Colour profiles with new printer - HELP!!

[Lucy Ryder]

Hello fellow desingers, we have just bought a new Olivetti d-colour MF201 Plus printer, and I am trying to set the correct profile so that what prints out looks like what i see on my screen - does anyone have any ideas, or know where I could find out info on this? Thanks you very much!!!!:)

[PrintDriver]

First, is your monitor callibrated?
Second, are you using the paper suggested by Olivetti and did the printer driver come with on-board profiles for it? Cuz if you have to profile for all the papers you use that could get expensive.

Edit: Eeeee, it's a multifunction unit?
Good luck with that.

[Silence04]

if your screen isn't correctly profiled, you would need to do that first with screen calibration hardware.

Typically printers come with a set of standard color profiles that will work decently if you use the specific paper and ink. If the printer didn't come with standard profiles or if you aren't pleased with the results, I would suggest investing in a color management system if color is going to be critical.

If you're unfamiliar about how color management works, you might find these training videos helpful: http://www.gretagmacbethstore.com/training/EyeOnePhoto/ColorManagementinPhotoshopCS/index.html

[Lucy Ryder]

Wow thanks so much for the quick replies - in terms of my monitor being calibrated - im not sure how i do this - i did use Spyder Colour Pro 2 which i thought calibrated my monitor - but what i print looks different to my screen. Is there somewhere else on my mac i have to calibrate?

Thanks for the colour management link - really appreciate it. Im also a beginner with "Profiles" - does anyone know what profile i should print to from the long list that can be selected when i print???

Thanks again, im a junior designer and really appreciate any help in this mad world!!

[HappyFriday]

Hi Lucy,
Judging from this model's sales PDF info, a printer that comes with the abilties like "COPIER, PRINTER, SCANNER, FAX", really isn't going to do a good job on color proofing.

"FIERY** CONTROLLER FOR OPTIMISED COLOUR MANAGEMENT" followed by **optional for d-Color MF250 and MF350...

Calibrating your monitor is a first step but if your printer isn't even running on a decent RIP, you really don't stand a chance on establishing any color management.

Best to just rely on experience and double check your actual coor proofs from printer.

[Drazan]

Fiery is an actual RIP software that mathematically calculates and converts your file for the best print on that particular machine.

If you don't have the Fiery RIP then quite possibly the only choices are gamma and contrast.

You can check the driver software to see if there's some type of color chart to print. Else you can make one of your own using a pantone - process book.

Typically those types of duplicators "comes close" but will never hit spot on.


Also - my absolutely biggest tip is to stop designing by screen and learn your color values and numbers. Learn the relationship of what you see is not what you get and then adjust accordingly.

My flat panel isn't callibrated - yet, and it constantly shows a blue tinge to just about everything. I've tried numberous manual settings with no noticable improvement. However, because I know my number values and my print process - I usually hit the colors right on the mark. Experience will teach you this.

Also if you are using pantone swatches or out of gamut colors on your monitor - they will never come out right in a process print.

Jade

[Lucy Ryder]

Thanks for all you advise, it really helps. One more thing, what profile should i be printing to from the long list offered eg. Generic CMYK, imac, Euroscale coated - what difference does this make to the print?? Thanks again, you are all my saviours!
Lucy

[HappyFriday]

Here's are some things to check and confirm first...

1) Does the printer have Fiery RIP or not? If not, I seriously doubt outputing using any color profile to that pritner will make any noticalbe difference. You can easy test this using an image and print from photoshop. Using same image, assign a color profile > print > select no color management and printing using the assigned document profile.

2) All hope is not lost, as I have learned CMS (color management system) is not an exact science, althought many would disagree with me on this. If there is anything consistent about color is the inconsistency you'll always see.

3) Take a deep breath, smile and realize this is a great chance to learn how to be a good designer without relying on CMS. Old school designers knew their colors from good and bad experience. That said, CMS workflow is more important to printers than designers. As you design keep in mind colors you see on screen won't be what you get in the end... unless, you are always designing with spot colors.

4) I'm not discouraging you from learning CMS, I think if you are a Jr. Designer, that responsiblity doesn't lie with you, but someone higher up. Do read up on CMS, because this stuff is changing fast even if you are not in the position to make decisions on any CMS workflow.