Color Management 101 & Inkjet Printing w/ Lightroom

Transcription

1 Color Management 101 & Inkjet Printing w/ Lightroom by Andrew Darlow Photo Andrew Darlow April 10, 2010 Unique Photo 1

2 Outline 1. Printer Info/Tips 2. Choosing Inkjet Papers 3. Color Management Info/Tips 4. Photoshop Workflow/Tips 5. Lightroom Workflow/Tips 6. Printing of attendee images 2

3 Questions to Get Started 1. Name 2. Main reasons for taking class. 3. Which OS do you primarily use? 4. Which Printer(s) do you use? 3

4 Printer Info/Tips 1. Prices change - ask about rebates/bundles 2. The Inkjet Selector- available via PDF on inkjettips.com 3. The best printer in the world is the one (or more ) that are right for you-not someone else. 4. Dye vs. Pigment? Longevity? 5. We will cover inch wide printers 6. Black and White - Multiple black/gray inks + software 7. Size (some fit on table, some won t fit in a home /studio) 8. Paper feed options - cassette/roll/sheet/cd (thickness) 9. Cartridge size/individual + combination/starter tanks 10. Read the manual 11. Print Speed-Find the Sweet Spot - quality vs. speed 4

5 Printers about $100 Epson Stylus Photo R280 (approx. $100 US) 8.5 inch width Claria dye-based ink CD/DVD Printing 6 individual cartridges 5

6 The Printers - CANON Canon Pixma Pro9500 Mark II (approx. $850 USless rebates) 13'' wide (33cm) / Front & top paper feed 10 ink system (Lucia pigments) Photo and Matte Black installed Black and White optimized with MB/PB/gray ink Initial Longevity Tests: 100+ years (+ wheels) 6

7 The Printers - Canon Canon imageprograf ipf5100 (approx. $2000 US) Includes roll-feed (similar to ipf 5000)17'' wide (43cm) / Borderless (roll only) Built in sensor - allows you to calibrate to a known state-not profiling 12 ink system (Lucia pigments) - 2 grey/2 black (new-finer pigments) Photo and Matte Black installed - no changeover Paper feed: Cassette, top feed (front), rear sheet and roll feed Initial longevity tests: 100+ years 7

8 The Printers - Canon Canon imageprograf ipf6300/8300/9100: 24''/44''/60'' (ipf6300: approx $4000 ipf8300: approx $6000 ipf9100 approx. $15000 US) 24'' /44'' / 60'' wide (152cm) / Borderless (roll only) 12 ink system (Lucia pigments) - new: 2 gray/2 black Photo and Matte Black installed - 330/700ml Software for signage & Photoshop plug-in Initial longevity tests: 100+ years - Link to Good review ipf6300 (24'') has a front and top manual feed + roll. 8100/9100 have front manual feed + roll - NEW ipf6350 adds 80gb drive 8

9 The Printers - Epson Epson Stylus Photo R1900 (approx. $550 US) 13'' (33cm) wide (borderless - rolls/sheet) 7 UltraChrome Hi-Gloss 2 pigment inks + GO Gloss optimizer meant for glossy prints Photo and Matte Black installed Prints on CDs / DVDs Faster than the Epson R Tip: Use best quality 9

10 The Printers - Epson Epson Stylus Photo R2880 (approx. $700 US) Very similar to the R2400 (see current rebate) 13'' (33cm) wide (borderless - rolls/sheet) Front, top and top single sheet paper paths 8-color UltraChrome K3 inks (new vivid magenta) CD/DVD Print Capability LLK ink: Advanced Advanced Black and White mode Interchangeable Photo and Matte Black Clogs less than previous model 10

11 The Printers - Epson Epson Stylus Photo 1400 (approx. $300 US) 13'' (33cm) wide (borderless - rolls/sheet) Top feed 6 individual Claria Dye-based inks USB 2 connectivity Single black ink (no need to change) Prints on CDs/DVDs Photoshop Elements free (about an $80 value) 11

12 The Printers - Epson Epson Stylus Pro 3800 (approx. $1095 US) Professional Edition ColorBurst RIP - (approx. $200 US) 17'' (43cm) wide - 43 lbs. -fits on most desks 2 top load trays + front tray for up to 1.5mm 9 ink slots: 8-color UltraChrome K3 inks Photo/Matte black on-board (uses 1.5 to 4.5ml) Advanced Black and White mode- 373/8 max. length 12

13 The Printers - Epson Epson Stylus Pro 3880 (approx. $1295 US) USB 2 and Ethernet connectivity Professional Edition ColorBurst RIP - (approx. $200 US) 17'' (43cm) wide - 43 lbs. -fits on most desks 2 top load trays + front tray for up to 1.5mm 9 ink slots: 8-color UltraChrome K3 + Vivid Magenta inks Photo/Matte black on-board (uses 1.5 to 4.5ml) Advanced Black and White mode- 373/8 max. length 13

14 The Printers - Epson Epson Stylus Pro 4880 (approx. $2000 US) Portrait Edition Helps with packages-similar to Gemini (approx. $2200 US) Professional Edition (ColorBurst RIP) will be available 17'' (43cm) wide - stand is optional - NEW USB2 + FireWire Tray, front, top and roll paper paths Faster than color UltraChrome K3 with new Vivid Magenta ink SP4880 ink (except new VM) will fit in SP4800 Advanced Black and White mode Clog-reducing coating Interchangeable Photo and Matte Black unlike the SP

15 The Printers - Epson Epson Stylus Pro 7880: 24'' (approx. $3000 US) Epson Stylus Pro 9880: 44'' (approx. $5000 US) Professional Editions Available Very similar to specs of the 4880 (link to specs) Up to 1.5mm thickness from front top feed 8-color UltraChrome K3 inks + Vivid Magenta Interchangeable Photo and Matte Black Longevity Tests (certain media): years 15

