TomHackett Loc: Kingston, New York

I have a color managed and calibrated monitor, and I use paper manufacturers' ICC profiles to soft proof in Photoshop. A few days ago, something happened to my printer, and the printed output no longer resembles the soft proofed copy on my monitor.

I could just replace the printer (it's about 15 years old). But a friend suggested creating my own profiles using a system that prints a color chart along with a colorimeter that reads the chart, resulting in a profile customized to the paper and printer.

I've seen systems that do this for upwards of $2,500. That's way more than I'm willing to spend; it would be much cheaper just to replace the printer.

I'm looking for recommendations, based on user experience, for this kind of system at a more reasonable price.

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

The Watcher

It sounds like more one of these, a nozzle problem, or the printer and Photoshop fighting over who controls the color. It could also be you selected the wrong paper profile.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

Unless you really want a new printer, first thing to do is troubleshoot to see what changed. You can buy a new printer and still have the same problem. BTW, you didn't mention which printer. Are the colors off or just more saturated on the monitor than on the proof? How about contrast / sharpness? PS can be a bit tricky in how it manages color spaces and something might have changed in your proof setup. https://www.shutterbuggs.com/what-is-soft-proofing-in-photoshop/ Software update? Change in settings, especially with the printer preferences? Maybe selected a difference color space on your monitor. Nozzle check, ... Make sure you are using the right profile. Try re-printing the last thing you printed that came out right. Let us know.

TomHackett Loc: Kingston, New York

Thanks for the recommendation.

TomHackett Loc: Kingston, New York

Not a nozzle problem.
Photoshop is controlling the color, not the printer.
I definitely did not select the wrong paper profile.

The Watcher

If those things all check out, could it be a change in rendering intent?

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

Is your image in 16 or 8 bit?

tcthome Loc: NJ

I agree. The print should at least be somewhat close using the correct company ICC profile. (even a third party paper ICC profile)
Eg. , if you have a blue or magenta tint that doesn't show on your monitor, it most likely is a clogged nozzle. How about posting a screen shot photo & a snap shot of the print with the original box checked. Also have you tried sending it to another computer to view on a different monitor?

tcthome Loc: NJ

You did a nozzle check?

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Have you run the head cleaning, alignment, and test page routines for your printer, to be sure it's in good condition? If you have just a few clogged nozzles or one dried up cartridge, color can shift. Be sure you cannot print a perfect test page before scrapping your printer. Often, mis-settings in software are the culprit(s).

Once the HARDWARE tests okay, if your prints still look weird, then look for software setting errors. Double profiling is common. So are profile mismatches. Apply the profile ONCE, either in the software, or in the printer driver or RIP, but not in both places. DO set the driver properly for the type of paper used (glossy, matte, etc.). Be sure the image profile is being handled properly. It is possible for an image in the Adobe RGB or ProPhoto RGB color space to be tagged with an sRGB profile and then subsequently look bad on output, but that is rare.

There is usually a reference file for monitor calibration somewhere in the software for your calibration kit. I like to print that before any major printing job, just to be sure all is well with both my workflow settings for the paper, ink, and printer combination I'm using, AND the printer itself. When something goes haywire, that's the first thing I check.

Unless you're making and selling thousands of prints, having your own calibration kit that makes profiles for printers is not cost effective. If you can't get decent results with the paper manufacturers' generic profiles made for your PHOTO printer, then something is probably wrong elsewhere in your workflow.

TomHackett Loc: Kingston, New York

This post by Ysarex answered the question that I asked. The remainder of the posts are interesting, but not relevant to my situation or question.

one_eyed_pete Loc: Colonie NY

You may already know but in case you don't, there are people/places you can submit sets of standard color patches printed on your printer and paper and they will send you custom ICC profiles for a fee as low as $35 per ICC profile. You can google it JToolman provides this service on the side, referenced on his website.

TomHackett Loc: Kingston, New York

Thanks. That could be very useful.

one_eyed_pete Loc: Colonie NY

JToolman youtube videos provide an excellent source for printing knowledge. I am a member of his fb group and he also has a website. Jose is an expert in photo printers and I believe he has about 16 different models. I've downloaded standard test image files from his fb group files page to use for determining how my printers color accuracy.