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Chelsea33969298939l
Participant
November 30, 2023
Question

Printing Issues: Print v Photoshop

  • November 30, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 463 views

Hi!

I've been using Photoshop for years now but this is the first time I've encountered this problem. I was printing one of my files but then I realized the second one came out washed out compared to the first one. So being the usual me, I started looking into my printer settings but nothing big I just changed it to normal or vibrant. But thay didn't work so I started tweaking in the Photoshop settings: color management to converting to cymk. Now, it looks really different now... the prints. I got into a point where I read and started tweaking the color profile too and all that but nothing is working. So I went in and uninstalled the program and reinstalled. Surprisingly the old files' print previews were good but the current one I was working on and I even tried creating new files, they look so different. Please refer to the photos to better understand what I'm narrating. I hope someone can help. I tried looking it up but it's just too specific to look for one with the same issue. Thank you!

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    2 replies

    Conrad_C
    Community Expert
    Conrad_CCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 30, 2023

    Just a comment that converting to CMYK would not be expected to automatically help much. The reason to convert to CMYK would be that it is going to press, but for that conversion to be correct, it has to be converted using an ICC color profile that precisely matches the press conditions (paper+ink+press settings). A generic conversion to CMYK may not match the press.

     

    It looks like you’re not going to press, but printing on your own desktop inkjet or laser printer. That would actually be the other reason not to convert to CMYK. Although the desktop printer may use CMYK inks or toner, those do not have the same color characteristics as a generic CMYK conversion, they don’t match press inks.

     

    Desktop printers expect to receive RGB data, and they will use their own printer driver software to convert it using the appropriate color formula to reproduce the closest available color values using the inks or toner that their printer uses.

     

    So if I was troubleshooting this, first I would leave the document in RGB mode, especially if that’s how it started out and printed OK before. Then, if I’m sure all of the settings are correct in both the printer driver software and in the Photoshop Print dialog box, because it printed OK before but seems “washed out” now I would first run the printer’s test page to see if, for example, there is a blocked inkjet nozzle that needs to be cleared, if magenta toner is running low, etc.

    josantgomez
    josantgomez
    Legend
    November 30, 2023

    Me llama la atención que la primera impresión parece que la das por buena. Eso significa que coincidía con el monitor, ¿no? Por tanto, presumo que monitor e impresora están calibrados para producir el mismo resultado en el monitor para el perfil creado para la impresora. ¿Cambiarla de normal a brillante? ¿Quieres quizá decir pasar de mate a satinado? ¿El papel era igual para ambas impresiones? Cuando dices que cambiaste el perfil de color ¿te refieres a Photoshop? Lo que sale en las fotos son impresiones o reproducciones del monitor. Parece cambiar también el color o tono de la interfaz de Photoshop. Pero eso puede deberse también a las fotos, si eso es lo que adjuntas. 

      C
      Chelsea33969298939lAuthor
      Participant
      November 30, 2023

      My first issue was 2 different printed outcomes: one exactly shown in the monitor while other one was less vibrant (see photo attached). Now as I'm trying to find a way to reproduce the first print (same as monitor), the third print outcome happened (see photo). I believe what I did to achieve this was to convert to cmyk because I thought maybe that would lead me to the first print I wanted...but no. So now I'm stuck with the third type of print even when I made a new file and probably the future ones if I won't be able to fix it.

       

      Yes, the color profile on Photoshop. I tried looking up solutions online and applied it hoping it'll fix the problem.

       

      The color shown on Photoshop is the desired result but when I print it, as seen on the print preview, it's different. All I want is for it to go back as it was before where the colors I see on screen will be the same when I print it. Idk if the problem is with Photoshop or the printer settings.

       

      Hope this helps. Thank you!

      chrisg11235813
      chrisg11235813
      Participating Frequently
      November 30, 2023

      seeing the incorrect colour in the print dialogue makes me think the setting is with the printer.

      Even if you haven't changed anything on purpose, some setting might have switched, ie paper, or quality.
      Double check settings, if you are unsure what the settings were, change the settings to see, maybe there is a better option.

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