16 The Printers - Epson Epson Stylus Pro 7900: 24'' (approx. $4000 US) Epson Stylus Pro 9900: 44'' (approx. $6000 US) Rebates - $700 or $1000 Professional Editions Available Similar to specs of the 7880/9880 Vivid Magenta (10 inks running at a time) Interchangeable Photo and Matte Black but only 1-3ml ink waste with a switch, and much less time Longevity Tests (certain media): years Very fast- high quality even at less than best resolution 16

17 The Printers - HP HP Photosmart Pro B9180 (approx. $600 US) 13 inch (33cm) width - Tray- Up to 1.5mm thick Water-resistant HP Vivera Pigment ink/charged -Initial longevity tests: years 8 inks -Matte and Photo Black installed + Gray Built-in Calibration/ Ethernet-USB / Electrostatic Drop Detection. 17

18 The Printers - HP HP Photosmart Pro B8850 (approx. $550 US) 13 inch (33cm) width - Tray- Up to.7 mm thick Water-resistant HP Vivera Pigment ink/charged -Est. longevity tests: years 8 inks -Matte and Photo Black installed + Gray Built-in Calibration/ Ethernet-USB / Electrostatic Drop Detection. Photoshop plug-in for Mac and Windows- PS CS2 not CS3 18

19 The Printers - HP HP Designjet Z '': approx. $3,395 US 44'': approx. $5,595 US Two sizes: 24'' (107cm) & 44'' (152cm) 8 HP Vivera Pigment inks (include. Gray) - like the B9180 Longevity Tests (certain media): 200+ years -.88mm Built-in GretagMacbeth spectrophotometer 130ml carts / 40GB hard drive / Ethernet / USB

20 The Printers - HP HP Designjet Z '': approx. $4,095 US 44'': approx. $6,295 US Two sizes: 24'' (107cm) & 44'' (112cm) 11 HP Vivera Pigment inks + Gloss Optimizer for 12 total Includes. 2 blacks and 2 Grays. Longevity Tests (certain media): 200+ years -.88mm Built-in GretagMacbeth spectrophotometer 130ml carts / 80GB hard drive / Ethernet / USB

21 Paper/Canvas Tips What are they for? Exhibition, Portfolio, Grandma? 1. Thickness/Strength: some are resistant to scratching, some are double-sided- mil is thickness and gsm is weight 2. Gloss/semi-gloss papers - Look like traditional photos RC Micro-porous vs. Swellable papers (Epson1400) 3. Outgassing can be a problem -Cover prints for 24hrs. (Lineco s unbuffered acid-free sheets) - Bronzing/Gloss Differential 4. Matte /Watercolor Papers - many, many options/textures Rag (cotton rags) vs. Alpha Cellulose (wood pulp) vs Mix. 5. Consider heavyweight papers (over 250gsm) - they sit flatter. An exception are books gsm are ideal. 6. Consider OBAs (Optical Brightening Agents)- Bright white 7. Susceptibility to flaking-brush to reduce 8. Cut sheets from rolls first, then brush them to avoid dust 9. Vacuum papers 10. Canvas - Matte/Semi-gloss/gloss - wrapping & coating 21

22 Fiber Gloss/Semi-gloss Tips 1. Gorgeous darkroom feel 2. Thickness/surface (sheen) ranges a lot between brands 3. Black & White vs. Color 4. Some are more resistant to scratching 5. Spraying can help protect them 6. They can also outgas 7. Great for portfolio books, cards. 8. Score with a knife or scoring bone to make cards 22

23 Color Management/Profiling Calibrate and Profile: Especially your monitor(s) Use a standard image (Like the PhotoDisc target): Link: L2.2 Datacolor (above, left)/x-rite (above, right) have high quality products-- Also available: ColorMunki, hueypro Test charts help a lot to judge different output devices 23

24 Color Management/ ICC Profiling Use custom profiles for best results: Resources: Supplied company profiles can also be very good (Atkinson profiles) Some paper manufacturers make custom profiles. Plusses/Minuses When printing from a color-management aware application like Photoshop, Use No color management/application Managed when printing 24

25 Which Working Space? 25

26 Color Management/Profiling 26

27 Presentation/ Portfolios (1) Kolo Cortina Lux Scrapbook; (2) Kolo Vineyard Paper Album. It has a saddle-stitch binding with two staples; (3) Pina Zangaro Boro aluminum photo box; (4) Kolo Toto Accordian Photo Album; (5) Hand assembled book, bound using white double loop Wire-O wire closures and a hand-operated binding machine from James Burn International (Model EB-32); (6) A simple wire bound book from an art supply store. Two pieces of heavy faux-leather covers with about 50 sheets of heavy black acid-free paper inside give the album a high-end look and feel. A window is cut out to allow the first photo to show through; (7) Pina Zangaro Vista 14x11 Screwpost Cover (Style: Snow). Screwpost books are also called post-bound. A Pina Zangaro 14" clear Adhesive Hinge Strip is attached to the left side of the inkjet print shown in the photo, which allows it to be easily bound into the portfolio; (8) A small, business-card sized book with black plastic coil binding; (9) Matchmakers DCWV Mini Album. It has a saddle-stitched binding with one staple. 27

28 Black & White / Monochrome HP, Canon & Epson all have monochrome options Dedicated ink sets: Piezography ( Black ink only can work well Quadtone RIP (especially good for older Epson printers like the Epson 4000/Epson 2200) Check out the DigitalBlackandWhitethePrint Newsgroup on Yahoogroups.com Amadou Diallo s Mastering Digital B&W book is a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to make Better B&W prints. 28