Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

This question is regarding printing a test image (PrinterEvaluationImage_V002_ProPhoto.tif) to verify the printer hardware is operating correctly. No profile, just the printer's driver.

When I print that test image from Photoshop or Qimage Ultimate, it prints poorly when Color Matching in the printer's settings (Canon PRO-1000) is set to "None."

(Properties > Main > Color/Intensity > Manual > Set... > Matching > Color Correction: "None")

When I print the image from Ps or Q.U. and choose "Driver matching" instead of "None," the image prints as it should. Image of print outputs attached.

I was told (for the purpose of testing the printer) the correct setting was "None" and I am reasonably sure that's what I did when I first set up the printer a year ago (the image printed correctly at that time).

The reason I'm asking about this is I'm having an issue with a paper profile not rendering correctly and wondering if there's any relation.

Is there possibly something amiss, or is the color-matching-"None" issue normal and nothing to be concerned about?

Thank you!

Attached image shows the OK print at top and the not-OK print at bottom.

First of all, both images that you show are not good. As a matter of fact they look alike to my eye, colorwise, but one is more saturated
So let's clarify a few terms, and then you try again.
When you set the driver to color matching NONE, you are saying to the driver, "Don't meddle with my image. Just print what you get> I will handle the color."
This becomes the setting for you to place the proper profile in use in Qimage or PS.

If you do not have a proper profile for the paper, or you think that profile is bad, set Qimage to LET PRINTER DRIVER MANAGE COLOR, and set the driver to ICM; definitely not None.

Have another try.
Fred

I appreciate the reply, Fred. My question may not have been clear. Before I address that, a note about the images:

In absolute terms, you are correct that neither image is good. That's because they're snapshots made from the printed output, unadjusted, and uploaded to this forum as an attachment. Given those iterations, they are not going to look "good."

My intention for the two images was to show a comparison where the top was representing correct printer output and the bottom showing the issue at hand. I have cropped and re-uploaded to clarify the differences. Compare the circled areas with their respective areas in the top image.


That is my understanding and it makes sense since the purpose of the test image in my case is to print straight from a known file and eliminate any potential software interference to determine if the printer hardware is working properly.

My question: Why - when in Qimage or Ps the image looks correct and color matching is set to NONE - does the image print poorly? If NONE means don't meddle with my image, shouldn't the printer output be reasonably close to what I see in Qimage or Ps?

Thank you

The problem is that you are interpreting the end or result without benefit if the next line in my reply.
that line was

This becomes the setting for you to place the proper profile in use in Qimage or PS.


Put the proper profile for the paperin Qimage
and your problem disappears.
See snap