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geric10
geric10
Participant
December 11, 2023
Question

Color problems printing in illustrator from newly installed computer

  • December 11, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 362 views

I have been printing from Illustrator to an HP Z5200. I have been using an alienware laptop with windows 10. Recently I purchased a new laptop and the printing preferences screen is very different and when I print, the color is not right. I checked all the settings that I could think of from the old computer to the new computer  and just can't figure out what is different other than the operating system which is now windows 11.

Any suggestions on how to correct this issue?

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    2 replies

    Brad @ Roaring Mouse
    Community Expert
    Brad @ Roaring MouseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    December 11, 2023

    In what way does the Print dialog look different?

    Did you install the correct driver? The Z5200 has three: a PS driver (best), a PCL driver, and an HGPL driver.

    Are you printing directly from Illustrator? Do you get the same results if you save as a PDF then print that? I recommend the PDF approach, personally.

    However, if printing from Illustrator, where have you been applying Color Management in the past?  Check that it's not being applied twice now. i.e. in Illustrator's Print dialog, you have the choice to let illustrator determine colors or to let the Printer do it (recommended). In your print driver, you need to set it to match. i.e if Illustrator is managing colors, select App-managed colors. If the latter, select Printer managed colors.

      B
      Community Expert
      Bobby HendersonCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 11, 2023

      The HP Z5200 is a large format printer, correct? Are you using a RIP application to run the print jobs? Or are you printing direct from Adobe Illustrator using a standard print dialog box (I don't know how that would work to be honest; so many set up options would be missing compared to using a separate RIP application).

       

      Several different variables can affect the color output. Are the color management settings for Creative Cloud applications the same on the new computer as they were on the older Alienware computer? Was anything changed with the art/image file, such as its color mode or any color profiles? The types of printing materials and the material pre-sets chosen in a RIP application will also affect output.

        geric10
        geric10Author
        Participant
        December 12, 2023
        Thank you for the response!
        First, I don't know what a RIP is.
        I print directly from Illustrator using the print dialog box that comes up.
        For some reason it's different on the new computer which is why I'm
        thinking it's the OS change that made the difference.
        My printing materials, files etc. are all the same as before. One thing I
        did notice is that in the printing preference box, on the new computer
        Application Managed color is checked and on the old computer Printer
        managed color is checked. I did try both options though so that's not it.
        I did call HP to go through it on their side with no success.
        Somewhere the color is getting changed though, so I can't print with my new
        computer until I figure that out!
        B
        Community Expert
        Bobby HendersonCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        December 12, 2023

        The term "RIP" is an acronym for "Raster Image Processor." These days the term RIP usually refers to a stand-alone software application. We can take various print-able art files, such as PDF files, load them into a queue in that application. Different pre-sets are applied to the print jobs according to what kinds of materials are being used in the printer and what kinds of quality levels are desired. The RIP software spools the print jobs out to a large format printer.

         

        In the past it was common for large format printers to have their own built-in hardware RIP. Or there would be a standalone device, almost like a mini computer, that did the RIP work. The software RIP applications (such as Onyx Thrive) have more features and capabilities. Plus if you need to replace a printer you don't necessarily have to replace your RIP application. It's kind of nice having both as separate items. But it is pretty common for large format printers to be sold with a RIP application bundled into the deal.

         

        Regarding color management in the Windows OS, I believe it is an automatic OS-wide thing in Windows 11.

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