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chriso84972911
chriso84972911
Participant
December 1, 2016
Answered

PS Print Dialog Box: Intent settings

  • December 1, 2016
  • 1 reply
  • 1693 views

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to ask a question in relation to the Intent options in PS Print Dialog Box.

If you have saved a file to print at a later date, which has been converted to a specific paper's colour profile space (using a specific printer and ink set), you've obviously chosen a specific intent to make that conversion.

So, when you do decide to print, will the choice of Perceptual or Relative Intent that's in PS Print Dialog box have any affect on the print that's produced? Or since the conversion has already taken place, does it not effect the final outcome?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer NB, colourmanagement

    Hi Chris

    I am pleased that my reply helped you, any chance you could mark the question as "correct answer"? Perhaps after doing your test should you prefer that.

    When questions on this forum appear as "answered" that helps others who may have similar issues see the thread as worthwhile, should they want to know (in this case) more about Photoshop's Print Settings dialog and ICC profile to ICC profile conversions.

    I think he was right to softproof his image before bringing it for printing, and even to convert to do that thoroughly - as, sometimes, post conversion the file can look a little different to the softproofed version. But I definitely recommend first making a temporary "duplicate" of the original, then converting that to the relevant output colourspace (using the relevant profile) and perhaps then viewing this converted file alongside the RGB original, next delete the duplicate and print the orignal file via Photoshop as normal.

    It would be great to hear the result of your testing the process I described.

    Thorough tests are always good to know about.

    have a good week/end Chris

    If this helps please do mark my reply as "correct answer" so others who have similar issues can see the solution

    thanks

    neil barstow, colourmanagement.net

    1 reply

    NB, colourmanagement
    Community Expert
    NB, colourmanagementCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 1, 2016

    Hi Chris

    Thanks for the question.

    I am not sure why you'd want to pre-convert your files to the "output / printer" profile ahead of time?

    You'd really be best to leave that conversion to be done in the background at the time of printing each time you print.

    [why? you might get a new printer, or change paper, in which case those pre converted files would likely be worthless.]

    Best approach is to archive an RGB full gamut file for future use.  maybe you're doing that anyway, if so, great.

    Back to your original question:

    So you've pre - converted a Photoshop file to the ICC profile of (probably an inkjet) printer.

    During that original conversion is when the rendering intent (and the black point compensation option) controls the conversion parameters such as compression etc.

    Now you come to print, on the exact same printer and paper, I presume? In this case (as you realise) no profile conversion is needed.

    Might I please ask, though - how do you set the "Photoshop's print settings" dialog?

    [in the old days with a pre-converted file, you'd have selected "no color adjustment" but that option was removed some time ago]

    In "color handling" do you select "Photoshop manages color"?

    I guess so, but in that case what is your selected printer profile?

    IF you are choosing the printer's ICC profile here (the exact same one as used in the original conversion - as you should) then what you'll get is a "null" ICC conversion. Even so, I feel it's worth setting the rendering intent (and black point compensation option) the same as they were in the original conversion just in case. Theory is fine but practice is the way is to reproduce your settings or make a test.

    In cases like this my approach is to do a test. It's the only way to be sure.

    For testing, I recommend you use a "standard" test image - ideally with a composite of images so it's a good test of output.

    [you can download mine here downloads | colourmanagement.net  you want the Adobe RGB version]

    now 1:

    print just as I described above:

    "color handling"  = "Photoshop manages color"

    "printer profile", the ICC profile is set to the exact same one that you used in the original conversion

    "rendering intent" AND "black point compensation" set the same as they were in the original conversion

    make a print

    2:

    print as I described above,

    "color handling"  = "Photoshop manages color"

    "printer profile", the ICC profile is set to the exact same one that you used in the original conversion

    "rendering intent" AND "black point compensation" set differently to the way they were set in the original conversion

    make a print

    compare the prints

    are they the same?

    if so try "black point compensation" the other way and see what happens?

    I hope this helps

    if so, please do mark my reply as "helpful" and if you're OK now, as "correct answer" so others who have similar issues can see the solution

    thanks

    neil barstow, colourmanagement.net

    chriso84972911
    chriso84972911Author
    Participant
    December 1, 2016

    Thanks for that detailed response Neil.

    The question actually came from a student i was teaching, who had converted and saved in PS after soft-proofing with the appropriate profile and rendering intent before bringing it into college. Once here, he was using an Epson 3880 via PS and raised the question.

    My response was to select 'Absolute', since this is basically 'print as-is'...but after consulting a couple of people, i think even if it did try to re-convert with 'Perceptual', it shouldn't matter as all colours are in-gamut (the printers gamut) so nothing would be done.

    But when i get a chance, i will try a test just to confirm my suspicions.

    Best

    Chris

    NB, colourmanagement
    Community Expert
    NB, colourmanagementCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    December 1, 2016

    Hi Chris

    I am pleased that my reply helped you, any chance you could mark the question as "correct answer"? Perhaps after doing your test should you prefer that.

    When questions on this forum appear as "answered" that helps others who may have similar issues see the thread as worthwhile, should they want to know (in this case) more about Photoshop's Print Settings dialog and ICC profile to ICC profile conversions.

    I think he was right to softproof his image before bringing it for printing, and even to convert to do that thoroughly - as, sometimes, post conversion the file can look a little different to the softproofed version. But I definitely recommend first making a temporary "duplicate" of the original, then converting that to the relevant output colourspace (using the relevant profile) and perhaps then viewing this converted file alongside the RGB original, next delete the duplicate and print the orignal file via Photoshop as normal.

    It would be great to hear the result of your testing the process I described.

    Thorough tests are always good to know about.

    have a good week/end Chris

    If this helps please do mark my reply as "correct answer" so others who have similar issues can see the solution

    thanks

    neil barstow, colourmanagement.net

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