Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

Hi,

I'm a GIS user and I try to print my maps with Qimage for a better color matching.
The color printing is OK but the white areas are printed as light gray. When I print without color profile (Prtr ICC OFF) the white area is white, but the color not so good. I have ortophotos in my maps.

I have the same problem when I print photos with white border add to the image with photo editing software.

I will appreciate any solution or suggestion to resolve this problem.

Thank you

Hi Joe,
Please give us some more information.
Is you monitor calibrated/
Printer model, paper, source of ICC profile.
What are you driver settings for colour - show us a screen shot please.

My first reaction is that the white point of the image is out - maybe when not using a profile and the driver handling the colour, the driver corrects the white point.
Have you looked at the image in an editor and checked the levels?
In QU double click the thumb to open the editor and click the levels tab. If the right hand end of of the graph drops to nearly zero away from the max value of 255 then that would give grey whites I think.

Terry

Hi Terry,

Yes my monitor is calibrated with Spyder2,
Printer is HP Designjet 70
I made ICC profile with Profile Prism for the paper I use to print
Driver settings for colour are the defaults, same as when I print the target for profile creating.

Screen shot with printer settings:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5D408cSOSjJNmREeGFhZGRoWFk (https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5D408cSOSjJNmREeGFhZGRoWFk)
Screen shot with levels:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5D408cSOSjJODVBTUpTQXVVa1E (https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5D408cSOSjJODVBTUpTQXVVa1E)

Joe

Hi Joe,
Terry asked if I had any further ideas, so I am butting in with permission.
The above sentence has me confused.

You create the targets using the driver defaults?  What exactly does that mean.
If you asked Terry or me the same question, "How is your driver set when you make a target for Profile Prism," we would answer that it is set to the correct paper and NO COLOUR MANAGEMENT. (Color Management set to OFF)

Going by your explanation, white prints while with Profile turned OFF in Qimage, that sort of points me to your profile.  

Remember, the settings in the driver when you print, *Paper type, Quality setting, Color Management, and speed, * should be set the same when you create the target for Profile Prism.
Try this on a DARE.
Set the driver to ICM and set Qimage to Let Driver manage color. This will use Mike's internal print profile for Qimage.
Then tell us if the whites are gray in that configuration.
See screen snaps

Hope something helps.

Fred

Hi Fred,

My answer to to the question "How is your driver set when you make a target for Profile Prism," is: I set to the correct paper and NO COLOUR MANAGEMENT. (Color Management set to OFF).

you suggest: Set the driver to ICM

I don't find this option in my driver settings. I use Windows 7 32 bit.
I make the following settings
Select my printer (HP Designjet 70) in Devices and printers
Right click and select Printer properties
Select Color managament tab 
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5D408cSOSjJY3h1SThGdWJBVnc (https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5D408cSOSjJY3h1SThGdWJBVnc)
Click on Color managament button
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5D408cSOSjJanpNaC1EUjdjSkE (https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5D408cSOSjJanpNaC1EUjdjSkE)
in the opened window I select in the Device drop down list my printer
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5D408cSOSjJV1B5QlF2QXFNMmc (https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5D408cSOSjJV1B5QlF2QXFNMmc)
set on the checkbox Use my settings for this device
add my printer/paper profile (named offset_20160905c)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5D408cSOSjJdF9YQ2hYMEo1THc (https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5D408cSOSjJdF9YQ2hYMEo1THc)
In Qimage I set Let printer/driver manage color and the white is printed white.
Colors look good.

I will try with photos on the next week.

Thank you Terry, thank you Fred.

Joe,
Sorry, but you must start again from the beginning  :(  ....

First point , you should set your driver from within QU using the Printer setup icon  (next to the Print icon).

Secondly, Printer Properties is not the driver settings but a Windows thing. Driver settings are called "Printer Settings" but go there from QU as above.
In the context of full colour management for printing, the Windows Color Management is for devices connected to your computer and the printer profile is not relevant so remove that Profile Prism profile in that window.
You do not have a profile set for your monitor in Windows - that must be done too for good screen colours. I see from your 2nd post it's set to sRGB not the Spyder profile.

Finally, it seems you have not previously found your driver settings from within QU, it's likely your profile from PP is not correct.
Now you know where to set the driver from QU, use Fred's suggestion
Let us know how you get on

Hi Terry,

I don't answer because I was out of my office.
I'm back and I will continue to seek for on answer: why white are printed gray.
The driver for HP Designjet 70 don't have any setup option for Set the driver to ICM, for this reason I try the Windows  thing.
I print photos but colors is wrong.
Photos printed with light gray  instead off white border (photos printed with home created profile with Profile Prism, without "Windows thing"), have better colors, a little darker but match the monitor.

I think the problem is with the printer/driver.

I will try with another inkjet printer (photo printer) to see if the white is printed gray.

I forget to mention, I make profile for a Samsung CLP-620 Laser Color printer. The white are white when I print with this printer and good colors, wich match the screen.

Joe