have helped!
my most deeply appreciation for your channel, I've been looking to install icc profiles and until finding your channel I had no idea what to do. Thank you, thank you very much.
Thanks - glad it was of help!
Thanks, Keith. for so many informative videos. Helped my intro to printing immensely.
Glad it's been helpful! - thanks for that
If you've not seen it, do check my full categorised index of all [500+] of them at
www.northlight-images.co.uk/keith-cooper-photography-videos-index/
TH-cam is awful for any attempt at organising/curating older content, so that's what I use to find if I've done something before
I truly appreciate all your videos I'm a blooming printer and these videos have provided me so much understanding, thank you.
Thanks - glad it's been of help
Thanks!Oh myyy excellent video. Thank you for all this information. I was started buying paper from companies that also have a profile
I have seen and improvement.
I use pantone colors and hex codes in graphic designs and I was getting closer to what I wanted.
The paper profiles definitely make a difference. I will be checking out all your video.
I am so interested in the hardware videos because the small units didn't really work well for me either.
What did work was me manually calibrating my display against my pantones and then tweaking printer settings and profiles to get the closest match. That was an all day ordeal...but it worked better than calibrite and spyder for me.
I am a corrective hair colorist and product formulator...color nuances are blaringly obvious to me...it's a gift and a nuisance.
But I must say having those paper profiles for fine art, matte, lusters and metallics definitely helped me out.
Thank you for all you do.
Thanks very much
When I need careful colour checking, I ask my wife - she has similar colour vision and used to be a jewellery designer, grading stones which all looked alike to me.
@KeithCooper funny you should say that...back while I was in school I worked in a Jewelry store.... I wound up grading the precious stones especially diamonds because like your wife...I could see the slightest variation... it's great one way but really hard another way because I am forever chasing perfect colors lol
👍Hi, I have watched a number of your videos and I am impressed with the process you use to explain a particular subject. I feel that it may be worthwhile to produce a video where you show/explain, step-by-step and in detail, how one goes about finding a profile for his monitor, installing it, and then creating the appropriate interface between an editor (like Photoshop, or whatever) and a printer, in order to produce the best possible printed result. In other words, from Alpha to Omega. Many thanks for entertaining my question.
Ah - you don't find profiles for monitors - they are created by the calibration software you use. They are then handled by the system with no input required from you.
It's also very difficult for me to do step by step things, since the more detailed I make them, the less generally useful they are.
For example I use oldish Macs for my work - that rules out a lot of people if I start posting detailed guides. I've not used a windows PC this century for example...
Sorry, but my videos follow the examples of all my articles and concentrate on the principles and the 'why' something is done. I've avoided step by step guides for ~20 years I'm afraid. Always happy to answer questions, but stepwise instructions will come from elsewhere.
@@KeithCooper Dear Keith, First, Many thanks for your more than prompt response. I understand your explanations fully and perhaps I should not have imposed on you. You see the aspect of printing a photo after editing it and getting print that resembles the colours of the actual photo remains a mystery to me. Nevertheless, I hope you continue the good work that you are doing for a long time yet.
Thank you for this very informative video. I have heard it said that many photographers increase the brightness before each print as a matter of course.
I'm minded to say they do that because their colour management and print workflow is not optimal
If I needed to increase the brightness of one of my prints, it's a sign of something wrong in my editing choices ;-)
I had the dark print problem before I realized my monitor was much too bright, even with the default settings for the calibration device. Once turned down the level, then calibrated on that level the prints much improved.
@@reefhugger100 If you shot the picture with the correct brightness, your monitor should show the picture much too dark already. The print should be fine. Otherwise you did something wrong with your shot.
Thanks for your insight into this topic, it's very much appreciated.
You've convinced me I need a printer profile and now for the $64,000 question: if I get an ICC profile, which I assume is a piece of software, how and where do I put in onto my computer (s) and how do I then select it when it comes to printing photos as opposed to text.
