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2/01/08 Printing Photos on Inkjet Printers.

a) Camera Setup. Go through your camera's manual and menus and set the color space to Adobe RGB. Also choose Adobe RGB as your working space in Photoshop.

b) Image Size. How large of a file do you need? What size print will I be able to make?
Let's start with a formula

File Size mb = (h")(w")(output device resolution)^2(3)

(For Epson Printers start with output device resolution = 360) So if you want to print a 8"x12" photo to submit for the Reflections Competition you will need a file size of
(8)(12)(360)^2(3) = about 37.3mb
But what if our file is not that big? Don't worry you have several options: 1) Print your image at a smaller size. 2) Use Photoshop's Resample Bicubic Smoother to artificially increase the size (by up to 30%) to achieve 360dpi. If that is still insufficient to achieve the desired size, it is usually better to start decreasing the output device DPI from 360 toward 300 rather than interpolate more. Decreasing the output device DPI below 250 risks seriously degrading image quality. Remember you should sharpen (see Quick Edit) for each size you create. Read more about file size here.

c) Paper Selection. I strongly recommend paper with a matte like finish for ink jet prints. In particular, I use Epson Premium Luster Paper with my Epson printer. Despite significant advances, ink jet printers are still succeptable to slight gloss differential or bronzing (apparent pooling of dark areas when viewed at an angle). This problem is more prevelent with glossy paper and virtually undetectable with various matte papers. Glossy paper can be considered when the photo will not be displayed behind glass.

d) Monitor Calibration. Use visual calibration such as Adobe Gamma (Windows) or Monitor Calibrator (Mac OS). Better yet utilize a spectrophotometer and associated software to build an accurate monitor profile. The profile created should be installed in the directory c:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\color on a Windows computer. When calibrating, if you get a choice of white point choose 6500K and choose a gamma of 2.2 for PC's.

e) Printer Setup. This is the trickiest part so find your printer manual and be prepared to read it. (Please note, the process of creating a color calibrated workflow that maximizes image integrity and ensures that your output will match the image displayed on your screen is beyond our scope for now.) Now that you have decided on what paper you will use, you should download and install a printer profile for your specific paper/ink combination (available from your printer manufacturer or places like www.inkjetmall.com). Now when you print your image follow the instructions in your manaul to utilize this profile and set rendering to perceptual. Now just make sure you disable the printer driver's color management/color adjustment feature when making your selectoins during printing.

Here are sample settings for an EPSON printer:
File > Print, Page Setup, Advanced: choose paper type, size, Best Photo, and orientation.
Most importantly choose ICM and check the OFF box (we are going to have PhotoShop color manage for us not the printer)
Under Color handling, choose Photoshop Manages Colors and pick your printer profile for the type of paper you are using.
Now Print!

f) Possible Problems. If the print looks washed out then there may be no profile attached. By contrast if the print loooks too dark, then it may be double profiled / print driver color adjustments not disabled (See ICM=OFF above)