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scott52moss
scott52moss
Participant
November 21, 2016
Answered

Prints don't match monitor

  • November 21, 2016
  • 2 replies
  • 2142 views

I am a photographer, do photo imaging using PSCC 2017, and regularly send  proofs out to check color accuracy, etc. I use McKenna Pro and Meridian Pro and everything comes back too warm. If I open a finished image in Photoshop CC and apply the Photo Filter -warming filter #85 with a value of  66, it will match the printed version almost perfectly.

I have calibrated my Dell U2410 monitor numerous times with a Spyder Pro 3 and the image on the screen is exactly the way I want it to come back from the printers.

I have contacted McKenna Pro to get the settings they use to set the color profile in Photoshop.

I have contacted Dell and they are convinced it's a software issue. I have also emailed myself the same images to my iPad and laptop computers and the images viewed on those devices are fairly close to the image on my monitor.

It seems that something is taking place between emailing the images to the printer and them printing it. Is there any way to adjust the export image file to match more closely the image I think I'm sending in?

HELP!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer D Fosse

    Dave,

    I have my color temp set to 5800K and my default display setting to the

    calibrated setting.


    ...and when you do, set up your calibration targets to match the monitor to the print, not the other way round.

    Decide on your viewing conditions, for both screen and print. They will affect your judgement, but the important thing here is consistency.

    Set the monitor white point to be a visual match to paper white. You should "see" paper white on screen. You may need to adjust not only along the blue/yellow Kelvin scale, but also along the green/magenta axis. Nevermind the numbers! Just get that visual match, whatever the numbers turn out to be.

    Next look at the black point / contrast range. Most monitor manufacturers boast completely unrealistic contrast ranges, like 1000:1 or above. The fact is that even the very best glossy photo papers rarely exceed 300:1 ​(and are usually well below).

    This means that if your white point luminance is 120 cd/m², your black point should be no lower than 0.4 cd/m², possibly even a little higher, depending on the paper.

    With these two parameters set, and all profiles good and valid, you can get a surprisingly accurate screen to print match.

    2 replies

    Mylenium
    Mylenium
    Legend
    November 21, 2016

    In your post I see no indication that you are actually color managing the files and embedding profiles nor possibly using specific proof settings. From your description you are simply relying on a standard visual sRGB matching and presumably that's why things go kaboom - your calibrated monitor deviates from standard sRGB and due to lack of that information in the files, the service providers can't compensate for it on their machines.

    Mylenium

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 21, 2016

    Hi - a couple of questions

    1. Did McKenna send you a colour profile that you can use to proof ?

    2. When you are comparing print to screen are you comparing the screen using that McKenna profile set in "Proof set up" and with "Proof Colours" checked?

    3. Are you sending them your files with an embedded colour profile? (Note I don't know McKenna but unless you guarantee that they are fully using the embedded profile correctly I would convert to sRGB before sending as well as ensuring the sRGB profile is embedded into each image.

    Dave

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 21, 2016

    I should also have asked.

    When you calibrated and profiled your monitor what color temperature did you use, if the software allows you to set it,  (e.g 6500k) and have you checked that your display profile is being used (if on windows go to Display settings - Advanced display settings - Colour Management and check the default profile is the one you made.

    Finally - are you viewing your prints in daylight ? You will never get an exact match between a light emitting screen and a light reflecting print but with good calibration, profiling throughout and good viewing conditions you should get close enough to be predictable.

    Dave

    scott52moss
    scott52mossAuthor
    Participant
    November 21, 2016

    Dave,

    I have my color temp set to 5800K and my default display setting to the

    calibrated setting.

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