Help! Color Correction

My first time printing pixs.

My setup.

LaCie 21 inch LCD

Macbeth eye one display 2

photoshop CS2 on a IBM-compatable platform

adobe color space

HP B9810 printer

HP advanced satin matt paper 13x19"

so i have calibrated the monitor.

used the photoshop print plug in for photoshop.

my problem:

the prints for landscape and people look amazing.

the problem is when i try to print vibrant underwater colors.

i can't get the near fluorescent colors (especially the greens) on fish and soft coral to pop.

the colors especially the green on the print do not match the monitor.

what am i doing wrong?

any suggestions?

I have recalibrated. I have not tried new paper yet.

I have looked at the print in different light and it looks good, just not quite matching the monitor.

thanks.

[Hey Larry, have you tried the underwater filter in CS2? B)

Open the help file for Photoshop CS2 and search for "Obtaining custom profiles for desktop printers". (a profile calibrated to your printer _and_ the paper you're printing on could fix some of the problem.)

Cameras, monitors, and output devices (printers) have different color spaces which can make it hard to exactly match what you see on your calibrated screen to what prints on your printer (the bright fluoresent greens might be outside of your printer's color space). Printed images will appear differently in different lighting situations (sunlight, fluoresent, incandesent, etc. will all make the inks reflect differently).

Take Care,

ChrisS

Jeff - what underwater filter?

ChrisS - I have been using the photoshop print plug in for the HP B9810 printer. It comes with a nice screen that i use to tell CS2 not only the printer, but also the exact paper and size that i am using. So I think i am using the proper profile for my printer and paper.

I didn't realize that the colors i want might be out of the printer's color space. hmmmmm. that suxs.

What printer/service are you guys using to get these fluorescent greens and other colors? I'm trying to make the colors on the print pop.

Try using the Soft proof feature in Photoshop to preview what your print will look like. Go to View - Proof Setup - Custom and choose the device you wish to simulate, etc. You may find you have to increase color saturation onscreen to get the result you're looking for.

Also make sure when you print that there is no conflict during the setup if you choose to let Photoshop determine the Colours for colour handling. If you choose to let Photoshop Choose the colours turn off any colour management for your printer driver or make sure they are the same.

Just for clarification- when you go through the 'Print with Preview process, that's where you have to make sure you have a consistant choice under Options - Color handling.

the plug-in allows me to determine using the printer or photoshop for the color management of the print.

What is the difference?

If i tell photoshop the exact printer, and paper with the proper profiles, shouldn't letting photoshop do the color management be better?

the plug-in allows me to determine using the printer or photoshop for the color management of the print.

 

What is the difference?

 

If i tell photoshop the exact printer, and paper with the proper profiles, shouldn't letting photoshop do the color management be better?

Yes I prefer to let Photoshop do the colour management, just make sure everything is consistent. I'm not familiar with your printer and plug-in, make sure the setting is the same under the Print with Preview dialogue.

Try playing with the soft proof feature and see if you can see a difference when you choose device to simulate - hopefully your printer will show-up in the list. I see a noticeable difference when I choose my Epson 4800 printer, even though I have a calibrated monitor.

Remember your screen is transmitted light and a print is reflected, makes a difference even with calibration in my opinion.

thanks guys.

I have some playing when i get home.

Hey Larry, I was just messing with you on the underwater filter in CS2 (would be nice , though). I think what Loftus said is probably pretty accurate about reflected light vs. the back light of a monitor. Would some add'l saturation help or perhaps changing the warmth of the picture? Post it when you get it done.

Loftus.

that soft preview did the trick.

when i clicked on "simulate paper color" it darkened the blues as well as muted the green fluorescence. Exactly like the print.

thanks

that was very helpful.

Glad to help; it's a little trick I learned from reading Julienanne Kost's book Window Seat.

Happy New Year.