Networked HP Deskjet + printing from Photoshop 7

[Paddy]

Argh...I've spent a lot of time on the Photoshop forums and elsewhere trying to resolve this issue and so far, can't figure it out.

If I use my Deskjet 960 in networked mode (through an HP print server) I completely lose all the HP custom settings options. NO way whatsoever to access the "Paper type and quality" (ink, paper etc.) selections in the print dialog. They simply do not show up in the drop down menu under "Copies and Pages" when I use this printer on the network. If I use it via USB - no problem - the options appear.

 

Also, does anyone have a good tutorial on setting color management options for something other than Epson printers? I can only find ones that pertain to Epson, and frankly, I'm lost.

I was trying to use this tutorial, and everything was more or less fine until I got to this page. I don't have "printer color management" as an option (step 2). I've just tried "Postscript color management", which is what the manual suggests if you don't know the color space for your printer - it is yielding much better results, though now things seem a bit dark. HP has no info that I've been able to find. Is this the best setting to use?

For the record - all the latest HP drivers etc. - OS 10.3.1, Photoshop 7. Using Epson glossy paper (which I doubt will affect the color issue much). Monitor has been calibrated using the Electron Blue 22 profile. Both the OS and PS are about to be updated this week, though I'm not sure that this will solve my problems!

[tacit]

Okay, for starters: When you print to the networked printer, what printer driver are you using? The PostScript driver? Is it actually a PostScript printer--that is, do you have a PostScript RIP for it?

If so, you won't get the same controls you do when you connect it to the computer directly and print in non-PostScript mode. (You mentioned "PostScript color management," which is what has me thinking you are printing to the printer in PostScript mode.)

If you do have a PostScript RIP, you would set the advanced printer options in the RIP software, not in the Print dialog!

[Paddy]

I'm using the Deskjet 960 printer driver, which is not a postscript driver. And no, I don't have a Postscript RIP (or not one that will run in anything close to OS X!!! I did have one for an Epson printer many moons ago, but was never able to get everything working properly, despite several long telephone conversations with very helpful Epson support people.

On reading the manual yet again, I realize that they really don't intend for you to use the Postscript Color Management for a non-postscript printer, but oddly enough, so far, it's produced the best color! There is NO ICC profile for the HP Deskjet 960 that I can find - nothing shows up in the list of profiles in PS under "Print Space". And I've looked for third party profiles too with no luck. And yes, I KNOW this isn't a "pro" printer, but it's all I've got right now, so I want to make it do the best job it can. So, which option should I choose? I've read what I can, but everything assumes that you have a profile handy and I don't. I've even tried "same as source" (ie: don't color manage) and the results are still not correct. Skin tones are still too cool, compared to what I'm seeing on my monitor.

I've calibrated this monitor several times - I'm now trying Adobe RGB 1998, since the calibration for the Electron Blue 22 seems too cool and since the photo profile was not converted to this, this may be part of the problem - my profile and what I was actually seeing were not the same. As my son would say..."well, duh".

Later...

I'm still a tad confused here, but finally seem to have found something that actually works!!!

Having now converted the profile for the photos to Adobe RGB 1998, calibrated the monitor to RGB 1998 (and renamed & saved it - slightly tweaked) and selected the same profile for the print space, finally, I'm getting exactly what I expect. I think the mistake may have been in the monitor calibration (and not changing the photo profile - using the embedded profile had me fooled - nothing I read on that subject was especially clear) Now, I'm using essentially the same profile as the camera spits out (sRBG, if I remember correctly, which fits within the Adobe RGB 1998 space) and all is right with the world. Still somewhat clueless about all of this, but hey...only about 10 prints and who knows how much ink later...something that resembles reality!

All of this will no doubt be phenomenally obvious to those of you with more PS 6/7 experience than me. Most of my Photoshop work recently has been for the web - and I had only done a few prints on my HP since I got it, and none since upgrading PS. My old Epson 850 and whatever version of PS I was using two years ago had given me good results but I had never gotten to the point of fiddling with the HP for optimum results until now. With a two year backlog of digital photos and my lovely new toy (Canon Digital Rebel), I've got to start printing 'em out! I may also send some off to ofoto or whichever digital lab produces the nicest prints - anyone have any recommendations? Given the cost of HP ink, it may be the cheaper option for the "Grandma prints", and also the more permanent one, since HP's inks are not archival quality like the high-end Epson and Canon ones.

[Gary S]

Paddy,

For the "Grandma prints", I would just take your memory card to WalMart  (I know), I have a friend Walter there that guarantees my prints from my digital camera at our local town WM, or anywhere else you can find good sevice that will secure your enjoyment of the finished prints.

My HP 932c is alright for most stuff but I've found that for the photo-realism they turn out better if printed traditionally at the local photo place, just like regular prints. I pay aroung 29¢ a print for 6"x 4".

As for the Color management, well it's hell. I think your headed in the right direction though.

Adobe RGB 1998 is a pretty good profile. I use it on both my machines so they're in sync.

My monitor gamma is set to 2.0 which can be a little dark sometimes.

Color management isn't easy........yet. As a matter of fact sometimes I think I'd do better with no color management at all.

Good luck.