calibrating

[bjc]

i notice in some photos i print on my printer the colors arent as vivid as they look on my monitor....i have read about calibrating but dont really understand it....and also dont know which program to use and if they are easy to use? any ideas? any one can explain it? also this calibrates the monitor to the printer??? see i dont really understand..thanks for any help and suggestions of programs

[Meryl]

This is something I would love to know more about! Every now and again I start looking at the subject and take fright in case I really muck things up! Can anyone help?

[Kerr]

Yes, this process is in depth but it takes the guess work out of your prints when printing. No, I have yet to do it because I dont have my camera yet and I am upgrading to a better printer but once that happens I will calibrate as well.

This is a good place to start with good info, links to color checking photos etc. It also has a separate page for printer calibration as well.

I know not the best answer but you have a jumping off point where someone isnt just telling you to "buy some software"

Click here (http://www.normankoren.com/makingfineprints1A.html) to start reading

HTH a little.

[thetexan]

bjc,

what you are referring to is calibration and consists of 'profiling' the monitor, printer, and scanner. Essentially, it ensures that what you scan gets scanned into the system color accurate. Then you profile the monitor to ensure that the monitor displays a true image of the scanned image. Then you profile the printer to make sure it prints what you see on the monitor. It requires a color calibration system to really do it right. I recommend Monaco Labs EZ Color profiling system. It includes a optical scanner for the monitor as well as calibrated color target scan image for the scanner. It will run about $400. There are work arounds that dont use the optical scanner but without it you will just have to happy with best guess eyeballing it. Adobe has a pretty good gamma checker that comes with PS. Window's gamma checker is also pretty good. But these just adjust contrast ratios between color extremes and does nothing to actually get the monitor, scanner, and printer to match each other.

For anyone doing serious color digital work, a calibration system is a must.

tex

[bjc]

thanks tex.... you really explained it well. i see in scott kelbys book he recommends eye-one match 3 do you know anything about that calibrator and compare it to the monaco labs ez? hope all of these are easy for me to do and how often do you calibrate. what if you have 2 printers...i have one i use when i print 12 x 12 for scrapbook cause it is a larger printer.

[debbers]

The i1 line of products is very costly... :gulp:

It makes even Spyder3 look affordable at $279. Which I was already balking at.

deb

[debbers]

Back on the subject of calibration of things ... has anyone here used ICC profiles?

deb

[thetexan]

deb,

Yes, those are profiles available for use to profile your devices. Sometimes you can find them for your device that are close to perfect. You will probably be able to find one for your printer, and scanner but not for the monitor since there are so many independent settings available. For example, I use an Epson 2200. I used Monaco to profile it. As it turned out I got a better match by using Epson's own ICC for that printer. This was a fluke because different types of paper and ink change the profile. In fact each time you use a different paper or inks you should reprofile your printer. So, like in my case, if I go from premium luster to matte paper I would need to do a new profile for the printer. But once done it's good for that combination any time later. Epson has profiles for the 2200 in all sorts of combinations so in my case it's easy to find one I need. However like I said, it was a fluke that Epsons profile was better than Monacos. It's usually the other way around.

tex

[ShaylaSharp]

For calibration I use the Gretag Macbeth Eye-One Display 2. Does a nice job. CRT screens have to recalibrated about once a month after the first six-12 months and LCDs about once every 3 or so months after about the first year (this depends on the monitor). Most companies for printers, scanners, etc. make the ICC profiles and its worth trying those first, companies like Epson and Canon (and others of course) seem to be pretty accurate. Also take into consideration the lighting in your room--it creates a color cast. Might be time to justify some decent lightbulbs and shades.