Even so, one would expect even a bad profile to produce the same results from different workflows if they use the same profile with proper and consistent settings. I think that's the issue here
Brad,
As I understand it, Peter is getting decent prints using Let Printer manage color.
That uses a wide gamut color feed from Qimage and lets the DRIVER invoke whatever setting you use, ICM or Color, Argb or sRGB.
It makes no difference.
If you use the same settings in Photo Shop as in Qimage, same driver settings and paper selection etc, you will get the same color either way.
I have been doing this a long time. I have had to prove, over and over again that there is no such thing as PS prints fine and Qimage with a color shift if all other parameters are set the same.
People just refuse to believe that Photo Shop can fool them. It does. With color space, with sizing, with saving....
People refuse to believe that a profile could be less than perfect too, sometimes corrupt.
We will find the discrepancy, but you have to maintain logic as you make tests.
If I can see the image and ascertain the profile embedded in the image, and also have Peter make a few other prints using HP paper and an HP matching printer profile, we will have the answer.
We might have a bad profile. We might have some kind of brand of paper that doesn't like his inks. We might have a situation where he made a profile with the driver set to color, and prints using the profile with the driver set to Printer OFF.
I don't know the answer.
I do know that all settings equal, and same profile in use, Photo Shop and Qimage will produce the same color.
Brad,
MOST OF THE TIME, (I capitalized for effect to get your attention) I have found in an overwhelming number of issues like this, the person trying to get the prints to come out right,
ARE NOT ACTUALLY PRINTING. THEY ARE USING PRINT PREVIEW instead.That is worthless. As Terry said earlier, there is no color management incorporated in the preview.
I have also been stymied by being told about misguided printer profiles and prints, (Being told: "I get better color using the XYZ profile from RED River paper on my Canon paper than the Canon profile")
After probing I find out that the person with the question found it wasting too much ink or paper to actually make prints so he found it more expedient to use SOFT PROOF instead.
This may be cheaper but not definitive and almost of no value.
So forgive me if I dig my heels in. Experience talking!
Brad, I get, on average, a dozen phone calls a week with similar questions.... I make them print real prints, or don't waste my time!
The results of that are eye openers.... Problems are solved.
Fred