Epson 1280 Printing Color Flow

[jamie_conlan]

Hi,

wondering who has had success with which options with the Epson 1280.

 

I am using monaco EZ color to create custom ICC profiles for Epson papers (just

what I have on hand right now, not my first choice in paper) and then printing

my files through Photoshop.

 

I have heard many different things as to what is the best way to do this,

achieving mixed results.

 

Currently my work flow is as follows:

 

Profile monitor with Monaco EZ Color using LCD setting and gray gamma of 2.2,

white point of 6500k

 

Profile Paper with Monaco EZ Color obviously making sure to turn off auto color

correction

 

set photoshop color space to the Monaco created monitor profile with gray gamma

of 2.2

 

edit color of image with image color profile of adobe RGB 1998, double checking

against proof setup view of the paper profile i created in monaco and will then

be printing on

 

print using preset settings in the epson driver for the profile i created for

the paper i am using.

 

questions: do I apply the paper profile to the image in photoshop in the

photoshop print setting box (print with preview)?

 

Does this sound right or is there a better way to do it? Usually I get pretty

good results but I'm wondering if people have had better results doing it

another way.

 

Thanks for all the help!

 

-Jamie

[peter_mounier]

You should not use your monitor profile as the photoshop color space. It's better to use a

large gamut space such as Adobe RGB 1998.

To answer your question, apply the paper profile in the print setting box as you are presently

doing.

Some people, me included, think that setting the monitor to 6500 is too blue. I have mine

set to 5800 and it to works better that way for me. I think that will depend on the ambient

light in your work area.

 

Peter

[jamie_conlan]

thanks, I'll try that and post my results.

[jamie_conlan]

For anyone who's interested, here's what I've found works the best:

 

1. Make sure that your custom ICC profiles (monitor, printer, paper) are accurate. If you do a soft proof in Photoshop and you're colors look completely off, chances are your profiles are off. Make sure that your ink cartridges are fresh, etc.

 

2. In Photoshop, set your working color space to your custom created monitor profile, with your gray gamma set at 1.8

 

3. Convert your image's color space to your monitor profile.

 

4. Do a soft proof of your image with your custom printer / paper profile to make sure that your colors look accurate. If not, make subtle curves adjustments to bring your image back to looking good, remembering that if your colors are WILDLY inaccurate, chances are your profiles are no good.

 

5. Print your image in Photoshop, making sure to set the color management to "Let Photoshop determine colors" and apply your custom printer / paper profile to your image, with relative colorimetric and black point compensation chosen.

 

6. In the printer setup dialogue box that follows, make sure that you apply the exact same settings as the ones that you chose when you created your paper profile.

 

7. sit back and watch your beautiful, color accurate print appear before your eyes.

 

I'll be happy to answer any questions that anyone may have.

 

Cheers!