Canon Print Color Problems after 23.4.1 upgrade

[Ed Dorso]

After the Photoshop 23.4.1 upgrade, the colors are a bit off on my Canon ImagePrograf Pro-300, when printing directly from Photoshop with the Canon driver (NOT the AirPrint driver). Most colors are pretty close (but still noticeably off), but the big problem is with magenta. Anything magenta prints a dull pink. I tried all the typical printer things like nozzle cleaning, print head alignment, etc. and eventually called Canon support. They asked me to try printing the same images using Canon’s Professional Print & Layout app instead of printing directly from Photoshop. Everything works fine when using Canon’s app. I tried printing directly from Lightroom Classic, and it’s the same as Photoshop. I checked all the preferences in Photoshop to see if the 23.4.1 update changed something important, but I couldn’t see anything obvious.

I am using an M1 iMac running Monterey 12.1. It has been printing fine until the 23.4.1 update.

I prefer printing directly from Photoshop, so I’d like to figure out what’s going on here. Any thoughts or troubleshooting suggestions?

Ed

[NB, colourmanagement]

macOS Monterey Problems with printing using Photoshop manages Color?

Users have reported a bug in macOS Monterey 12.2.1 in connection with ICC profile use/printing,

[as there was with macOS Big Sur 11.6.x, fixed in 11.6.5]

It’s been reported that the macOS Monterey 12.3 update fixes the issue.

so maybe this issue is in your macOS too? 

If not you may have to reset Photoshop, I'll post that separately

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

[NB, colourmanagement]

Perhaps try resetting Photoshop preferences?

(read this entire post before acting please)

Resetting restores Photoshop's internal preferences, which are saved when Photoshop closes.

If they become corrupt then various issues can occur.

Here’s some info on how to do that:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

Manually removing preferences files is the most complete method for restoring Photoshop to its default state: 

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#Manually

The user Library folder is hidden by default on macOS.

To access files in the hidden user Library folder, see here for how to access hidden user library files.

https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/access-hidden-user-library-files.html

Unexpected behavior may indicate damaged preferences. Restoring preferences to their default settings is a good idea when trying to troubleshoot unexpected behaviors in Photoshop. check out the video

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#reset_preferences

Learn how to access and modify Photoshop preferences and customize per your frequent workflows

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

And here’s an earlier forum discussion as an aid to understanding

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/quick-tips-how-to-reset-photoshop-pre...

You may want to backup your settings and custom presets, brushes & actions before restoring Photoshop's preferences.

Here is general info about that:  https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html#BackupPhotoshoppreferences

Before you reset your preferences, in case of future issues, I suggest you make a copy as Adobe may need one to check problematic references. 

Quit Photoshop.
Go to Photoshop's Preferences folder

Preferences file locations: https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/preference-file-names-locations-photoshop.html\

  [in MacOS see: Users/[user name]/Library/Preferences/Adobe Photoshop [version] Settings

  be aware that the user Library folder is hidden by default on macOS.

  https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/access-hidden-user-library-files.html

  In the Finder, open the “Go” menu whilst holding down the Option (Alt) key.

  Library will now appear in the list - below the current user's “home” directory. ]

Now you can drag the entire Adobe Photoshop [Version] Settings folder to the desktop or somewhere safe as a back-up of your settings.

Note that on macOS:

Preference preservation is affected by macOS permissions,

you’ll need to allow Photoshop ‘Full Disk Access’ in your Mac OS Preferences/Security and Privacy

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer:: co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

[Earth Oliver]

If you're running an M1, you definitely need to upgrade your OS to 12.4.

[Ed Dorso]

Thank you Neil and Earth Oliver. SO sorry for the delayed response. The response email notifications went to my spam folder and I missed them. Neil, I am running 12.4. My bad for saying 12.1. Old typing fingers I guess. I'm working through your other list now Neil. Thanks again. Ed

[Ed Dorso]

I just wanted to post a follow up with a status on this. I reset the Preferences using the manual method, and unfortunately this did not solve the problem.

