Colors Incorrect After Printing

[jenna_0359]

Hello,

I need help troubleshooting my printing issue. I have two computers in my house. The Windows 11 system has just recently started printing my Photoshop images with incorrect or dulled colors. When I try printing the same file from the Windows 10 system, it prints correctly. I did recently have a Windows 11 update and I'm wondering if this is the culprit to why suddenly the images look like garbage. If you have encountered this, do you know how to fix what seems to be the operating system error?  

For reference, my Canon printer test comes out fine. The nozzles have been cleaned. The printer head was removed and cleaned. The printer driver has been updated. All ink cartridges are full. I even sent the file to Staples and it prints correctly there. This is definitely stemming from the system and NOT Adobe or Canon's fault.

I appreciate any input you might be able to offer me.

Appreciatively,

Jenna

[D Fosse]

Post a screenshot of the Photoshop print dialog.

[jenna_0359]

[jenna_0359]

Sorry, to clarify further:

I have two computers sharing the same Canon Pixma Pro-100 printer. The Windows 10 computer has the same exact printer settings in Photoshop as my Windows 11 settings. Windows 10 is printing correctly and Windows 11 is not. Again, same printer, same settings. This leads me to believe it is entirely a Windows 11 update issue and I can't figure out how to fix it. I posted on the Micorsoft forums, but no feedback yet.

Thanks again,

Jenna

[D Fosse]

OK, I can tell you right away what's wrong: the printer profile. You don't set the document profile here.

The printer profile represents the actual print process - it's a profile that describes how the printer, the inks, and the paper you're using, represent RGB numbers.

I'm not familiar with this printer, but if it supports icc profiles, they will be installed alongside the printer driver. You just need to pick the right one. If you're printing on, say, "premium photo glossy paper", there will be an icc profile called that, and that's the one you use.

Once you've done that, you also need to go into the printer driver and set the correct paper type there. That controls total amount of ink. And then you turn off printer color management; you don't want double profiling.

This is how it should look (I see you have a much older Photoshop version, but the basic settings are the same):

If the printer does not come with icc profiles, you need to set "Let the printer manage color". You still need to set the correct paper type in the driver.

This isn't as flexible and accurate as letting Photoshop manage color, but perhaps simpler and easier to deal with.

[jenna_0359]

Hello,

Thank you for the curteous, prompt, and detailed response. It is appreciated. I will consider that for future printing, but I guess I haven't clearly explained the issue at hand. The graphic was printing correctly with those settings on a Sunday. Monday morning there was a forced Windows update. On Monday afternoon I tried to print more of the same graphic with the same settings and now it's printing dull and incorrect colors. I would understand and apply your advice if my settings weren't already working.

What I am hoping to glean from this post is if anyone has had a similar issue with a Windows 11 update messing up printing even when settings have not been touched. 

I used those same settings on a more current version of Photoshop but one that is running on Windows 10 and the graphic printed perfectly on the same printer being used for Windows 11. This seems to point to whatever happened with that Windows 11 update, it has affected the way the print output looks.

And the Windows forum is offering no real help at all.

FRUSTRATED. 😞

[D Fosse]

The graphic was printing correctly with those settings on a Sunday.

By @jenna_0359

That can't have printed correctly any day of the week. No way. Not with those settings.

Most likely, you had "Printer manages color".  That makes several of these settings moot, including the printer profile.All you really have to do then is set the paper type in the printer driver, and the driver handles everything else without any user input.

[NB, colourmanagement]

@D Fosse That can't have printed correctly any day of the week. No way. Not with those settings.

I suspect you're right about "Printer Manages Color" - but MAYBE it could print OK with printer profile set to sRGB, in SOME circumstances

- I did some tests years ago with a desktop HP machine and it just wanted sRGB images. Even making a custom profile didn't beat using sRGB images straight - Occasionally, it seems, some consumer-level printers are set up to expect sRGB, to keep things simple.

I'd be quite surprised though if that were to include the Canon Pro 100 used here.

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
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