Help with Printing and Colour Settings

[the3chickens]

I want to start printing some of my layouts starting with one for my friend and I've been getting icky results :( :mad: Would greatly appreciate if someone could offer some help/advice please on the print and colour settings.. :hug: :love3:

This is the layout (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=186607&cat=500&ppuser=47044) - the blue came out ok but the skin tones came out very dark, my white dress & white curtain became yellowish and the silver ring tended more to a brassy look. Another layout (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=183288&cat=500&ppuser=47044) I tried came out more purple than brown and while the skin tone was better than with the blue, it was still darker than what I see on the screen and the yellow became more orange-y.

Settings & specs as follows:
- software is PS CS2
- printer is Lexmark X1150 and Lexmark P3150
- PS new document setting - Colour mode is RGB 8 bit and Colour Profile is sRGB IEC61966-2.1 Square (preserve embedded profiles)
- printer colour management profile is srgb colour space profile
- display colour management profile is also srgb colour space profile
- I used matte paper
- The brown LO was printed from my PS while the blue was from a JPEG (saved at max res)

I also have a question on the colour setting which may or may not be related to this problem. I recently came across the colour settings on PS and checked on Ask when Pasting for Profile Mismatches. Since then, with quite a lot of the kits and some photos, I've received a warning of profile mismatch and clicked on convert. I'm wondering if I'm using the wrong settings and if so, what should I be using. This doesnt happen for all kits and sometimes only for half the elements/papers in a kit while the rest pasted without any warning popping up.

Sorry for the very long post. Any help would be appreciated.. Pls let me know if I've left out any info required.. TIA!!

[Vallie]

I know with my monitor I have adjusted it as my eyes couldnt handle the bright screen, so when I do my layouts they look to me okay on my dimmed down screen but when I print them they are too dark, so I compensate for this by making them look lighter on the screen before I print them and I know they will print okay. Monitor callibration is another thing you may have to do. I dont know anything about it but some of the techys will probably jump in and explain it for you. :)

[ScrapMel]

I haven't figured out the whole monitor calibration thing either - so I will be watching this thread with some interest. Also if someone could address how to make sure about dimensions before printing I would appreciate that too! My borderless always cuts off on one side ... errrrr.

Also, Ann, I just want to tell you Mac is the cutest (wait, I do have to say one of the THREE cutest boys!) He is just adorable!!!! Pinch is cheeks for me, please! LOL!

[the3chickens]

Thanks for the replies, ladies :) I'll look into the monitor calibration thing. Sigh.. while I did think my photos may need tweaking, I'd thought the kits at least could be printed out as is without having to mess with any colour alterations and that it may be just my print settings that werent done properly..

LOL Mel! Mac's in wonderful company with Liam and Aidan then :) I passed on the pinch and make sure you pinch theirs right back :D

[debbers]

Well before the monitor calibration thing - if you are outputting to a printer that does CMYK - the last thing you should do just before you hit the PRINT button is flatten your image and turn it into CMYK.

That said ... the printer might have it's own CMYK profile for Photoshop or your computer, and you should check into that first.

CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and BlacK. These are the standard 4-process colors for offset, laser, and yes, now ink-jet printing.

I know here at work, I have MUCH better control over colors looking right when it is CMYK that I send to the printer.

To do this in Photoshop, go up to the Image menu, select Mode and change it to CMYK. You should find printer and CMYK profiles ... I forget exactly where.

So anything I do for print ends up with three files:

the main layered image
a flattened jpg for on-screen display, projection, dvd, whatever
a flattened CMYK jpg for printing

Two Caveats: Do not change to CMYK until you're done. And don't edit after you've changed to CMYK.

deb

[kydeb]

I'm having problems with blues printing lavendar. I posted my question on a new thread. Does it look like a cmyk issue? I'm very frustrated that my blue turns to lavendar when what I really want is blue!! Thanks bunches!!

[mimi23]

Have you tried having photoshop manage the the color
Under file>print preview in.....color handling...Let photoshop determine colors
printer profile...choose your paper profile for your printer
then go to page setup>printer>properties and select the correct paper and settings

I had problems with a magenta color cast until I used the paper made for my printer and got the different printer paper profiles for the different kinds of papers (matte, glossy)
For the color management this is what I found
Under Edit>color settings....chooose North America prepress v2(this might change to custom when you change the next settings.)
Next RGB change to Adobe RGB 1998 (sRGB has a much smaller color range)
Next check all boxes in profile mismatches to ask, but I alway let photoshop change sRGB profiles to Adobe RGB 1998

I have a canon..I found a web site that showed me what to choose in the printer properties. steves-digicams.com/techcorner dot com

I also played with my moniter to try to get it to match my printer...I had to darken my screen

Patty

[kydeb]

Thanks! I'll give this a try!! I really appreciate all of your help!!