RJ Loc: Montana

I just ordered the canon pixma pro 100 printer will I be okay printing directly from my laptop and does it make a difference that the laptop may be in different light conditions when printing. This question undoubtedly exposes my ignorance but I have come to appreciate all the help that this forum generates. Thank-You

ronwande Loc: Hendersonville NC

No difference in printing, but different lighting conditions may have an effect on how you edit images on your laptop.

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

:thumbup:

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I use a laptop as my primary computer and have a Pro-100. I've been told you can't print without accurate calibration procedures for the computer. I've never done that and like my print quality.

The only thing you can do is figure it out with some trial and error.

The printer comes set assuming it will manage color. Programs like Lightroom and Photoshop expect to manage color. It usually does not work when both try to do it at the same time.

So one way is to de-select color management in the printer. The other way is to de-select the software and let the printer do it.

A third way is to use the printing software that Canon provides. It includes a calibration procedure that prints a form of color "proof sheet" that yields adjustment settings.

My first preferred choice was to have Lightroom do it all with the printer color control off. Gradually I found I liked the results better with Lightroom set to NOT manage the color and have the printer driver do it.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Simple quick fix(s):

# 1 First install Canon Print Studio Pro (it comes with the printer) it works as an add on to many editing programs or as a stand alone. Do your printing from Print Studio.
Now edit a picture in your normal light where you use the laptop. Set proper ICC profile for the paper in Print Studio Pro (Canon paper's profiles are available on the Canon site, others you will have to obtain and load). Try a test print and see if the results are satisfactory. If they are you are good to go. Maybe lighten or darken your screen to match the print better and use it that way when you edit.

#2 If your laptop is one that can be calibrated, do it, then try to use it in the same lighting for all editing. Then follow steps in #1.

There are more fine tuning steps beyond this, but I don't know how to do them. I asked the guy at my favorite camera store and he started talking some foreign language (at least that is what it sounded like) and lost me about word 3. He took pity on me and told me to try the above.

I bought a Color Munki calibration system for my desktop, it will work on a laptop also. One feature of the model I bought that might be harder on your laptop. It has a sensor that stays plugged in by USB and sets just in front of the monitor and I have it set to take readings every half hour and it then tweaks the monitor for the lighting conditions. I haven't tried it with my laptop because I do all my editing on the desktop, but I suppose I could plug and unplug it if I wanted to edit on the laptop.

The room I am set up in is a family room with two walls being 2/3 window so light changes a lot with time and weather. I do prints at all times, under many different lighting conditions. It works pretty well.

If I ever need "perfect" fine tuning I'll find a photo printing geek like the guy at the store to help/do it for me. Or send the image off to a lab and pay them to get it right.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Your laptop has a smaller color gamut and bit depth - (not quite sRGB and only 6 bit, using frame rate control (FRC) and latency in the human vision system to give the appearance of greater gamut and bit depth.

A print freezes everything - no latency therefore no FRC benefit.

If you are looking to come close, use an 8 bit external display with your laptop, and use a decent profiling tool to get the colors and brightness correct - then there won't be a huge difference between the print and what you see on the screen.

The brightness of the room and the color of the walls where you are editing your images will have an effect on what you see on either the display or the print.

Evaluating a print is best done under a color accurate light source, like a Solux bulb.

http://www.solux.net/cgi-bin/tlistore/infopages/color-proofing.html

RJ Loc: Montana

All very useful information, thank-you your time and input are certainly appreciated

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Labs where prints are judged are painted a specific neutral light grey, operators wear neutral clothing, and the lighting is designed for a CR(color reference) of 90% or better. So don't wear bright clothes, use the same lighting each time you adjust prints and try to keep things as standardized and repeatable as possible.