monitor and printer calibration

Okay so I got my Spyder2 Suite in the mail the other day. My question is how the heck to you get the printer profiles correct?? It appears that the printfix program requires you to just print it out and compare it to your monitor. however how can I see the picture and adjust the setting for the printer?? Anyone use this with success?? Do I just have to create a new monitor profile when I am going to print???

Hi taylo124,
I just asked that very same question about 2 weeks ago. If you root around in this PP forum you will find your answers.

Here's a good start;
http://forums.photographyreview.com/...ad.php?t=51804

http://forums.photographyreview.com/...ad.php?t=52223

hth

Thanks Singletracklovr, but I have read those threads and still haven't found my answers. I think I may head over to datacolor's site to figure out how to adjust my settings so that I can create a printer profile. would be easier I think to be able to print a document and eyeball the document vs what is on the screen and make adjustments onscreen (to printer profile) while being able to still see said image.

Hi there. I was kind of hoping that someone else would jump in here, because it's been about three years since I've done this. But, since nobody else has volunteered..........

First, let's review the process, because I think there may be some confusion. You don't adjust the settings of the printer- ever. The printer prints the colors that the printer prints. What you do is define for your image processor ( ie Photoshop, et al) the exact colors that your printer is using, and get your monitor to display those color correctly. In other words, you adjust Photoshop to suit the printer, not the other way around.

Secondly, the printer profile will only be reliable so long as the ink and paper remain consistent. That means that you will need to print the test pattern on whatever photo paper you intend to use. If you intend to use more than one kind of paper, then a separate printer profile will be necessary for each. The same is true for the ink: If you change brands, you'll need to redo the printer profile.

This is where become a lot more general, as I work from (relatively distant) memory. The software allows you to choose your level of accuracy (and anguish) by choosing the sophistication of the test pattern. Once printed, plug in your spectrometer and set the test pattern on the desk in a comfortable position. When you start the calibration, the software will display a color on the the test sheet, and you will move the spectrometer to the corresponding square on the test print. The movements as you transition from square to square will be slow and deliberate. This is where all comparisons are taking place. The software is looking at the color it is displaying, and re-defining it to match the color you're telling it to read. If you make a mistake, you can use the arrow keys to force the sofware to go back and re-read the color.

The software does this for every section of the test print. When it's done, it will create a file with an .icc extension. This file contains the color definitions of your printer. It is your printer profile. Now you need to figure out where to put this file so that your image processor can find it. If you happen to have a Mac, the files are all kept in the same folder, so all you have to do is search for files with an .icc extension, note the folder, and place your in it. I can't help you if you have Windows, but it shouldn't be much more difficult.

Now, when you open an image in Photoshop (Photoshop is my editor) you can go to Edit> Convert to Profile. Your printer profile should be in the drop-down list. Click on it, and click OK. Just like that, Photoshop is now using your printer's defined colors. If you've calibrated your monitor, then you also know that it is displaying those colors as true as possible. So now, what you see on the screen is what you get in the print.

Hope this helps some,

- Joe U.

okay, I pretty much understand what you have posted, problem is that I have the plus version. the only spectrometer that I have is for the monitor only as far as I know.

That's the one you use.

- Joe U.

I will give it a try. Thanks

Okay I am trying to do that, however there is no place for me to start using the measureing device as it is the printfix plus version that comes with suite.

I tried launching my app today, only to get a fatal error just past the second screen.

I really don't recall the process for getting the function up and running, it's just been too long. One thing though that I do recall was that I didn't use it very long, as I found that downloading Costco's icc printer profiles not only gave me more accurate color, but allowed me to make prints cheaper than I could make them at home.

Perhaps PrintFix Plus' help screens can provide you with more help.

- Joe U.