Message
Re: [colorvision_group] PrintFIX Pro readings too dark?
2006-04-26 by CDTobie@aol.com
In a message dated 4/26/06 10:24:51 AM, martin@... writes:
Then I calibrated my printer (Magicolor 2300 DL Color Laser) and I
noticed the following: the readings from the Colormouse all seem to be
too dark and less saturated than the printed targets (225 patches).
Even the white calibration at the beginning of the process leads to a
noticably gray result, and also the white patch of the target is read
as gray, although it actually is white on the paper (because nothing
is printed on it).
My question: is this normal? It seems to me as if white should be read
as white, not as gray. This way all other patches would be much closer
to the actual printout as well. Strange...
White, in Lab terms, would be perfect white, one that no paper can reach, or if it did, it would be via adding so many artificial whiteners that it would be impossible to work with. So yes, paper white should read a light gray.
After calibration, the test printouts were much too bright and had a
red hue. So I read the patch target again and the second time, it
produced a better profile, however the gray ramp seems to show red,
green and purple discolorizations in some areas.
Is this all normal or am I doing something wrong here?
Not normal, but given that you are using a color laser, its a bit tricky to discuss workflows... since color lasers are a bit of a mystery, and a practical, profilable workflow is usually determined by trial and error with them.
The fact that the same process led to two differing results is less likely to be an artifact of the spectro, or the PrintFIX PRO software, than of printing workflow, and profile usage workflow. Once you figure out how to get your laser in a stable and profilable state, you should find that reprofiling makes little visible difference (unless the weather has changed since your last profile).
C. David Tobie
Product Technology Manager
ColorVision Business Unit
Datacolor Inc.
CDTobie@...
www.colorvision.com