Faded Print Colors After Photoshop 25.12.3 Update on macOS Monterey – Anyone Else?

[laburke]

For a week or so now when printing, the colors are coming out quite faded, not like ink running out or needing cleaning, but just like the wrong profile or something. I tried a different printer, same problem. Tried printing from other software too, same problem. I've tried every combination of settings I could possibly think of. It looks like Photoshop did update to 25.12.3 nine days ago. That seems too coincidental to not be related.

Has anyone else encountered this? I am running Monterey 12.7.6 I know I'm behind but I'm hesitant to update because this is an older iMac and it's telling me when I hit Update Photoshop that it may not run on my computer. Any ideas? Should I risk updating PS anyway?

[kglad]

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.

<"moved from using the community bugs">

[laburke]

Thank you! I haven't posted here in years and was a little lost, lol. Appreciate your help 🙂

[johng44721896]

I don't have an answer, only a question. Were the files that you attempted to print in an RGB color space or CMYK?

[laburke]

I have pretty much always used sRGB or AdobeRGB and both have been perfectly fine for my purposes (I make stickers).

[D Fosse]

Show a screenshot of your PS Print dialog.

Include the printer driver dialog that comes up when you click "Print Settings". These are the settings we need to see:

[laburke]

Attaching screenshots:

[laburke]

I'm testing by removing and reinstalling a previous 25.x version but it keeps installing 2024. Not sure if that gives a clue.

[laburke]

Never mind, I see the version number isn't necessarily the year.

[laburke]

I just updated to 26.7 even though it's telling me it won't work well on my OS and still getting the same printing results. I am running Monterey and that is the latest OS my "vintage" computer can run. I was hoping just updating PS would fix the problem but it didn't. Do you guys think my older OS is the problem here?

[NB, colourmanagement]

@laburke I'd stick with Monterey for now -

Your print dialogue settings might reveal that you're using Apple's default print driver rather then Canons own - r you should e=se actual Vanon media names listed for selection not just "glossy"/"matte" etc - I wrote this up for Epson, as its what I have here to test - I'll add that info in a separate reply to make it clear.

An extra question [one you're sure you are actually using Canons driver software) - when you set the media type etc in the "print settings" options and hit "save" then reopen that dialogue did the options you chose stick? With later versions of macOS there's an issue with this where those media settings etc are lost almost every time. Printing has become almost impossible. 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-bugs/macos-sequioa-photoshop-25-and-messed-up-pri...

I hope this helps

neil barstow colourmanagement - adobe forum volunteer,

colourmanagement consultant & co-author of 'getting colour right'

See my free articles on colourmanagement online

Help others by clicking "Correct Answer" if the question is answered.

Found the answer elsewhere? Share it here. "Upvote" is for useful posts

[NB, colourmanagement]

@laburke I've a strong suspicion this is your issue - please check it out

Epson / Mac: Add printer, AirPrint issue, here are some notes about Apple’s built in (default) Gimp Print / Gutenprint based printer drivers.

Best avoided.  It can print quite differently from the manufacturer's own driver software. 

Does the print driver look different? some options have changed?

Are media names the same as previous drivers you've used, e.g.. is 'Premium Luster Photo Paper' mentioned or are the media types just simplified names like matte or gloss? 

You'll be aware, I'm sure, that the selected media name in the driver must match the selection made when printing ICC profiling patches, (so the ICC profile and media type selection are linked) . BUT is the media name selected previously actually there in the list?

IF the media names listed differ (and have been simplified) then you are perhaps inadvertently using Apple’s default Gimp/ Gutenprint driver rather than Epson’s own. It's not just a matter of installing Epson driver software, you have to select it too. I do know it's very important to use Epson's own driver software. I tripped over this myself on a client site, the driver looked different and I put it down to an OSX update imposed style - took a while to work that one out.

Here's an example of what I'd expect to see in an Epson driver for media name options:

Can you access print settings in an application other than Photoshop, try Preview?

If not, a thorough purge may be in order, perhaps install drivers (downloaded from Epson) again: 

1. Delete all instances of Epson printers from 

System Settings (or System Preferences depending on Mac OS version) / Printers & Scanners -or- System Preferences>Print & Fax, whichever you have.

2. Then go to /Library/Printers and trash the whole Epson folder.

3. Delete the Epson LFP Remote Panel (IF you are using that utility).

4. Then go to Epson online and download the printer drivers yourself.

Do not let the Mac install the printer driver for you.

There’s one more tripwire - in System Settings (or System Preferences depending on Mac OS version) / Printers  - - - , when adding the connected printer

[i.e. click the padlock, enter your password and click the “+” button]

 

- watch out for the “Use" selection - I recommend you do not select "Airprint" there under "use", but, rather, manually set "use” to the printer name, which will then call on the manufacturer’s own software rather than the default Apple driver (that’s based on Gimp Print / Gutenprint, which misses out some printing options such as specific manufacturers media names). 

Ted landau mac Guru had the same issue:https://www.macworld.com/article/224167/the-trick-to-finding-the-right-printer-driver-for-your-mac.h...

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

Help others by clicking "Correct Answer" if the question is answered.

 

[laburke]

Thank you so much, Neil, for the detailed replies! I've read through them several times and tried the suggestions. I don't claim to really understand ICC profiles and printer profiles and color management, which is definitely a handicap for me.

The driver seems to be saving the settings, to answer one question, probably because I don't have a more current OS. I haven't seen the AirPrint issue at all so I don't think I'm using Apple's driver.

I cannot find an ICC profile for my paper: "Zicoto does not provide specific ICC profiles for their glossy sticker paper. However, when printing on Zicoto glossy sticker paper using an inkjet printer, it's recommended to select a media setting like "Premium Paper," "High Resolution Paper," "Coated Paper," or "Photo Quality Paper" within your printer settings."

When I reinstalled the original driver from Canon, my print driver dialog box changes back to what I was accustomed to, but using the same settings I used to use only improved the print slightly. I've had to use the generic "glossy photo paper" media and it always worked just fine before.

I also went back in Time Machine to see if a color management plug-in that I possibly used to have had disappeared with the latest Photoshop update but couldn't find anything so it doesn't seem to be that.

The only media names I see in the driver are attached and I've tried all of them just in case.

If you have time to reply, please don't hesitate to talk to me like I'm five, because this has always confused me. I'm desperately trying to get this figured out because I've got orders to fulfill and shows to make inventory for. So I really appreciate your help!