I'm only a hobbyist photographer using a Fujifilm XPro2 and would occassionally like to print some of my photos either directly from the files on the computers or via Affininty Photo 2 if I've enhanced them.
My current quipment is
Mac mini M2 running Sonoma 14.0
Macbook Pro mid 2014 running Big Sur 11.7.10
Dell Destop XPS8300 running Windows 10
Epson ET8350
Epson Premium Semi Gloss papers in A4 and 10cm x 15cm
Profiles are just small data files - look at printing with the free Epson print Layout [EPL] to start with? I've never used affinity for any printing it - works - see the affinity help/support for using profiles.
Have a look at the main 8550 review too
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
For more on profile location see
www.permajet.com/icc-profiles/
@@KeithCooper Thanks very much indeed for your prompt reply. I'll have a look in more detail tomorrow but the link on the Permajet website to installing on a Mac is simply one of the best instructional videos that anyone could make - no flash bang wallop heavy rock what's up you guys etc. - what more do you want let alone need?
I believe that the concept of printing photographs should also apply to printing documents and files like word processing documents, spreadsheets, database files, presentations with light and business graphics, and layout pages done in desktop publishing programs like Microsoft Publisher. Your concepts make idea sense.
It would be nice, but colour management is implemented in a very haphazard way in non-photo software - that's if there is any attempt at all in its application at all...
@@KeithCooper Your comment was typed by you, the Professional. Fortunately, printed documents can still be sent through the United States Postal Service mail system. I still print letters and write checks, but not exactly the old-fashioned way. I use Microsoft Office (2021 Professional) and my keyboarding skills to get the jobs done. Behold, application software, like computer hardware, is being updated for improvement from time to time. Thank you for rendering your invaluable time to type to me. Happy Keyboarding!
Thank you!
Glad it was of interest
Thank you 👌😊
I made my own profiles with a colormunkie and the prints were better than manufacture. However if I know the manufacture’s are providing high quality profiles that is good news. Making your own is a faff. Regards
Yes, the manufacturers have been paying more attention to profile quality in recent years.
Custom ones can still be better, but the difference is far less predictable these days
@@KeithCooper Thanks Keith. That's good news.
Thank you for explaining everything with such depth and clarity. Would you happen to know if the i1iSis 2 scanner would be able to scan film (for Direct to Film printing)? I'm worried about if the film will feed through the scanner, and I would be primarily using it for preparing ICC profiles for DTF printers. Any help would be appreciated!
I don't believe the iSis 2 works very well with film. However I don't have one here to test.
It would be much like trying to scan a negative with a normal flatbed scanner, without a transparency adapter
@@KeithCooper thanks for the quick response 🤓🙏. I've also been looking at the X-Rite i1 pro 3, but this is my first time researching all of this. 🤧
@@elegant_edits I've more info at
www.northlight-images.co.uk/x-rite-i1photo-pro-3-review/
My written stuff is usually much more detailed than any of my videos
Good evening Kieth,I have a question for you,I’ve been watching your videos for some time now and I think they are all very educational as far as providing information about printing etc, But why don’t you show more of the actual printing process and the various settings one would use to achieve good quality prints i for one would get a lot more insight of the process of actually printing a photo etc.
Thank you.
Thanks
Several reasons for my approach. One is that there are often no generic 'settings' to give - the answer is often 'it depends'.
With specific printers I'll often do a video for a specific type of photo, such as A3+ borderless colour, or panoramic. For printers, my videos are also there to support/expand my main [written] reviews.
For the software I'll often choose the Epson or Canon print software - it's good and it's free. It also differs little between Mac and PC [I've not used a win PC this century].
I often assume you have a good image to start with in those print examples - the videos are on quite specific topics. I have a few workflow related ones, but they are always driven by explaining the 'why' as much as the 'how'.
One problem with any overly detailed approach is that the more detail I put in, the fewer people it's of use for.
