Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Tom Maugham"
<Thomas@...> wrote:
>

> You don't say what your platform is (PC or Apple) nor your version
of PS nor
> your printer make and model. I use a PC (home built), PS2, and an
Epson 1280
> and get excellent prints that match the image on my screen for both
color
> and density. >>>>

Duh..my bad. I'm using a PC and PS7.0 and a 1280. I also have an R1800
but I'm taking it back to Comp USA. It just drove me crazy and the
bronzing (even with the spray) was just too disturbing.

My monitor was used when it was givne to me. I don't know it's
history. NEC Multisync FP 1355.

By the way my proof setup is "working CMYK."
I am printing both color and BW. I do in fact switch to BO when
printing BW.

The color settings are set as follows:

I'm sure the following makes sense to most of you but it is chinese to me.

Custom
RGB  SRGB IEc61966-21
CMYK US WEB COATED (SWOP) V2
GRAY GAMMA 2.2
SPOT: DOT GAIN 20%
RGB, CMYK, GRAY...ALL "OFF"


I thank you all for your responses. One of my problems here is not
unlike the problems I have with my music. I have played on Grammy
Winning Cd's and I have several Cd's of my own music that I've
released over the years on several different labels.
I am a gifted composer and instrumentalist but I'm not a great
recording engineer. I end up, like most musicians, having to hire an
engineer to do the final mix. I'm just not a tech guy with music or
photography but I don't want to farm out my prints

 With photography I am blessed with an eye for great imagery but I
struggle on the technical side of printing. I just get the image set
to where it looks right and print the damn thing. Sometimes it's
WISIWIG but other times it's not even close.

 Folks like our brilliant friend Paul and many others of this group
might share my opinion of my imagery but will find the many of the
prints themselves woefully lacking.

I just want it to be easy. I want something that will show an image on
the monitor that actually represents what I have and a print process
that will match that.

I'm exhibiting with increasingly greater success and I plan to start
being more aggressive in that vein. I just waste too much time and
money on failed prints. I know it's not a "one button" world but it
has to be easier than it has been to date. I suppose Calibration is a
neccessity but my NEC 21" CRT monitor was given to me so I don't know
how old it is. That is why I'm considering the 21" LCD from Costco. (I
understand they also have a fairly liberal return policy on monitors.)

I guess I have to breakdown and get the Spyder Pro. Spyder 2 isn't
good enough? Maybe not for exhibit prints eh?

I thank you all for your indulgence and support. This is a wonderful
forum and I am in awe of your group expertise.

Many thanks,

Tim












 You MUST do two things: Profile your monitor (and possibly
> your printer, see below) and ensure that your printer settings are
correct.
> For my monitor I use the original Colorvision Spyder which works
just fine.
> I profile once a month and before any major printing session. I have not
> profiled my printer as the generic profiles from Epson work just
fine for my
> paper/ink combo. The key (once the monitor is properly profiled) is to
> ensure that PS is determining the colors and that the printer is not
adding
> its two cents. Be sure that all printer color settings are turned
off, in
> the case of my 1280 it's selecting "no color adjustment" and
invoking the
> appropriate profile for your paper/ink combo. In my case I use the
"Epson
> Stylus Photo 1290 Premium Glossy Photo Paper" profile which, as I said,
> works just fine.
> 
>  
> 
> If you want more detail with regard to proper printer settings
contact me
> off-list, Thomas@...
> 
>  
> 
> Good luck!
> 
>  
> 
> Tom Maugham
> 
>  
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Tim
> Timmermans
> Sent: Saturday, March 10, 2007 3:47 PM
> To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Digital BW] It's soooo frustrating
> 
>  
> 
> I spend loads of time in PS making the image look just the way I want
> but when I print it, it's up to 30% lighter than what I see on screen.
> So I adjust the screen image to be 30% darker and it looks lousy on
> the screen but it's "closer" to what I wanted on the print. Still I
> feel I'm losing something doing it this way. I also have no idea what
> people are seeing on their monitors when I email them a sample image.
> (no complaints to date but it concerns me.)
> 
> At the moment I just don't have the funds for an expensive calibration
> software. Anyone have experience with the cheaper Spyder
> version.."Spyder 2" I think it's called. Are there any other options
> out there?
> 
> Any response would be most welcome as I have a show coming up next
> month and I'm at wits ends.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Tim
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>