Derf Loc: Nebraska

I have been reading about these topics and am a little confused. My understanding is that you calibrate the monitor so that the colors rendered are the same as those printed. Is that correct?

When you use a printer's profile are you then just adjusting the calibration, or is there something I am missing?

If I am sending files to someplace like Mpix, how do I factor in their printer profiles?

When I think I understand how this works, I read something that doesn't seem to fit.

DigitalDon Loc: Calgary, Alberta

Yes, you are incorrect. Also you are talking about two different things. Monitor Calibration: (Most people only do this calibration). You simply set a device over your monitor which registers your RGB. From this data it adjusts your monitor to what ALL adjusted monitors are. Hence when sending out something for printing it should be close enough. Printer Calibration: Requires an additional device with a procedure much as you stated. You would run a print, read off the print, the device would set up a print profile on your computer. Then when your printing you would select the print profile that you created. Small printers don't have this option, at least I am not familiar. For large prints you must select the proper print profiles for the paper you will be using for a specific project. Different paper, different profile. Not quite that simple!

portcragin Loc: Kirkland, WA

Look into Colormunki. You can calibrate both monitor and Printer. A little expensive but has worked well for me.

http://www.colormunki.com/

Good shooting,

rebride

Calibration is comparing one device with another. One is the standard and the other one being the 'test'.
In this case the printer the standard, the monitor the test.
When you just 'calibrate' a monitor with a calibration tool it is calibrating to an industry standard yet it is just kind of generic.
All devices, monitors/printers/cameras, see/show the industry standard differently.
Yes you calibrate monitor to printer.

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

A monitor and printer are two different output devices. To see true color on the monitor we calibrate our monitor to accurately represent true red as true red, true blue as true blue etc. (run into your local TV store and study all the TV's in a row, each one has slightly different shades of colors) Once this is acomplished we can then make more accurate post production edits that in most cases will translate well to any printer. Over time your monitor will slightly shift colors so you will need to recalibrate every so often. Most very high end print shops calibrate every day.

BUT, the printed result will only be an approximation of true color. If you really want true color on your prints then you will need to calibrate your printer for each given paper and ink combination. In other words if using Epson High Gloss paper with Epson ink then you will end up with one ICC profile. When you change either the paper or the ink you will need to recalibrate for the new combination. Yes, this applies to getting a new ink cartridge as each batch has ever so slightly different qualities. You could end up with quite a few profiles for your printer depending on your artistic abilities and your wallet.

You will need to decide just how accurate your results must be for your taste. As stated previously most people only calibrate their monitor and are willing to accept close results from the printer. Hope this clears up any confusion.

Derf Loc: Nebraska

Thanks for the clarification. I understand calibration, I do it for a dozen instruments on a daily basis. It just wasn't clear to me how the printer/paper profiles entered in to the equation.

big-guy Loc: Peterborough Ontario Canada

Glad I could help. Have a good Christmas.