I very rarely do step by step 'recipe' style guides for just this reason - they don't make it easy to show the principles behind what I'm doing, which is usually what I want to convey. I also believe that for many processes there are often a number of ways of getting to the destination - my aim is to suggest routes, not give just one.
Could you be a bit more specific on what it is you would like to see? Feel free to email me at Northlight if you wish - easier to use than the comments system here ;-)
Canon vs Epson? You would have a big audience for that analysis.
Ah yes, but not one I'm going to do I'm afraid ;-)
BTW... the answer is 'it depends'...
I've a longstanding (~20 yrs) policy of not doing brand comparisons - they are meaningless if not so long and detailed that no-one would read them. Given the vastly less nuanced discussion you can get in a video, I'll avoid that one ;-)
I think I'll leave such things to the more shouty TH-cam channels ;-)
@@KeithCooper Agreed, but I've owned two Canon ten-color printers, and everyone else says they are using Epson, so I feel foolish. Maybe something on ink consumption, a comparison? It's going to be a major question for people who print professionally. Red River photo paper did an experiment by printing 200 various 8 X 10 photos and calculating ink usage. You need not do that but it wouldn't hurt to give an opinion for people who are just looking to own one printer. You could say, "If your use is such and such, I would get such and such printer," and without stepping on anyone's toes you could help people. Also, international shipping on ink is something you could cover. I have had some problems in Mexico!
Good info
Thanks
Hi, Keith , Love your videos . I am looking for cardstock profiles for the Epson et-2850.. Could you help me out?
Sorry - never seen a 2850
Also, unless the card is coated for inkjet use, profiles don't usually improve much
Any clue about a colorchecker / colorMunki / etc performance over time? I have some sitting in a drawer, probably 5+ years old. I assume the built-in cal target changes over time, and maybe the electronics drift as well. Ever tried an 'old' one and a 'new' one side by side? I don't imagine Colorchecker (or equivalent) offers any kind of calibration service? I go back to the manual colorimeter days with 718? 728? patches that one targets, clicks and scans ONE at a time, circa 2005. Took forever. And I did it each time I changed inks; I was younger then, and so were inks and print heads. I burned out and now go for the manufacturer profile exclusively. Unquestionably the profile helps the paper sale!
I have an original ColorMunki from before it was announced (I did some development testing) and it still works just fine - I don't have accurate enough equipment to test it with any reliability.
I'm afraid it's the current X-rite gear which you can get calibrated.
Hi , Looking into all this printing my astrophotography I’m finding lots to know that the printer can’t help me with and as usual TH-cam in my best friend. I use pixinsight to process my galaxies and nebulae. Pixinsight has a icc profile to save image in . I use Bay photo here in California to print my photos. I’m going get my monitor calibrated . Do I let them use their color profile or use my color profile. They offer color correction and I use it . Tell them what’s wrong and they try to fix it. Thank you for all your efforts to help us get good prints.
Glad to have helped!
Thanks for all your fascinating videos. Very helpful to the novice! I've just got a Canon Pro 200. I added the ICC profile for some Canson Rag to my iMac and it has appeared on the Canon IPP software but do I also need to add it to the printer itself? I'd previously been using Canon Platinum Pro paper and that is on the selector menu on the printer itself but not sure how to add a profile if its needed and if not what paper do I select on the printer when I've selected the Canson on my desktop?
Usually, there is nothing to add to the printer. The profile is used with an existing media type. This should be in the data with the profile - via Canson. They made the profile, so they should be able to tell you which media setting they used to create it.
In my own profiles I often include an abbreviation for the media type in the name, as a reminder.
You can use the MCT to add a custom name to the screen - this is discussed further in my main [written] pro-200 review
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-pro-200-printer-review/
Thank you Keith your reply is very much appreciated@@KeithCooper
Mr. Cooper, have noticed any sort of color blindness for the ColorMunki/ColorChecker Studio compared to the Xrite iSis? I've made a lot of profiles for my current Epson R3000 with both native software (both Xrite and Calibrite) and optimised argyll targets and they lack saturation especially on the reds. Maybe is just my my older printer, but it was wondering whether the bigger, pricier solution is only useful for speed and M0/M1/M2 variants, or the resulting gamut may increase as well. Thank you in advance.
