understanding COLOUR MANAGEMENT and PRINTING.....

[big pix]

http://tech.epson.com.au/downloads/prod ... rch+%3E%3E

this is on the Epson Web Site and explains colour management with printing, well worth the read, as I have been using this method for over 12 months and getting very good results. I must also add that my systems and stock are also profiled and checked each month.......

[NikonUser]

Thanks very much for that... looks good.

I will definately give that a go soon.

... a little OT: I understand the concept of calibration and have read a little about it... but one thing I don't understand.... Do you need to calibrate BOTH your monitor and printer? Do hardware such as the Spyder2Pro do both or do you need two seperate things?

Thanks
Paul

[MattC]

Paul,

Both monitor and printer DO need to be calibrated for best results. The Spyder2Pro is for the monitor only.
There is budget printer calibration gear out there, such as Colorvision PrintFix or Vuescan (which uses a flatbed scanner and an IT8 target). One thing that many of these have in common is that they are scanner based solutions, which introduce problems of their own, so are generally not recommended. The recommended route is a proper hardware colorimeter with software. Unfortunately these still cost $$$$.
The best bet for printer calibration for the average user (who is not loaded with cash) is to use an online service. What this involves is printing their test swatches according to their instructions, mailing them in, and recieving the profiles in your email inbox. This needs to be done for each paper type used in the printer.
One such service recommended in this forum a while back is http://www.cathysprofiles.com

Cheers