It would be great to hear from someone who has an M1 running Monterey 12.4, and stills sees good color with a Canon ImageProGraf after the Photoshop 23.4.1 update. If no takers then I guess I’ll just have to wait until the next Photoshop release and see if it magically works again. In the meantime, I can print using the Canon Professional Print & Layout app, as that works fine.

Neil and Earth Oliver, thanks again for your help!

Ed

[Ed Dorso]

Speaking of new releases, 12.4.2 just dropped, so I installed it and gave it a try to see if solved the subject print problem. Unfortunately no. So there must be something else going on with this. If I ever figure out what it is, I will post what the solution was.

Ed

[NB, colourmanagement]

Hi

Are you SURE it’s the Canon driver, do you see actual full Canon paper names in the 'media options' of print settings? 

In the macOS sys pref's - add printer dialogue of later macOS, just switching the "use" option to the printer name from Airprint isn't sufficient to banish the Gimp-Print/Gutenpring (AirPrint) driver.

I went through exactly this only yesterday with a client, [he was also getting magenta prints, but this time on an Epson]

I had to remove the printer in the macOS sys pref's - add printer dialogue,

Next

re-download the manufacturer's driver, install

and in the macOS sys pref's - add printer dialogue add it back - and under "use" set the printer name. 

Now the real media names were back and the prints accurate

oshop 

Like this example, from my own printer:

 

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer:: co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

[Ed Dorso]

Hi Neil,

Thanks again for the help. Attached is a screenshot of the profile dropdown in the print settings. Notice the full names of the Canon papers.

But it seems like there is some confusion here. There are some other threads on this board where the issue is a magenta cast (as you mentioned in your last post), but that is not my problem. The problem is that I am NOT able to print magenta directly from Photoshop with the Canon driver. The picture in the screenshot is one example. Notice the beautiful magenta rosa rugosa in the image. They print a very dull pink instead of a brilliant magenta. They DID print correctly before the 23.4.1 upgrade, and they also print correctly from the Canon PP&L app. Magenta also prints fine when I do a nozzle check on the Pro-300. Some other colors are a little muted as well, but the big problem is any magenta.

Maybe I should try reloading the Canon driver, as I have not tried that yet. Also note that I did a follow up post and installed 23.4.2, but that didn’t help. Thanks again.

Ed

[NB, colourmanagement · Accepted solution]

Hi Ed

Yes there's some confusion, but it's at your end I think:

The use of the Canon driver isn't what controls the ICC profiles available* in Photoshop's Print window [your screenshot].

[*although it's true that installing the driver software is what first installs these printer profiles in the first place] 

I was referring to the printer's driver software - where you see "MEDIA OPTIONS" [paper names].

  You are showing something different - the ICC profiles which are listed earlier in the process (in the initial Phoptosop "print" dialogue.)

You'll get to this dialogue by clicking "Print Settings" from Photoshop's "print" dialogue

This is what is shown there with an Epson driver:

 

The non-Canon [Gimp-Print/Gutenprint (AirPrint) driver] driver could cause any issue with colour, too much magenta was just an example I'd come across. 

I already suggested re-downloading and re-installing [then adding] the Canon driver and being careful NOT to select "Airprint" under "use" when adding it in macOS system Preferences / printers

Adding the printer:-

Here's macOS "Add Printer" dialogue in [System Preferences/Printers] an Epson printer set up right:

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer:: co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

[Ed Dorso]

Reinstalling the Canon driver finally solved the problem Neil. Thanks for all your help and patience!

Ed

[NB, colourmanagement]

If you're happy Ed please mark my answer as correct. It helps others see that the problem has a solution. 

neil B

[NB, colourmanagement]

" installed 23.4.2, but that didn’t help"

what is  "23.4.2"? is that a canon driver ID?

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net :: adobe forum volunteer:: co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

[Ed Dorso]

Hi Neil,

The 23.4.2 is the latest Photoshop 2022 version.

Ed