Gamut increases are minimal - it's what the printer can print in combination with the driver which makes the difference.
The 3000 ink set with the old driver is likely where the issues lay. However, it's always worth a check to print with driver colour management and make a profile on top of that (see my Canon G550 info for more about this) Occasionally the driver colour management can print strong colours better - it's not something I normally do these days, but with such an old printer it might be worth experimenting with...
Should printers be managing profiles? Or, should photoshop be managing the profile? Epson F570
Not sure what an F570 is? Not a model number [UK] I know of.
In general, if printing from Photoshop, I'll always use PS Manages Colour and have the driver set to no colour management.
Thanks, This video is timely for me. I just bought a sample pack from Red River (Tx, US) who provide icc profiles for their papers with my printer (Epson SC P900). However only two of the 14 or so papers looked liked my color calibrated monitor (CC1 studio with mac studio display), the rest have slight magenta cast, especially noticeable on skin tones in the test image I was using (from your website thank you again!). All the papers had subtle differences in shadow detail, saturation, contrast etc but this color cast makes me suspect the icc profile they provided. I will try making my own custom profile with the CC studio color checker for one of their papers that I thought was fantastic. Any other suggestions or insights to share? Thanks for educating us all.
Glad to have helped - their profiles are normally pretty good.
Making a custom profile is always worth exploring - do it for a paper you liked but saw the colour cast.
One thing though - that many profiles not working [in the same way] suggest that the printer calibration may be out? Have a look at Epson ColorBase2
I don't know if it supports the P900 - my review was when the 900 first appeared. Note that you need CB2 not 3 since V2 supports far more older spectrophotometers - such as the ColorMunki
I didn't cover it in my recent P5300 stuff, since CB3 dropped support for all the spectros I own :-(
@@KeithCooper thanks. ill see if CB2 can be used with p900. epson papers look spot on and the ones that were ok from red river were different media type settings on the printer whereas others in their group did not. as soon as i get some grey ink i'll continue and let you know if custom calibration works. i love their palo duro softgloss rag
Hi Keith, I recently discovered your channel and have found your videos very helpful. I'm interested in buying a monitor calibrator and noticed there's a few different types of models. In your experience, is it worth spending the extra money on a tool like the ColorChecker Studio that can create custom print profiles? Are the values that different from what you would get using the profiles from the paper / printer manufacturers?
It depends on how many different profiles you need ;-)
These days the paper suppliers' profiles are pretty good - especially if you've a supplier which makes them for you.
Most people probably won't benefit much from making their own profiles, much beyond a better understanding of colour management.
The kit I use is far more advanced ($$$) and yes, I can sometimes see a difference. It helps me get consistent results for my printer testing, as well as experimenting (the B&W stuff)
hey buddy love the channel but was wondering if its better to use the xrite1 regular or the high end studio version and also what would be the difference in quality im try to reproduce art work in the exact color of the original image
Art repro is a very complex technical area of photography - needs camera/scanner profiling as well, and great care with lighting.
i1Studio every time if I was doing it
Not only is it technically difficult, you have to deal with artists and their somewhat haphazard attachment to the term 'exact colour' ;-) :-)
Hello, Keith. Thank you for your videos and helpful information. I bought a Canon Pixma Pro-200 that I just started using for fun family pictures (at the moment) because I was frustrated with drugstore prints. I know paper has a lot to do with it, but in using Canon Photo Paper Plus Glossy II the prints are barely on par with a basic drugstore print quality (I just at least have easier control of editing and printing instead of waiting an hour for a print). Is there something I'm missing perhaps? It's for fun at the moment, but I would like to print more serious photos once I get this "fun" step right at least. Thank you in advance!
