Burkard01 Loc: SW Michigan, USA

I've tried printing pictures from lightroom to my Cannon printer, and they come out with a lot more red to them than they appear on the screen while I adjust them. There must be an easy fix for this because I never had problems with my last printer (an Epson). I've had this printer for a while, just recently started using iot to print pics. Is there a calibration I can do for the computer? Or for the printer?

Attached is the picture I tried to print.

My kids

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

What you see on screen and what you print have to be matched through calibration. If you have never calibrated your monitor, then you will adjust images based on false information, and when your printer prints out something, you will see what it actually looks like.

There are more knowledgeable people here on the 'hog who can help you, but I don't print at home so I can't tell you more than that.

EstherP

I'm not familiar with many photo editing programs, I use PSE 11. One of the statements I regularly see in response to questions such as yours, is to make sure that your programs controls the colours and printing, and NOT the printer or even worse, both progrgram and printer.
You'll need to check the documentation for your program and/or printer to find how this is done, or post another message here saying what program and which printer model you use so that someone who has the same, can tell you.
EstherP

DaveMM Loc: Port Elizabeth, South Africa

If the picture you posted is the file you tried to print, not a scan of the print, then it has far too much red in it on my monitor. Although I only use a software calibration device, most downloaded pictures look right for colour on it.

I would suggest that it is your monitor at fault here.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

I use Canon for my photo printers, always, years ago when I tried Elements I had so much trouble I switched to Canon's Easy Photo Print for printing, no more problems, easy answer use Easy Photo Print, comes with Canon products, Bob.

mtnredhed Loc: The part of NorCal that doesn't move

My experience is that displays get far more out of whack than printers. Your biggest gain will (likely) be getting your monitor calibrated.

Look at the x-rite Color Munki Display. I picked mine up with a rebate from x-rite from B&H. They have an easy to use "wizard" and takes about 5-7 minutes to nail down everything.

At the least, look into http://www.calibrize.com for a free software solution. Having said that, it depends on you getting the screen brightness and contrast close to right before you start.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

As a dedicated Canon printer user, I'd suggest double checking a few things that might result in easy fix. First, are you using other than Canon paper (left over Epson paper for example)? If so, set your editing software to manage color, and then select the paper profile for the paper you are using. If you are using a third party paper by a manufacturer such as Moab, be sure to download and use the ICC profiles for their paper and your particular printer. Most of the better paper suppliers will have those profiles and instructions on how to use them readily available on their web sites.

If you are using Canon papers, remember to go select the correct paper type in the Media Type drop down menu in the print dialog box. A lot of times the problem you are having is simply due to having settings that are telling the printer you are using a different paper than you actually are. And yes that can make that much of a difference in the print color. Even if you are using a Canon paper, set your software to manage color and select the paper profile for that paper. Using the profile for a specific paper will be better than using the generic default profile for the printer alone.

If that doesn't help, or if you are doing these things already, the most likely culprit is that your monitor is not properly calibrated, as others have already suggested, and you will need to correct that. MOST of the time, poor calibration is the problem.

HarryBinNC Loc: Blue Ridge Mtns, No.Carolina, USA

I am looking at your photo on a calibrated monitor, and agree with Dave - you need a calibrated display - your image has too much red in it.

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

Jim, and Burkard01,

There is one more place to look before spending a lot of time and money in calibration software.

Check your "Color Space" settings for your image editing software, monitor, and printer, and finally any settings in your video card User Interface. You need to have one standard color space selected; the choices are sRGB, and AdobeRGB.

Cross selecting between the two above will cause chroma shift, luminance shift, and in some cases tint shift.

Michael G

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Good catch.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I agree, the color is way off on the image you posted here so it's no wonder why it printed poorly. Make sure you are working in sRGB color space when posting your images.

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

I will take an educated guess that your monitor is at fault. It is highly red on mine and if it coms out redder than that I would be surprised.
having said thatI have a Canon printer and often have differences.

FilmFanatic Loc: Waikato, New Zealand

Same here on my calibrated monitor. Wow that is red!

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

I use a Canon IX6550 A3 printer and epsom sx425w a4 printer. had a problem with PSE 8 printing odd colours and often quite dark. also difficult to size to paper using pse. Borrowed a Spyder monitor calibrater and it made no difference.(that could have been me) Used the cannon/epsom software to print and most problems dissapeared. I find that using srgb (not adobe) looks better for my needs. I also have a batch of cheap glossy paper to run "trials" of post processed pictures before printing on decent paper.(on A3 it saves finding out half way that a nozzle is blocked or ink low notifications.) that way spots,errors and extra processing can be adjusted when looking at the prints in daylight!!!. I use cartridge world inks (non generic) and keep promising myself that the cost savings will go towards fancy paper, but it usually goes to the wife instead. Had a few winning prints at competition and less " adverse print comments" so its not BAD advice to try....and costs little time and effort as a beginning.

greymule Loc: Colorado

Calibrate your monitor with a calibration tool, such as i1Display so you are sure your monitor is displaying correctly.

Find out what the printing profile is, then set your monitor to that profile.

Then adjust your images to your eye. They should print pretty darn exactly what you see.