Inspiring

Answered

Laser Printer Settings for Color Photos using Photoshop

Forum|Forum|6 years ago
July 3, 2019
4 replies
14819 views

I realise laser printers have only 3 colours and black to print color photos. Nevertheless, color printing from a photo scan is acceptable. Unfortunately, I have not had good results printing a JPG photo using Photoshop. My Laser printer is a Brother MFC-9340CDW. My understanding is that laser printers are usually set at the factory for document printing and not for photos. I also understand that the correct 16-43 lb glossy laser printer paper is necessary for good results and not inkjet paper. I contacted Brother for help but the recommendation was to contact Photoshop support.

From my trials, copying colors to print works, but printing a jpeg color photo has so far not provided reasonable results.

Any help such as adjusting laser printer settings if required would be greatly appreciated.

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Correct answer Bob_Hallam

Hi John,

This ICC portion of the workflow is the part that makes good color. The document profile can be found at the bottom left corner of the open image in Photoshop. You can choose to show that each time the document or file is opened.

The printer profile characterizes the color for the printer to the Color management system in your computer or RIP. In the case of the Mac that system is called ColorSync, for Windows, it's WCS or Windows color system.

These two profiles allow for a seamless color description of the workflow. If both are correct and accurate the reproduction will be predictable.

PECourtejoie

Community Expert

Could you provide a print screen of the print window in photoshop?

Which color profile is used, both for the doc and the printer?

John RatardAuthor

Inspiring

I can provide a print screen and definitely need the doc (input) and printer (output) color profiles. I will provide these after refreshing my memory on the profiles.

It will try to get a profile for a Brother laser printer primarily set for and used to print business documents. It can, for private use, acceptably copy a color photo but not a Photoshop jpg print. My request for information from Brother support directed me to Adobe Photoshop support so I may need to escalate it.

What do you mean by doc profile?

Bob_HallamCorrect answer

Legend

Hi John,

This ICC portion of the workflow is the part that makes good color. The document profile can be found at the bottom left corner of the open image in Photoshop. You can choose to show that each time the document or file is opened.

The printer profile characterizes the color for the printer to the Color management system in your computer or RIP. In the case of the Mac that system is called ColorSync, for Windows, it's WCS or Windows color system.

These two profiles allow for a seamless color description of the workflow. If both are correct and accurate the reproduction will be predictable.

ICC programmer and developer, Photographer, artist and color management expert, Print standards and process expert.

Bob_Hallam

Legend

To improve the quality you will need a good ICC profile for the Laser printer. The problem with that in your situation is that a laser printer uses heat to create its print. In the case of inexpensive laser printers, the heating system will not keep it consistent so that will not provide a high-quality result, simply because the process is not stable and any profile made may or may not work well on the day you decide to use the printer.

I echo Derek's recommendation to purchase an inkjet printer. E's listed some good ones that won't hurt your wallet very much.

ICC programmer and developer, Photographer, artist and color management expert, Print standards and process expert.

John RatardAuthor

Inspiring

As my reply 2 (last paragraph) explained, I have an HP C309a (Photosmart Premium) inkjet printer. I also know that it can provide superior color photos than a laser printer. I also searched the Internet for "how to print color photos on a laser printer". I found an article on how to print color photos on several laser printers with print examples and recommendations. Most of the results were quite acceptable.

The purpose of this post was an attempt to see if I could provide similar results on my Brother MFC-9340CDW color laser printer. I do not know whether a previously around $500 laser printer (once owned privately used through 3 toners and given free to me) qualifies as an inexpensive one or the ICC profile. After studying how laser printers work and reading Brother manuals, it does provide consistent prints. If I use good quality laser paper, reliable toner and drum, and feedback from someone who uses Brother printers, I shoud be able to see if the results I can get are acceptable.

Bob_Hallam

Legend

Hi John,

By comparison, a 500 dollar Laser printer is inexpensive. Even the much more expensive laser copiers are inexpensive compared to something that can actually maintain working temperatures consistently. Color copiers can be profiled, they are very expensive, but the color is not stable and the profile is soon worthless. Where I work they have a new digital press, which is basically a very large 150k Laser printer. That laser printer is quite stable and has its own internal calibration to baseline the press. After that the profile it uses works properly. The results are "acceptable." and the work can be sold as commercial quality.

Given that acceptable may be very different in your current situation. I'd still suggest profiling the process after it is been printing 25 sheets. Then it may be possible to have a profile for this device that can help improve the color on that device. My experience with this type of device has not shown that it can produce very consistent results. Give it a try though, you've got nothing to lose.

B

ICC programmer and developer, Photographer, artist and color management expert, Print standards and process expert.

Derek Cross

Community Expert

It might be worth getting an inkjet printer for your photography printing, they are not that expensive nowadays and you’ll never get the same quality of colour printing from a laser printer.

For example this printer, Canon Pixma MG3650, has been given a high rating by Which and costs (in the UK) around £30

Buy CANON PIXMA MG3650 All-in-One Wireless Inkjet Printer - White | Free Delivery | Currys

Trevor.Dennis

Community Expert

Do colour laser printers work with glossy paper? I've always assumed that they don't work so well with flat out glossy photo papers, but do OK with the semi gloss high quality photocopy papers.

I have the Brother M277dw, that I bought used from a buddy who didn't want to spend NZ$400 on a new set of toner cartridges. I use it for office and diagram type work, but wouldn't have thought to try and print a photograph with it. So I'm interested in what other replies you get. (BTW I use a Canon MB5360 for other work)

John RatardAuthor

Inspiring

Laser printers do not work with inkjet glossy paper because of the heat process used to set the toner particles on the paper. Laser paper must also be capable of being charged to attract an opposite charge from the drum and toner transfer processes. The term glossy is used for the laser paper that is basically a semi gloss. There are certain laser printers that print photos better than others. The results can be quite acceptable. None print the subtle shades of color provided by inkjets with multi colours.

I have a friend who gave me the Brother colour laser printer when it started missing prints without solving the problem, so he simply bought a new one. After solving a toner problem, it works faster and less expensive per page than my HP C309a ink jet. An 8x10 will no longer be an issue if I can get acceptable jpg colour photo prints with the 9340.

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