Sure - see my review - it has links to all pro-200 articles/reviews and videos
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-pro-200-printer-review/
There are profiles listed in the main [written] review.
Try using Canon PPL software for example...
@@KeithCooper thank you!!
Hello Keith, I found a good deal on Datacolor Spyder custom profile printer hardware to use with my Canon Pro-4100, I usually print on Canon papers, but never made a custom icc profiles, so os it possible for example to create a custom icc profile for a HP photo matte paper ( or even other non Canon brands) to use it on my Canon printer ? I am new to this so and so I’ve heard if the non Canon paper manufacturer offer a icc profile for Canon than you can use it but if they don’t than you will have to make your own custom icc profile with hardware mentioned in order to use it, hope my question make sense, Thank you, Darko
Yes - as long as the paper works in the printer, it should be no problem making a profile. You may need to experiment sometimes to see if a particular media profile is needed.
The profiles from the Datacolor kit are usually OK, but take care if profiling a paper with much OBA in it
See the profiling and custom media section in my PRO-2000 review - it applies to the 4100
www.northlight-images.co.uk/canon-imageprograf-pro-2000-printer-review/
Hi Keith - may I ask a stupid question? Can I assume that "the profile" is contained in my canon dropdown print menu, when it asks me to select
the type of paper Im using.
Not quite... It depends on just how you are printing [printer model and software]
The paper selection is the media type. This is common between printers, since it just refers to the actual paper.
The profile may need selecting as well. This is specific to the printer/paper.
If you were using the Canon Print layout software, then selecting a Canon paper, can automatically select the correct profile. However if you're using a third party paper, then you select the appropriate media type (the paper supplier will list this for different printers) and then select the profile for that particular paper.
It's one of those areas where everything varies and can easily be confusing - I feel a new short video coming on... :-) :-)
See here for a longer media setting/profile video
th-cam.com/video/5fKK_89Ky2k/w-d-xo.html
Hi Keith, I'd like to know exactly how to use ICC profiles when creating artwork in Adobe Illustrator BEFORE sending out a file for fine art prints on Hahnemuhle paper, such as Photo Rag. I have the specific printer's ICC profile installed and am viewing my art using the Proof Colors with the customized Proof Setup set for that paper. Now, how do I select colors EASILY to stay within that profile color gamut? Is it possible? Thank you!
Ah - illustrator... not used it for many years I'm afraid. I don't know
Very informative video, thank you. I am new to printing. Have an 8550 and use Epson Print Layout. If I get a third party paper ICC profile will it show up in EPL?
Yes it will
See my main ET-8550 review for more
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
@@KeithCooper I will do that, thank you. I had watched all of your et-8550 videos which is why I bought one. Hard to learn everything first time. I am extremely happy with this printer, great for this 89 year old.
Hi Keith. Thanks for your videos. My wife and I paint with watercolors and we scan them on the top scanner on our Epson et 8550. There is a difference between the painting and the print using the Epson ultra pro luster setting. Why and how do I correct this. Honestly the print looks better (richer, darker colors) than the original watercolor painting.
Thanks
The scans need generally editing - see the example in my main [written] 8550 review
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
I just recently bought an Epson ET 8550 and use Epson Ultra Pro Luster papers. Will the settings for that paper be right for my printer?
They should be, but it depends what software you are printing with
Thanks for a very helpful video Keith, much appreciated. I am probably going to buy an Epson SC-P700 in the near future and one thing I am not sure about is this .. lets say I am using an Epson paper (e.g. Premium Semi-Gloss) and it appears in the dropdown list of media, do I still need an ICC profile to go with it, or should I select 'Printer Manages Colours' in the driver settings? I'm using Photoshop by the way for my printing.
