Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

Technical Discussions => Printers => Topic started by: repdetect on August 10, 2017, 08:44:25 PM



Title: Prints too dark
Post by: repdetect on August 10, 2017, 08:44:25 PM
Using a Canon Pro-100 and can't seem to get my prints to match monitor, they print too dark.

I have tried configuring with and without using ICC profile , but no difference.

Help!


Title: Re: Prints too dark
Post by: Terry-M on August 10, 2017, 09:00:31 PM
Hi,
Quote
Using a Canon Pro-100 and can't seem to get my prints to match monitor, they print too dark.
This is usually because the monitor is too bright.
One way to get this right is to reduce the brightness of the monitor to match the print and then re-calibrate your monitor. You may need to do this more than once! You will of course need to edit the image - make it brighter - before printing again!

The "correct" way is to set a luminance value in your monitor calibration software which will then ask you to set the monitor brightness during the process. My X-rite software recommends 120cd/m^2 which works fine for me but the method gives you a consistent means of setting the brightness, even if you have to deviate from the 120 value.
Terry


Title: Re: Prints too dark
Post by: Sandy on August 10, 2017, 09:11:13 PM
Some years ago an Epson guru said his routine answer was to tell the enquirer to put the print under a stronger light.  The print and screen operate differently  -  reflected light vs transmitted light so inconsistencies, especially re light/dark, are going to be part of the deal.  The appearance of prints will vary substantially with the light under which you view them. 

Sandy


Title: Re: Prints too dark
Post by: Fred A on August 10, 2017, 09:11:27 PM
Quote
Using a Canon Pro-100 and can't seem to get my prints to match monitor, they print too dark.

I have tried configuring with and without using ICC profile , but no difference.

Help!
Ok, sorry I don't know your name, but I have a Canon Pro 100 and love it to pieces as I told another person on here who just bought one.

I do not know if your monitor is profiled (properly) or at all.
But for the moment let me fill you in.
Terry is the expert monitor profiling person if you need advice there.
I had a Spyder Pro that I used for a long time, but Windows 10 doesn't support it.
The good news is that most decent IPS LCD monitors hold their colors pretty well, so a factory RGB comes very close.

The problem is your monitor is too bright. That causes you to darken the image to compensate, or even an image that is rteally too dark looks good to you.

Profiling the monitor aside, because I don't know if you have done or will do,
This works.
Use Canon Premium Luster or SG-201 Canon premium Semi Gloss and the proper profile that should be assigned to the paper type.
Setting the driver to  COLOR adjustment NONE, Quality to Highest, and paper type to match, Make a nice 8 x 10 or bigger print.

Let that print dry for 12-24 hours. This is very important as the dye ink will cure and lighten up.
Now, under a decent Ott light or at least a lamp with a color temp of 5000-5500K, compare your print to your screen. Reduce brightness and contrast until you match that print.
If you are using a Canon profile and Canon paper, it is printing the image regardless whether your monitor is bright or dark, on  or off.

You will come out so close you will be astonished.
Of course, nothing beats a proper monitor profile, but until then, try this.
OTT lights are around 25 dollars

Fred



Title: Re: Prints too dark
Post by: Terry-M on August 11, 2017, 06:13:39 AM
Sandy,
Quote
The appearance of prints will vary substantially with the light under which you view them. 
Yes. Like Fred, I use an Ott Light which has the right colour temperature and level of illumination when a print is place under it at the correct distance.
Terry


Title: Re: Prints too dark
Post by: repdetect on August 12, 2017, 10:01:33 PM
Thanks all for your suggestions.

It was a combination of too bright a monitor. It got switched to AUTO which doesn't work as it keeps changing luminance. Factory calibrated for sRGB and colors are spot on, but luminance value floats in AUTO mode.

I also looked at the print under window light and it looks very close. I was evaluating in too dim a light.

Great forum, most civilized one I use, even after 10 years.

Thanks to all again, much appreciated.



