Need to print without color management on Mac, can't with photoshop

[nateStatic]

I need to be able to print color targets for making custom ICC profiles, so I need to be able to print without color management. Photoshop doesn't allow this. I've had to use the old Adobe Color Printer Utility, which hasn't received an update in a decade or so. With each Mac OS system update, it becomes less and less usable. It now takes several attempts to open/print files. Color Sync is *supposed* to be able to do this, but the option to print without color management is always greyed out, no matter the file type. Since making custom profiles is a pretty vital thing to be able to do for people using Adobe products to do professional printing, I figure Adobe has some other solution besides an old, deprecated piece of stoftware... right?

[creative explorer]

@nateStatic you might be the odd one or two who doesn't 'print without color management.' And because of that, my money is Adobe integrate deeply with color management processes. I feel your pain in using dinosaur utilities or the option in looking at third-party profiling software that handles the target printing directly. 

[davescm]

@creative explorer  Anyone who creates their own printer/paper profiles needs to print their targets without colour management. Unfortunately applications and operating systems do not make that easy.

@nateStatic I still use the ACPU here on Windows and I'm told it will still operate on Macs if you can get past the OS security features trying to block it. https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/photoshop/kb/no-color-management-option-missing.html

I'm also told that Qimage One can print targets with no colour management but I cannot directly confirm this as I don't use it.

Dave

[NB, colourmanagement]

@davescm Having solved the "no colour management"  issue by using the ACPU to print from, the user may still find they have issues if using macOS Sequioa because the print pipeline (specifically "printer settings") seems to be broken.

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

It's also possible to print mac targets using the preinstalled Apple Colorsync Utility but that may not solve the Sequoia "printer settings" issue given that the issue seems to be between macOS Sequioa nd the print driver software.

Canon's Pro Print Layout add-on does solve the"printer settings" issue and it bypasses the driver - and also includes a "no colour management" option.

Sadly, Epson's print layout add on does not include a "no colour management" option.

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

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[nateStatic]

I can use ACPU, but I'm finding it freezes/doesn't open files/etc more often... pretty much every time I use it, I end up force-quitting it a few times because it froze. Just had a head replaced, and we use 9 different papers that need custom profiles. I can make it work... I was just hoping there was an easier way/better app. Thanks for the info.

[NB, colourmanagement]

@nateStatic It's also possible to print mac targets using the preinstalled Apple Colorsync Utility but that may not solve the Sequoia "printer settings" issue given that the issue seems to be between macOS Sequioa and the print driver software.

those same Sequioa / print settings  issues very often prevent accurate printing once profiles are made also 

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

[nateStatic]

I tried using ColorSync, but the option to print without color management was greyed out. It would be nice if Adobe could update ACPU, since it is actually useful... or maybe just let us print without color management from photoshop. Hopefully Apple fixes the things they broke. 

[NB, colourmanagement]

@nateStatic "Print as color target" in the Colorsync Utility worked for me in Ventura

however, if "Print as color target" is grayed out for you in the Color: dropdown menu then use this help from Andrew Rodney the Digital Dog. Unfortunately he no longer posts here.

we want to see it in this menu

To enable this menu (make Print as color target option appear), the trick is to select the Color Matching dropdown menu, then in the Profile menu, pick "Other Profiles...". You can pick any profile in the list that follows. What's important is not having the Automatic setting menu on, then, the Print as color target option becomes accessible.

 

I believe Print Tool from Quadtone RIP works too, but I'm unsure whether this too may be stymied by the inability to reliably select and use "print settings" in macOS Sequioa. Of course the Colorsync Utility and the ACPU may also be affected by that Sequia issue 

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

[nateStatic]

Thanks for the info, @NB, colourmanagement , I'll give that a try.

[NB, colourmanagement]

@nateStatic Great. Please report back on your success or otherwise 

neilB

[John_William9936]

It sounds like you're dealing with a frustrating issue where printing without color management isn't straightforward in Photoshop. You're right—being able to print without color management is crucial for tasks like making custom ICC profiles, and it's unfortunate that many of the traditional solutions, like the Adobe Color Printer Utility, are outdated and increasingly unreliable.

While ColorSync is supposed to handle this, if the option is always greyed out, it may be due to the printer's settings or the way the file is being handled by macOS. Photoshop itself generally defaults to managing color through its color settings, and it doesn't offer a simple "no color management" option directly in the print dialog.

One potential solution is to set Photoshop's color settings to "No Color Management" before printing. This option can be found under Edit > Color Settings, and you can set it to "No Color Management". However, even this might still not bypass all color management depending on how your printer driver is set up.

Another option is to work with a RIP (Raster Image Processor) that allows for custom printing workflows without color management. RIP software gives you more control over how files are sent to the printer, including options for bypassing color management entirely.

Finally, if you’re still having trouble, it might be helpful to reach out to Adobe support to see if there are any new tools or workflow options specifically for custom ICC profile creation, as the tools have evolved with updates

[davescm]

@John_William9936 I don't know which AI system you used to compose that reply but it contains  statements that are way off the mark.
Edit > Colour settings contains the defaults for colour management and as such does not contain a No Colour Management option. In addition changing the default options for new documents does not affect an open document at all.

Photoshop's print dialogue used to contain an option for no Colour management but it was removed years ago, and now you cannot use Photoshop to print a target without colour management.

Dave

[NB, colourmanagement]

@davescm dead right. Sadly the system will not allow me to upvote your answer. 

@John_William9936 "One potential solution is to set Photoshop's color settings to "No Color Management" before printing. This option can be found under Edit > Color Settings, and you can set it to "No Color Management".

that option has not existed in Photoshop for many years. I'm sure you mean well but using AI to generate an answer isn't helpful as is proven by the incorrect info in your post. If you don't know please don't chip in.  

neilB 

neil B 

[Stephen Marsh]

Coming from a proofing RIP background, this is something which is taken for granted.