burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

This is correct as far as it goes. Epson and Canon do supply the proper ICC profiles for their own papers and their own inks. You select the paper type in the driver when you print, and the driver assigns that profile to the print job.

HOWEVER, if you buy papers from Moab, Red River, Ilford, Hahnemuhle, or any other reputable photographic inkjet paper supplier, they will have ICC profiles available on their, or the dealer's, web site, along with instructions for downloading the files and installing them in your operating system. These profiles are designed for use with the OEM (Canon or Epson) inks. If you use third party inks, you MAY need different (i.e.; custom) profiles

All of the above are GENERIC profiles, meaning they are pretty accurate — designed for a CLASS of paper and a MODEL of printer. If you need near-perfect output, however, you can buy a calibration and profiling kit from X-RITE or DataColor and make your own CUSTOM ICC profiles for each paper you use in your SPECIFIC serial numbered printer, and the inks you use. The differences in custom and generic profiles can be subtle, or significant.

The easiest path is using the printer manufacturer's own papers and inks, and the correct settings in the printer driver. It also tends to be the most expensive, but one does not make inkjet prints to save money! We make them for control, immediacy, and archival quality.

CharlieMac

I’ve always used Epson printers which offer the ability in their software to select the paper type being used. I’m still using an excellent old EpsonStylus Photo 1400. The only requirement to keep it working smoothly is to use genuine Epson ink. Cheaper generic ink brands will clog the nozzles. Office Depot, Staples and Amazon sells the various types of Epson photo paper and inks.

When selecting Print their window pops up with several print options, The one button entitled Layout provides many options on the pull-down menu. The one to select for Paper Types is Print Settings, which offers a listing of eight different paper types to select from.

lsupremo Loc: Palm Desert, CA

Thanks to all the not so ugly Hogers for all the information, I really do appreciate the help.

The not so supremo Hogger

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

One more thing to add:

If you do use third party papers with your printer and OEM ink, be sure to download the ICC profile for YOUR MAKE AND MODEL of printer. If your printer isn't listed in the download options, avoid that paper, unless you can make your own profile.

Making your own printer profiles is not hard, but it is time-consuming, boring, exacting work. By comparison, calibrating your monitor is easy.

My advice also includes this statement: "You are wasting your time in post-production if your computer monitor isn't fully calibrated and CUSTOM profiled, using a kit from X-RITE or DataColor." Using a good monitor with and accurate profile, and matching the printer, inks, and paper profile to the paper you print will yield very realistic, "what you saw on the monitor is what you get on paper" prints. (Well, they'll be a very close match, anyway).

Steamboat

Try Red River Paper they have great videos and wonderful customer service. And are very willing to help you learn.
Use the manufactures ink and the rule is that ICC profile follows the paper.
http://www.redrivercatalog.com/

Can we assume you are printing using Photoshop or Lightroom? ......where you can add an ICC profile?

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

I use lower cost paper for printing my perfect photos... ooops... once printed and stuck on the wall for a week they mutate and have a problem here and there... evenutally I bring out the good paper.

In one UHH thread a fellow was claiming the only printed huge photos to hang on his wall 2' x 3' ... ridiculous for the home unless you live in a huge one. And the viewing distance.. well!! nuf said

My 8x10 are actually smaller than 8x10, 1/2" add at each side as mirror image gallery wrap. The "wood" is floor laminate with the lock edges sawed off. Masonite or 1/4" ply wood warps easily... not the laminate.. like a rock. place with spray glue in a gig/fixture. Away from the wall with three 3/4" cubes from ebay. Gives them a 3D look standing out from the wall.

lsupremo Loc: Palm Desert, CA

Great idea,

Thanks, Frank

jlsphoto Loc: Chcago SubBurbs

Every one who has replied has great information. The purpose of a printer profile is to get the best color balance from the paper and printer ink set. Each paper responds differently to the printer. To take advantage of the printer profile you must use software allows you to set the printer profile for your printer. Both Epson and Canon come with profiles for their papers. You can also download these from their web sites. Much was said about Red River Paper and I very much agree with all the comments. I use a Cannon Pro 100 printer and use several surfaces of Red River Paper. My personal opinion and experience is they one of the best papers on the market. Their web site also has fantastic information on printing, and using printer profiles. As mentioned by others you can download their profiles to match the paper and printer you are using. Take some time look over the information on profiles and printers on their site. Even if use a different brand the instructions will help you in learning how to set your software and printers up for printing

Keep in mind your camera, graphics card, monitor and printer each have their own interoperation of what color should look like. That is where the calibration and icc. printer profiles come in. These allow all devices to see color the same.

The goal of all the following steps is to get your prints to match your monitor as close as possible. These are the steps I follow...
1. Calibrate your monitor. http://www.xrite.com/categories/calibration-profiling/colormunki-family or http://www.datacolor.com/photography-design/solutions/display-calibration/ make great devices to calibrate with.
2. In the software you are going to printer profile to the profile for your paper and printer combination. The example I give below is for Photoshop CC
a. from the file menu select print
b. this will bring up the printer set up dialog box.
c. click on the printer set up button. Here you will set the paper size, type, and quality setting. Look on red rivers paper web site. you will find examples and how to set these for your printer with their paper. You also need to turn off the printers control of the color. Again there instructions on the Red River web site.
d. you need to change the color handling from printer manages color to photo shop manages color.
e. the next box is where you set the printer profile to the one you downloaded and installed.

This seems like a lot of work but once you learn it is very easy. You will get prints that match your monitor. I truly feel monitor calibration is a must if you are going to produce high quality prints. Good luck in your photographic journey.

VernzPix

I'm a firm believer and advent user of OEM products because a manufacturer of quality products will only make, design and provide item's that will ensure quality results. You will be paying more and get the results you paid for. Non OEM or 3rd party products could save you money but could be damaging or result in poor quality; ink clogging of print heads, fading colors from inferior inks, paper jams or smearing from poor quality photo papers. Brand name products exists because of quality and demand.

jlsphoto Loc: Chcago SubBurbs

I fully agree with you on ink for the printers. As far as paper goes there is a lot more choices, sizes, and quality to choose from with aftermarket 3rd parties.