i1 profile problems with printing

[Tony Field]

I am still having problems developing a good profile with the Greta Macbeth i1 pro sytem. In particular, the current problems are with the Canon Pro 9000 printer. Prints are "too dark/contrasty". To the eye, compared to the screen, the images seem to be the equivalent of about 1/2 stop "underexposed".

I understand that the generated profiles should yield "almost perfect" results with only minor tweeks needed in the profile editor. In my case, "large" profile changes to brightness is needed. Obviously, I am doing something wrong or have missed some critical step.

This is the process I used:

--- printer configuration ---
The print calibration uses the i1 TC 9.18 Testchart

color handling: Photoshop manages colors
printer profile: generated by Greta Macbeth i1
rendering intent: perceptual
canon printer preferences color/intensity: manual
canon manual color adjustments: none
canon print quality: custom (fine, diffusion)

--- monitor calibration ---
white point: 6500K
gamma: 2.2
luminance 108.4 cd/m2
min luminance: 0.4 cd/m2

ambient light: 4200k
illuminance: 21 lux

--- print viewing ---
viewing illuminance: 1000 lux (can vary between 600 and 1900)
lamp temperature: 5500 K (fluorescent)

The screen image is has good colour with appropriate contrast. Printing with the new profiles yields a darker than expected image and, because of the extra saturation, seem contrastier. Of course, the profiles can be edited to adjust the output image.

To approximate the print on-screen, I can adjust the Curves of the photoshop image. Viewing the print and screen as carefully as possible while adjusting the curves, the amount of darkening is quite substantial - the curves input/output numbers are

input: 150
output: 130

If I were to guess in terms of camera exposure, it almost looks as though the print is under-exposed by about 1/2 or more f-stops compared to the screen . This is under my 5500K fluorescent viewing lamp with more than adequate intensity.

Soft proofing (CTL/Y) does not show the darkening effect - only minor gamut and tonality shifts are seen and this is reflected in the "proof image" on the "print" screen. Since Photoshop is handling the colour management, the print driver preview is, as expected, off-colour and intensity.

I don't know if it is significant - screen profiles are loaded by the Windows ICC Colour Loader. No other loaders are used.

I also examined images from a friend that looks excellent on her apple computer and looks "virtually identical" on my microsoft system. This indicates that my screen calibration should be quite good (or hers are equally as bad as mine

I am using four test images: my personally prepared "velvia like" colour image with many colours, two grey scales and a colour rainbow. The second and third images are of ladies with different skin tones. The fourth image is the Canon-provied 1Ds-III portrait sample (young lady with pearls and a white dress).

I hope these full sized and large (4mb or larger) files are appropriate. The can be retrieved here if you wish to look and certainly comments about the image choice would be appreciated:

colour test image 1
colour test image 2
colour test image 3
colour test image 4

This is getting frustrating...

any additional ideas.??

 

[Don Lashier]

Tony, it sounds like your monitor is calibrated too bright. Is it an LCD or tube? If a tube then (depending on ambient) imo 105 cd/m2 is way too bright. I had to dial my tube down to about 85 cd/m2 to get a decent match with my I1 generated printer profiles.

- DL

 

[Tony Field]

Hi Don.... The display is LCD. The i1 calibration process suggests that 120 cd/m2 is appropriate for LCD however my primary monitor will not go above 108 - so both monitors are set with this value.

 

[Bart_van_der_Wolf]

Soft proofing (CTL/Y) does not show the darkening effect - only minor gamut and tonality shifts are seen and this is reflected in the "proof image" on the "print" screen.

Just to make sure; when you start up Photoshop and before you open any images, and look at the "View|Proof Setup" menu option, does it show "Monitor RGB" as selected?

I don't know if it is significant - screen profiles are loaded by the Windows ICC Colour Loader. No other loaders are used.

Why and how did that occur? The standard loader that is installed by the Eye-One software in the Startup folder, is the "Logo Calibration Loader".

Also, which OS are you using, XP or Vista? Vista reportedly has problems in retaining the loaded display profile when prompted for administrator privileges.

Bart

 

[Tony Field]

I removed the Logo Calibration Loader and substituted the Windows loader because the Eye-One software does not seem to support loading profiles for multiple screens.

I am running XP.

 

[Tony Fiorda]

Tony,

I am using an Eizo CE240W and when I calibrated it I was very surprised at what they said to use. Specifically 100 cdl brightness. My brightness control is down to 5% in order to get this level and initially it looked quite dark. However, now I am used to this brightness and i am getting great print matching to screen display. Since you are saying the print is about 1/2 stop darker, you might try 100cdl instead.

FYI, I started mine at 120 cdl just as the iOne suggested but I got terible matching results. That's when I called Eizo direct to find out what they recommend.

Tony...

 

[Alan Rew]

Tony, you say

To the eye, compared to the screen, the images seem to be the equivalent of about 1/2 stop "underexposed"

but are you comparing the print with a soft proof in Photoshop, and, if so, have you checked the 'paper white' and 'ink black' options (I'm talking Photoshop CS terminology here so YMMV with other versions)? Unless you compare the print with a soft proof then there's not much chance of a resemblance between screen and print.
Also, if your screen and proofing lights are significantly different brightnesses then you'll have problems as well.
HTH
Alan