Unless you have very specific reasons not to, then always use a profile
For me 'printer manages colour' is only used when I'm printing B&W using the printer driver's B&W print mode
Problem with suppliers is unless they have your specific printer they can’t provide a profile. Recently had this issue with the 8550 and the standard profiles for Epson are not quite right for my 8550.
Yes, the 8550 is rather lightly supported with profiles, hence why I know a lot of people use third party paper suppliers, who will make custom profiles.
It's also why I produced all the profiles mentioned in the main [written] review
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
I’m not using any of the papers mentioned in your written review.
Then look for a paper supplier who offers custom profiles (there are several in the UK, I've no idea overseas)
The profiles of mine have also been used for 'similar' papers with some success I'm told...
I have and couldn’t find one who offers profiles for the 8550. That’s not the point really. My point was that you can only get a custom profile from a supplier if they have your printer.
@@emmaturner2558 Ah, what about the ones who will create a profile from a target you print and return to them? That's what I meant by a custom profile.
Several I've looked at do this - they don't need the printer to do it.
I am so frustrated - doing simple illustrating prints and therefore using Canson mixed media 160g but cannot find an ICC Profile for my epson 8550. Please help. what do I do?
There are no profiles for this printer from most of the better known paper brands
My normal suggestion is to buy paper from a supplier who makes custom profiles for customers
Failing that, I have a collection of them listed in my main [written] 8550 review, which I created for the review
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-et-8550-printer-review/
@@KeithCooper
I am so impressed... I honestly wasn't sure if I would receive a response. Yet, you did indeed respond so quickly. Thank you sincerely. I will follow your suggestions. Printing has proven to be much more complex and challenging than I expected. I am avidly watching all of your tutorials - so much knowledge. You are so appreciated.
Hi Keith, I have an Epson V800 scanner that I use with SilverFast (strange bit of software but I've managed to learn how to use it and it can produce good quality results with negatives). The scanner is profiled with a Silverfast target, printed on photographic paper. They also sell an add-on to the main software that allows printers profiling throught the scanner. What kind of result I could expect from such a process? is a scanner able to read target colors with enough accuracy to profile a printer?
Ah, this one has been around for years...
I've looked at scanner based systems in the past (one of my first reviews from 2005!) and they suffer from the scanner (and light source) simply not being designed to capture the kind of spectral data really needed to create profiles. The issue is not really accuracy, it's the fact that the scanner just captures RGB data of unknown spectral resolution.
The profiles created this way tend to be very variable in usefulness - sometimes they work well, sometimes they are hopeless.
I've a detailed review of the V800 (another one from before I made videos) and I have to say I'm not so struck on the Silverfast software - my choice these days would be VueScan, but well done for sticking with it!
However, it all comes down to how much they want for the profiling add-on ;-)
@@KeithCooper as everything else with Silverfast, is not even easy to understand the price for this upgrade : ) it should be something around 80-100€. But probably is easier to find someone that makes real profiles. Unfortunately I cannot find one in Italy and with Brexit it's more difficult and costly to buy in UK from UE. Maybe in Germany? There are two features that I like about Silverfast and are quite unique: Negafix that takes care of orange mask removal from negatives (very well) and the neutral pipette, that allows to easily remove unwanted color casts. it's different and more effective then the usual white point pipette you can find in many software
Well, at that cost, I'd possibly say give it a go.
A lot will depend on the printer and paper.
Hello Keith, thank you. I'm newbie in printing. Bought Epson Eco Tank l8160. Bought their glossy paper (as you adviced for beginners), brightness in my monitor (freshly calibrated Nec) down to 15%. Done export formula in Capture One. Got pictures which looks like colours bleached, mouldy.. Where did I go wrong? On screen everything looks beautiful. I know there should be a difference because of media but not such huge..Would you help me please?
I've not use C1 for many years I'm afraid.
Are you specifying a profile when printing? Unfortunately I don't know that printer model either...
