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Printing accurate colors
Last update:  12-31-1969

Submitted by Jonas M. Rogne (Chain)
This tutorial will show you how to get a printing result with good colors. The example uses a Canon printer.

This tutorial is Copyright © Jonas M. Rogne (Chain), who has sole responsiblity for its content.
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Printing correct colors

This tutorial will show you how to get a printing result with correct colors, matching your monitor as much as possible (assuming your monitor is decently calibrated). This tutorial will show two different methods (depending on if you have the correct printer profile or not). These are the same two methods recommended by Canon (and probably everyone else). I will try to not go into very much detail.

Method 1 – Using a printer profile | Method 2 – Printer manages color  | Final notes

Software/hardware used:

  • Canon Pixma MP610 printer. This will work for other Canon models, as well as with printers from different companies. Note that printers not made by Canon will have different-looking printer settings, but the concept will be the same (but things will probably be named differently). Make sure you have the latest drivers.
  • Windows XP Pro. It will work the same way on OS X and different versions of Windows, but the printer dialogue will look a bit different.
  • Adobe Photoshop CS4. It will work the same way in CS3. In CS and CS2 you should use "Print with Preview..." instead of "Print...". Other color-managed programs should also have the required options, and if not, use method 2.
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