fensnapper Loc: Lincolnshire UK

I have an on-going frustration whereby the colours on my monitor are never replicated in print. I'm using genuine cartridges, calibrated, cleaned print heads etc. If I take my memory card to the local print shop - no problem. Any thoughts?

Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

You need to calibrate the monitor using a system such as x-rite ColorMunki Display....about $149.

ncshutterbug

I have heard a lot about the Canon Pixma. I have an inexpensive ($200) Epson Artisan 837 and am very happy with it. I print my own because I have been unhappy with several print services.

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

Do you let the printer adjust the colors or the software?

Most off colour printing comes from both being applied at the same time. If your monitor AND printer/paper/ink have been calibrated then you should let the software, with the correct profile selected, control the color. If the printer is not calibrated then use a generic profile and again let the software control color. Hope this helps.

fensnapper Loc: Lincolnshire UK

Thanks all for your responses. Tried the obvious stuff and so I'll keep experimenting

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

i think I agree with big-guy. I recently used my computer's internal monitor calibration program (not an expensive device) to tweak the laptop's screen and last night bought my first package of premium paper to try out. I went to the website to get the ICC profile and my printer wasn't mentioned (too old or not good enough) but it did offer specific generic settings to set up my printer with. The results of my first pic (whales bubblenet feeding on my trip to AK) seemed to be rather accurate.

Twardlow Loc: Arkansas

Read up on color gamut...could be the issue.

Sheila Loc: Arizona or New York

To get accurate and repeatable colors, you need to profile your monitor and be able to control the colors for a particular paper with your printer. You might look into using something like Color Munkie to profile monitor and Color Passport, a card with colors on it that you photograph for given light sources.

All of this is not as complicated as it sounds and there is information on XRite, B&H on the use and purpose of these products and you need appropiate equipment.

All of this might not be in your budget or you may feel is is too much for you to do at this point. If you consistently use the same location to print your photos, and get to know some of the people who work there you can find out a lot about the equipment they use and the level of skill they have. I frequently use the same Walgreen store and get my photos processed when certain people are working. I also ask that they do not do any adjustments when they are processing. That way I can better adjust my file to give me better results on their equipment. Costco provides this option when you enter your files. Different stores use different brands of paper to print on and there will be differences if you choose matte finish. You can get much better results if you are aware of these differences. Don't hesitate to check everything before you leave the store and ask them to do it over if you are dissatisfied with their processing.

fensnapper Loc: Lincolnshire UK

As always UHH throws up great advice. Thanks all. I'll start experimenting today

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

Do any of the premium paper companies sell sample packs?

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

Monitor calibration is typically the problem when prints don't look right. Too much red on your screen means you edit to have less red. Print it and the print lacks red because the monitor had too much red. Monitor too bright, you edit the photo to be less bright. You print it and it's dark because the monitor was too bright. Etc. The local print shop is probably auto-correcting your files to resolve the lack of calibration so you can't actually use that as a standard of what is or what isn't.

fensnapper Loc: Lincolnshire UK

Thanks, still experimenting with settings!