Rather too many unknowns to offer any significant suggestions - did you try printing a test image - it's a way of testing printer settings are OK
@@KeithCooper I saw you have mentioned test images, but where can I download them? Or I minsunderstood. I chose the printer profile- from the list as well as the paper. And feeling unhappy. Thank you for your quick response. All the best in 2023. Bless you.
Here are the test images
www.northlight-images.co.uk/printer-test-images/
@@KeithCooper thank you so much!
I printed a photo in b&w (originally in colour) but it had a blueish tinge. What would cause that and should I have used the b&w option in the printer instead?
On what, from what, on what paper?
The B&W option often performs better - but not for every paper
Epson ET.3850 - LR - HP premium glossy paper
Sorry, but a relatively low end printer is difficult to get good B&W on, especially with glossy HP papers [not all, but many 'bad' papers I've tried were originally from HP - it's their inks]
A custom profile would possibly help - but no-one does profiles for such printers.
Look for paper from a company which will make custom profiles [quite a few in the UK]
If cheap paper matters though, then you are out of luck... :-(
Thanks for your response! My husband told me to get a good printer but I went with the low price! 😬😩.
For colour you can get good results [with care] from even quite basic printers, but counterintuitively good B&W is usually much more difficult.
@keithcooper Hi there, Love your videos. Super useful knowledge. Is there a way I could contact you directly? Over email? etc? I have a very specific/challenging print scenario, and I would love to pick your brain about it. Thanks!
Contact me via Northlight Images [my photography business and 'day job']
Hi really struggling to sort printing my custom profile on my Mac
In what way? What system version?
@@KeithCooper hi on Monerey
I phoned you today and was a problem on your site but when I downloaded Adobe profiles it doesn’t fit in with my Mac
Yes I think there was a profiles visibility problem with MacOS 11.2 - seen this discussed on several forums.
I still use 10.15 for my work machines. I have MacOS 13 on a test iMac all work fine with profiles.
AFAIK, there was a problem started with with MacOS 11.2 and not fixed until MacOS 12
Profiles go in the usual place ~/library/ColorSync/Profiles
I’ll try again tomorrow
where do you get the profiles ?
The printer makers provide some, mainly for the higher end printers
Some paper suppliers provide them, or will make them for you if you buy the paper
Failing that you have to make your own or pay someone to make them for you
The cheaper the printer, the less likely you are to find profiles...
All my main [written] reviews list the profiles I made for the review...
I have never understood, why you have to make your own profiles. I mean, the printers are all the same, the inks are all the same and for each paper (Canon, Hahnemühle etc.) there is already a profile by the manufacturer. How can it logically be that you need to create your own profiles? They must be the same as the manufacturer's actually.
You conflate quite a lot of issues in your comment ;-)
IF your paper and printer choice has a profile available, then by all means use it - there is no NEED to make profiles in cases like this.
However...
Printers are not always quite the same.
There is also not a profile for each paper/printer combination.
Some printers have a wider availability of profiles than others.
Some excellent OEM papers are not supplied with profiles for some printers
There is no such thing as a 'correct' profile - different profiling solution produce slightly different result - especially for something like the perceptual rendering intent
More basic printers may have almost no profiles available.
Now the level to which these factors (and expense) are important will vary. Manufacturer profiles [if available] are better these days, but there are still times when you might want custom profiles made - even if you don't do it yourself.
Hey Keith, I love your videos! Thank you so much for the content! I come from Gretag MacBeth, Spectrolino, Profilemaker age, and I am wondering how you feel about thick papers & using the i1iSis. I was thinking on getting a i1iO for that reason, or find a way to use my Spectrolino/Spectroscan with modern software. :)
My isis XL is an engineering sample from when it was first developed, so it seems to handle thicker art papers just fine [It has a 2 digit serial number ;-) ]
I do have an i1iO, but it's rare I need to get it out [other than to impress, in demos]
I suspect the older kit could be used with ArgyllCMS, that and I've run some old colour management software under Parallels on my Mac - needs quite a bit of 'experimentation' though.