[Abbadon74]

Hey, everyone. I've been searching through the forum, but couldn't find an answer to some of the issues I've been having lately regarding color calibration-Namely, what works?
I'm currently using Photoshop 6 on a G4, printing through an Epson c80. I understand that paper has a great deal to do with the final product. However, I'm printing on Kodak premium picture paper. Typically, when I want to print an image, I spend hours trying to get the colors to match. I've gone through the standard mac color matching process, but that hasn't really helped as much as I would have liked, though it did supposedly calibrate my monitor's colors.

So my question is this: Does anyone have a color calibration solution that works for them? I'd be very interested to learn how other artists handle this issue, or if any of you have advice to help shorten the process.

Thanks for your time, and keep pushing the limits

[nautilus]

Hi,
Depends on what you mean by color calibration. Normally it is used to to coordinate colors between various inputs(scanner, etc.) and the output printer RIP, which creates an approximation in CMYK.. With a normal DTPrinter color correction can also only be achieved up to a certain point, as the inks used by various manufacturers are not standardized as to color(Canons Magenta is not the same color as HP's Magenta, etc.). But the main problem is in trying to approximate a screen color, which is of necessity RGB(visible light ) with a color produced by a pigment on a medium(paper) which also has its own color temperature which then influences the result (warmer or colder). The essence of all this hot air is: Try to get as close as you can by experimenting with various papers and then let it go, because screen colors and paper colors are never going to math exactly.

Happy Printing

[B0b]

Abbadon74, i was swayed by the darkside and bought some Kodak paper not too long ago, and used it for a while (was going very cheap in PC *cough* world) it took a long time to dry properly, it was too glossy and some prints smudged while coming out of the printer, because of the coating Kodak put on the paper it left the little roller marks in solids etc.. i've now seen the errors in my way and switched back to epson paper (they don't lie when they say its better to use a manufacturers paper with the printer)

also look at the settings on your monitor, do you have the right gamma correction running on your OS, is your monitor brightness too high etc,

Epson's own colour correction works quite well.. (use photo enhance if your prining images) took me bout 1/2 my ink from when i bought my C70 to get the colours right when printing.. (i now have them saved as custom settings so i can call them up @ a click of my mouse)

if your monitor is calibrated correctly when you go to Offset Lytho your work should come out correct first time when you get your colour proof..

[Abbadon74]

Bob,

Thanks for the input. Actually, I think I'll take your advice and make buying Epson paper the first thing I do. I also noticed the track marks, and the fact that it didn't dry for days. Next, do you mind giving me some more input on Photo Enhance? Is this software that came with the Epson? I'm sorry, but I'm also unfamiliar with Offset Lytho. Any information you can offer would be greatly appreciated. In terms of gamma correction, I've run that program multiple times to "guarantee" the monitor was properly calibrated. Trust me, I too have gone through a large amount of ink. Actually, this also raises another important question, do you have any suggestions on ink?

In any case, thanks very much for your help and input

[B0b]

i always buy Epson Ink Carts

the software enhance is under your print properties for the epson, its been a few months since i used a Mac so i'll have to grab a mac 2nite and have a look sorry, i'll post 2moro when i have some answers