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Mike Chaney's Tech Corner > Mike's Software > Profile Prism > Red color cast
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Author Topic: Red color cast  (Read 14923 times)
ceus40
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« on: November 17, 2010, 06:30:02 AM »
I have been using PP and Qimage for several years together with an Epson 7500 wide format printer. I am using Ilford paper and a non Epson ink. I have been profiling my LCD monitor with Pantone Color Vision Spyder. I have always had extremely  good results using this equippment (colors on the monitor matching the print output).

A short while ago I had to reinstall Windows XP and at the same time I changed the Color Vision Spyder for a Spyder Express 3. I am still using PP and Qimage. The profiles that I have been creating with PP come out excellent. However, I now have a red color cast when printing. I have re-profiled the monitor and printer but I still have exactly the same red color cast.

I would be pleased if any one could come up with some suggestion what might be the probelm. Can it be that the Spyder 3 Express does not work as good as my old Color Vision Spyder Huh?

Kind regards,
Carl
 
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Fred A
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« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2010, 10:06:17 AM »
Quote
I would be pleased if any one could come up with some suggestion what might be the probelm. Can it be that the Spyder 3 Express does not work as good as my old Color Vision Spyder Huh

Carl, Good Morning.
Let us take the Spyder and the monitor profile out of the picture. They have no effect on the print unless you used the screen image and made extreme changes to your image.
You can pick up your computer and printer, and come to my house, and hooked to my monitor, get the same prints as your house.

So we are left with either a bad profile, (I assume you know how to set the driver to No Color Adjustment), or you forgot to reset the driver since you were so involved in the reinstall of XP, or you have clogged nozzles on the printer.

I lean towards clogged nozzles since you are an experienced printer profile maker and user.

Fred
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ceus40
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« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2010, 12:29:36 PM »
Dear Fred,

Thank you for your input. I know that the monitor profile does not have any effect on the outcome of the print, but since I compare the print to what I see on the monitor it is of some importance. What I have noticed when profiling the monitor is that the screen color has a warmer tone before using the profile.

As to the printer profile I have always used the sRGB option as described in the PP workflow instructions. You might be right about a clogged nozzle, since I am not frequently using the printer. Against that is that I have been running a number of cleaning cycles and the nozzle test comes out OK.

I will make another profile using the "no color correction option" and see how it goes.

All the best,
Carl
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Fred A
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« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2010, 02:42:25 PM »
So to clarify,
You are making your own printer profiles, and selecting your random selection of paper type from the Canon list of papers?
Then you print a target trying various paper choices from the list? After that, you scan the two targets and let PP (Profile Prism) make your profile?
If you use anything other than No Color Correction, then you have driver interference with your color profile that you made.

I am getting conflicting information as I read... therefore I need the clarification in order to help.

Fred
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ceus40
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« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2010, 12:00:15 PM »
Dear Fred,

Thank you for your interest.

I have been following the instructions (sRGB) for Epson printers as explained in the instructions for PP. Please find it quoted below:

"Epson Printers

Epson printer: option 1 (sRGB or color controls)

On the "Paper" tab, make sure you have the proper paper size selected. Also ensure that "Printable Area" is set to "Standard".
On the "Main" tab, select the proper "Media Type" for the paper you are using.
Still on the "Main" tab, click "Custom" in the "Mode" group and click the "Advanced" button when it appears.
Under "Print Quality" select the highest DPI listed.
Under "Halftoning", select "High Quality Halftoning".
Check the "Microweave" box.
Uncheck the "High speed" box.
Under "Color Management", click "sRGB" if that option is available or "Color Controls" if sRGB is not an option.
If a "Gamma" setting is visible (when using "Color Controls" mode), set it to 1.8.
Under "Mode", select "Automatic".
Make certain that all sliders are set at zero position (center) if using "Color Controls" mode.
Click "OK" on all windows to accept the settings. "

I have just made another profile using the No Color Adjustment procedure.  The print is now coming out without the red color cast, but there is a hint of green. I will have to make a print of one of my earlier (as close as possible to perfect) photos to compare the result. However I find it very strange that for a couple of years I was using the sRGB method of profiling without any problems. For your information I am only using the Ilford Gloss Smooth Paper and I have always used the same ink. Since you mention "trying different papers" that is one thing that I have changed in the printer setup. I changed the setup from Premium Glossy Photo Paper to Glossy Paper Photo Weight. Could that make a difference?

The PP result for the Profile reads as follows:

Patches:   2 marked with X
Exposure:  217
Dynamic range: 79.8
Lab Space: 14.9
Smoothing: 2 Passes
                 0-255   0-255   0-255

What are your thoughts.

Kind regards,
Carl
Ibiza, Spain
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Fred A
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« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2010, 12:25:42 PM »
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"Epson Printers

Epson printer: option 1 (sRGB or color controls)

Aaah,
Maybe it's me!  I didn't get the latest Profile Prism update last week, but my instructions differ somewhat, Carl.

My instructions say: "Epson printer: option 1 - recommended (NCA)"

Option 1 is No Color Adjustment, the preferred method.

On the "Paper" tab, make sure you have the proper paper size selected. Also ensure that "Printable Area" is set to "Standard".
On the "Main" tab, select the proper "Media Type" for the paper you are using.
Still on the "Main" tab, click "Custom" in the "Mode" group and click the "Advanced" button when it appears.
Under "Print Quality" select the DPI that you plan to use for your prints.
Under "Halftoning", select "High Quality Halftoning".
Check the "Microweave" box (unless it is grayed out).
Uncheck/check the "High speed" box based on your preference.
Under "Color Management", click "No Color Adjustment".
Click "OK" on all windows to accept the settings.

This should be done before you print your target print.
The target print is made using Qimage set to PRINT TARGET JOB found in RECALL "J" ; either first or last item in the list, depending on sort.

The option 2 is set aside for "older" Epsons, and is what you show in your post.

Here's the main point:
IMPORTANT: Remember that you are setting your print driver so that it performs the same way all the time, so the settings below should be used for printing the original printer target and the exact same settings should also be used when utilizing your profile afterward! It is also advisable to perform a nozzle check prior to any profiling to ensure that all printhead nozzles are functioning properly (no clogs exist).


Hope some of this helps.

Fred
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ceus40
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Posts: 5
« Reply #6 on: November 18, 2010, 02:34:07 PM »
Hello again Fred,

The instructions that I followed are actually from an old version of PP. As I told you, my latest profile was made by NCA and that was an improvement. I have just printed another target using the Premium Gloss Photo Paper as I have previously used. Once it has dried I will scan it and proceed to make another profile.

Can you please advise me on the minimum drying time before scanning the printed target?s

Carl
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rayw
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Posts: 440
« Reply #7 on: November 19, 2010, 10:23:35 AM »
Hi Carl,

Quote
Can you please advise me on the minimum drying time before scanning the printed target?s

Depends on paper, ink, and atmosphere/climate. Overnight is probably safest.

Best wishes,

Ray.
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Fred A
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« Reply #8 on: November 19, 2010, 10:34:35 AM »
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Depends on paper, ink, and atmosphere/climate. Overnight is probably safest.

Best wishes,

Ray.

Ditto!
Thanks, Ray. I missed Carl's drying time question.

Fred
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