Title: Re: Prints too dark
Post by: Sandy on August 13, 2017, 10:06:03 AM
Most screens are set much too bright as default - especially laptops (in my limited experience).  However, the problem is my prints aren't generally viewed outside or beside a window in daylight, therefore I tend to over brighten so they look better in real life viewing conditions.  I know this is heretical, non-PC, etc and less tolerant forums would flame me, set the trolls loose and ban me.   The nice helpful bunch here will sigh and shake their heads, then patiently and politely educate me.

Sandy


Title: Re: Prints too dark
Post by: Fred A on August 13, 2017, 11:05:41 AM
Quote
then patiently and politely educate me.
Sandy,
I, for one, am just pleased as can be that you print on paper.
When you do that, you please yourself first.
I print a lot... for myself, mostly,  and people who see them and ask for a copy.
I like to think I have a soul, and so many times, a printed scene will actually make me take an extra deep breath.

What causes me to  bite my tongue in place of screaming, are the people in our local world who whip out their Smart Phones and with a blur of horizontal movement of the index finger, proceed to show me their latest photo adventure.

I am happy that you are printing.

Fred
PS  The attached shot may look like a nothing on screen or on a phone, but I print that at 12 x 16 or bigger, and it will look so good, you have to frame it.



Title: Re: Prints too dark
Post by: LumixGuy on July 17, 2019, 03:40:07 PM

Ok, sorry I don't know your name, but I have a Canon Pro 100 and love it to pieces as I told another person on here who just bought one.

I do not know if your monitor is profiled (properly) or at all.
But for the moment let me fill you in.
Terry is the expert monitor profiling person if you need advice there.
I had a Spyder Pro that I used for a long time, but Windows 10 doesn't support it.
The good news is that most decent IPS LCD monitors hold their colors pretty well, so a factory RGB comes very close.

The problem is your monitor is too bright. That causes you to darken the image to compensate, or even an image that is rteally too dark looks good to you.

Profiling the monitor aside, because I don't know if you have done or will do,
This works.
Use Canon Premium Luster or SG-201 Canon premium Semi Gloss and the proper profile that should be assigned to the paper type.
Setting the driver to  COLOR adjustment NONE, Quality to Highest, and paper type to match, Make a nice 8 x 10 or bigger print.

Let that print dry for 12-24 hours. This is very important as the dye ink will cure and lighten up.
Now, under a decent Ott light or at least a lamp with a color temp of 5000-5500K, compare your print to your screen. Reduce brightness and contrast until you match that print.
If you are using a Canon profile and Canon paper, it is printing the image regardless whether your monitor is bright or dark, on  or off.

You will come out so close you will be astonished.
Of course, nothing beats a proper monitor profile, but until then, try this.
OTT lights are around 25 dollars

Fred

[/quote]
As a  long time user of both the Pro-100 and Qimage, thanks for this great info! I had not been doing much with either lately, but now back into it, I am having a heck of a time with overly-dark prints, and this appears to be the solution.
Can I ask, what are your printer/driver/ICC etc. settings?
Thanks!


Title: Re: Prints too dark
Post by: Fred A on July 17, 2019, 05:01:31 PM
Quote
As a  long time user of both the Pro-100 and Qimage, thanks for this great info! I had not been doing much with either lately, but now back into it, I am having a heck of a time with overly-dark prints, and this appears to be the solution.
Can I ask, what are your printer/driver/ICC etc. settings?
Thanks!
I too love my Pro 100
Of course, the settings in Qimage and also the Quality setting in the driver reflect the paper selection and of course the matching profile in Qimage.
I had the same problem with profiling the monitor and the ips was a godsend.
I always bear in mind that the print is made with no interference from the monitor.
Therefore, with all set correctly for a proper print (Matching to NONE and proper profile that matches the paper) will produce the accurate print.
OK... Now all you need to do is to fiddle with the monitor brightness and contrast controls on the monitor, and match the print and the monitor with the print in a decent light source.
You are not worried about the color. The profile and Qimage and the driver take care of that.
You only are concerned with Brightness and Contrast.
Match that, and you should be fine.
Fred