Printed colors inaccurate from LR2

[xtexan]

I am using LR2 to print to a new Canon iP46'' inkjet. In short, the colors from LR2 are not accurate, but CS3 replicates the screen colors well. I've spent hours on this, painstaking ensuring that every setting is proper, but still no luck with LR2.

My monitor is calibrated.

I am using the proper paper/printer profile provided by the paper manufacturer.

At the printer:

• media type = Photo Paper Pro II
• quality = custom (quality = 1, haltoning = diffused)
• color/intensity = manual (matching = NONE)
• print options : none checked

In LR2:

• print rez = 24' ppi
• output sharpening = low
• media type = glossy
• profile = the paper manufacturer's profile.
• rendering = perceptural (produces results too light), relative (produces results too dark)

In CS3 : (this produces accurate output)

• color handling = photoshop manages colors
• printer profile : the profile from the manufacturer
• rendering intent= relative colometric; black point compensation YES

I would think that the software mechanisms in LR and CS3 for reproducing colors in printed output are similar or identical. But apparently not.

Does anyone have a suggestion?

keywords: accuracy, accurately, colors, reproduce, print output, printed, matching, printing, photoshop

 

[Denis Pagé]

At the printer:

• media type = Photo Paper Pro II
• quality = custom (quality = 1, haltoning = diffused)
• color/intensity = manual (matching = NONE)
• print options : none checked

In LR2:

• print rez = 24' ppi
• output sharpening = low
• media type = glossy
• profile = the paper manufacturer's profile.
• rendering = perceptural (produces results too light), relative (produces results too dark)

Not sure about your first section on printer settings. I mean: Are those settings really are cancelling any color management? If not, it looks like you are double managing the color match; Lightroom's + Printers'.
If you choose a profile in Lightroom it should be because you choose not to manage by printer. In this case, ALL color management on the printer driver should be disabled.

EDIT: Forgot to welcome you to the forums Xtexan!

 

[xtexan]

Denis, thanks for the kind welcome to the forum. Lots of good discussion going on here, I'll just jump right in, eh?

Here's some more info, and I'll try to be as complete as possible for you, as well as the general audience, in case some other readers are LR experts with Canon printer knowledge.

Yes, my intent was to fully cancel color correction at the printer, and as far as I can tell, this should have done the trick. Namely, the printer setting << color/intensity = manual >>, and then under "manual", << color matching = NONE >>.

There were 3 manual color adjustment options at the printer (cut/paste here from the printer menu):
1. Driver Matching (Adjusts the colors with the printer driver during printing. Some printer models allow you to specify the color mode to be used.)
2. ICM (Adjusts the colors by using the image color management function of Windows when printing.) Specify the input profile to be used.
3. None (Disables color adjustment with the printer driver.)


I chose "None."


I tried to carefully follow some helpful Canon specific guidance I found at:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/techcorner/June_2''5.html

CS3 is working well for the present, but it's frustrating to have a large component of LR2 that is practically out-of-service.

This color management business is tricky stuff.

 

[Brad Snyder]

Sounds like you've addressed all the common gotcha's that we see. Not sure where to send you from here. Do you have different paper and corresponding profile to play with?

 

[xtexan]

That's a great idea. Time to buy some new paper, with a different ICC profile, and give that a whirl. Let's see what happens... Thanks !

 

[vipuno]

At the print options, try checking 'Disable ICM required...' and 'Disable color profile...' This will disable color managemnt by the printer driver and allow LR2 to manage the color. Let me know if it works.

 

[Mark Sirota]

Thanks for joining us, vipuno, and welcome to Lightroom Forums!

Did you realize you're responding to a seven month old question?