printing profiles - DPChallenge Forums

02/04/2008 05:50:31 AM · #1

Hi,

I have a "stupid" question. I do not actually understand printing profiles in photoshop.
Well, I need to print some pictures and I want to send them via internet to a site where they are doing that. On the site they mention that if I use photoshop in order to adjust the pictures, then I should save them under a certain profile (they provide it on the site).
My question comes here: olny the pictures that I modified in photoshop should be saved under the profile they are giving? or all the pictures? I tried to save on of the adjusted pictures under the new profile, and the colors change a bit. Is this the way the print will come out? Then what about the pictures that I didn't modified in photoshop...their color will be also changed, right?
I hope I made myself clear.
Thanks!

Bianca

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

02/04/2008 07:40:12 AM · #2

bump!

Tycho

Nikon D70

02/04/2008 08:27:17 AM · #3

Originally posted by anotherday:

What the printing service is telling you, if that's really what they are saying, does not make sense. Color space of an image, such as sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto RGB etc., is one thing, printer profiles are an entirely different thing. If they provide the printer profiles, you can use them for soft proofing. That is, if your monitor is calibrated, by using Photoshop's proofing tools, you can get a reasonably accurate idea of how your image will look printed on a specific paper by a specific printer. For example, if you see some out of gamut colors, you adjust them until they look ok. This document explains the whole "color management nightmare" a lot better than I ever could.

02/04/2008 09:33:13 AM · #4

Originally posted by Tycho:

Originally posted by anotherday:
Hi,

I have a "stupid" question. I do not actually understand printing profiles in photoshop.
Well, I need to print some pictures and I want to send them via internet to a site where they are doing that. On the site they mention that if I use photoshop in order to adjust the pictures, then I should save them under a certain profile (they provide it on the site).
My question comes here: olny the pictures that I modified in photoshop should be saved under the profile they are giving? or all the pictures? I tried to save on of the adjusted pictures under the new profile, and the colors change a bit. Is this the way the print will come out? Then what about the pictures that I didn't modified in photoshop...their color will be also changed, right?
I hope I made myself clear.
Thanks!

Bianca

What the printing service is telling you, if that's really what they are saying, does not make sense. Color space of an image, such as sRGB, Adobe RGB, ProPhoto RGB etc., is one thing, printer profiles are an entirely different thing. If they provide the printer profiles, you can use them for soft proofing. That is, if your monitor is calibrated, by using Photoshop's proofing tools, you can get a reasonably accurate idea of how your image will look printed on a specific paper by a specific printer. For example, if you see some out of gamut colors, you adjust them until they look ok. This document explains the whole "color management nightmare" a lot better than I ever could.

Thanks for the answer.
It makes sense what you are saying, since they only give the profile for the photoshop users ...

Now here is another question. I have been "associating" the profile to the pictures, see how they'll look and they turn a bit yellowish (especially the skin). But if instead of "associate profile" I do "convert to profile", there are minor changes in my pictures (it looks almost like the original). Does this mean that if I do "convert to profile", then the picture will be printed as I see it after conversion? (assuming my monitor is calibrated).

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

02/04/2008 10:45:43 AM · #5

anyone? :)

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

02/04/2008 10:49:59 AM · #6

When changing the profile you want to associate your pictures to, converting is the right avenue.

However, converting your image to their printer profile will probably get you unexpected results. That profile, as has already been stated, is for proofing only.

I suspect that your image should be in the sRGB space when they send it. They are probably assuming that anyway. Which is why converting to the printer profile before sending the image will produce screwy results.

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

02/04/2008 10:55:21 AM · #7

Originally posted by cpanaioti:

ok, thanks!

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

02/04/2008 10:56:06 AM · #8

Originally posted by anotherday:

Originally posted by cpanaioti:
When changing the profile you want to associate your pictures to, converting is the right avenue.

However, converting your image to their printer profile will probably get you unexpected results. That profile, as has already been stated, is for proofing only.

I suspect that your image should be in the sRGB space when they send it. They are probably assuming that anyway. Which is why converting to the printer profile before sending the image will produce screwy results.

ok, thanks!

There may be more info on the printer's website.