Photo Impact 11 and color managment

[ggrussell]

I have always been really frustrated with printing images. I finally decided to do something. I purchased Colorvision PrintFix Pro 2 which I haven't received yet. It includes hardware and software to calibrate the monitor and printer.

Now my question is.... once both are calibrated, how do I use the ICC files created to get great prints from PI 11? I know it should be simple, but I don't want to waste a lot of time or paper. TIA

I know that I should make the created ICC files the default for each device in Windows. Just how does PI 11 use this info? What choices in PI 11 color management should I use, etc.??

Should color management be turned on in PI 11 and the printer driver?

[heinz-oz]

No, you should not use any of the color management features of PI, turn it off in preferences. The problem that you are facing is not a fault of PI. It's because your monitor shows you colors that are not identical to the real colors.

I use ColorVision Spyder2 and the monitor profile is loaded when I start up the machine. My printed color looks pretty much the way I see it on the monitor. If you are using print profiles only, you are guessing again until you print but the printer should use your profile, not PI.

[ggrussell]

Then what is purpose of color management in PI? Why even have it?

You can delete that other post. Accidentally hit the wrong button.

[Ron P.]

Other thread has been deleted per request..

[heinz-oz]

You can use it to manually adjust color correction. Not very effective but better than nothing. If you activate it though, it will interfere with other measures taken.

[ggrussell]

You can use it to manually adjust color correction.

As an example, I scan some really old color photos from 1950 that are faded and discolored. So do I use color management or not when color correcting for printing? I find all this mind numbing. Other products seem to be designed to specifically work with ICCs. I'm a long time Photo Impact user and would hate to learn a new app just so I can get better prints.

[heinz-oz]

You are mixing up things. If you use color management to correct color in your scanned images, you are going to stuff up the whole balance. Color correction should only be used to correct monitor/print differences. If the scanned color is no good, it will print no good while, because of the color management steps taken, it may look better on the monitor.

Color management is used to correct color differences between the original/monitor/print appearances. Usually, because of the paper profiles used by modern printers, the printed image will look pretty much like the original, regardless of color management steps taken. If you change the printer profile though or use the wrong one for the paper you are using, there will be differences. Monitor profiles (ICC) are used to properly calibrate your monitor to show the correct color. It has no influence on the printed image.

If the image needs improvement, do that within PI. Again, to be able to judge whether or not your image modifications are going to give you the look you want, your monitor needs to be properly calibrated.

I hope this makes sense. Did you read the link from my previous post?

[ggrussell]

I've been reading stuff on color management for weeks and can't seem to get a simple answer. I didn't say I was using color management to correct a a image. I know that it can't do that. I've been posting at a forum support by Colorvision - makers of PrintFix Pro. I get the same run around and no answers.

I understand WHY and HOW colors are displayed different between CRT/LCD and printers. I can even understand the difference in paper stock base colors. What doesn't make sense is turning it off to get a good print.

As a test, I completely removed ALL ICCs from the monitor profile and the printer. Ran PI 11 and loaded a test JPG from digitaldog.net. Then printed. The best results I've ever gotten - period. With no color management at all. No paper ICCs. No monitor ICC. No calibrated monitor. Great print with only one exception. The Cyan ramp was off color just a little, but not so bad that it affected the other colors much.

I may end up just sending PrintFix pro back. I'm not convinced that color management really works.

[heinz-oz]

I have always been really frustrated with printing images. I finally decided to do something. I purchased Colorvision PrintFix Pro 2 which I haven't received yet. It includes hardware and software to calibrate the monitor and printer.

Now my question is.... once both are calibrated, how do I use the ICC files created to get great prints from PI 11? I know it should be simple, but I don't want to waste a lot of time or paper. TIA

You will find that the software automatically loads the ICC profiles where needed

I know that I should make the created ICC files the default for each device in Windows. Just how does PI 11 use this info? What choices in PI 11 color management should I use, etc.??

PI doesn't do anything with it neither does it have to. Turn the color management in PI off since it would undo the effects of your loaded profiles.

Should color management be turned on in PI 11 and the printer driver?

Your software will turn it on for your monitor and your printer. That's all that's needed really.

[ggrussell]

If users are to 'turn off' color management in PI, then why is there? Not trying to be contrary, but really trying to understand all this.

I have read tons of stuff online, but most of it refers to PhotoShop CS (not even PS Elements is mentioned). One thing that has proven correct. Many articles state that most people have their monitor set too 'cool' and that after calibrating, the display would be 'warmer'.

I got the PrintFix Pro this after noon. After going through the monitor calibration quickly, I was SHOCKED at how much warmer. LOL Of course, this was a learning session and I will go through the steps several times before I stop messing with it.

There are updates for the software so I'll spend more time with this over the weekend.

[ggrussell]

I think I'm finally getting a grasp on 'color management'. It's appears to be something that the OS tries to accomplish 'automatically'. What I'm doing is total manual over-ride. So I need to completely turn it off everywhere.

I think I finally figured out HOW to use these custom ICCs for printing. Click print preview. First click printer properties and TURN OFF all color management. Under copies, click color printer options and select adjust color printer settings. This is a misnomer and SHOULD be titled 'Select Custom ICC' because that is what you get - a list of printer ICCs!!! I select my ICC created by PrintFix Pro and get a print that as close to perfect as I ever have.