need help with profiles and software

[bms]

Then, corrected I stand JSR
Sawgrass don't supply any instructions for printing with Publisher, so it isn't an officially supported software package and we couldn't offer any further advice/ problem solving with packages other than PhotoShop or Corel Draw. But take the point that there are work arounds!

[JSR]

Then, corrected I stand JSR
Sawgrass don't supply any instructions for printing with Publisher, so it isn't an officially supported software package and we couldn't offer any further advice/ problem solving with packages other than PhotoShop or Corel Draw. But take the point that there are work arounds!

I've always found it amusing that Sawgrass only provide instructions for "expensive" software and not any of the cheaper alternatives and then they don't point out the main advantage of this type of software is the ability to soft-proof.

For anyone who's lost their supplied instructions, documents can be found at http://www.sawgrasseurope.com/v.php?pg=579, although just beware that their "Epson Driver Configurations" instructions are for ICC-aware apps (i.e. you must also use their "Graphics Software Printing Instructions", too). They don't provide any instructions for non-ICC aware apps (which is a bit sad because one instruction sheet would suit all non-ICC apps).

I would recommend to everyone to read up on profiles and rendering intents in order to get the best out of your system. Sawgrass' instructions are a good starting point, but there's little in the instructions to explain what the settings do. The more you learn, the better your chances of correcting and adjusting the printer and your software when the time comes.

[TonyM]

bms wrote:
You can't use publisher for printing in sublimation. It needs to be Corel or Photoshop which are the main ones to use.
I'm hate to contradict but, actually, you can.

Oh I hope so. I have downloaded both Corel and PS o demo and was going to see which I prefered and then purchase it. I already have publisher and use it all the time

Using ICC profiles with the likes of Corel and Photoshop enables you to "soft-proof" (if the rest of your system is profiled correctly) but you can use almost any software to print.

The profile just needs to be used somewhere in the chain. You either use it with the ICC-aware software (Corel, Photoshop, etc) and turn it off in Printer driver Properties; or you use software that isn't ICC-aware (Publisher, etc) and turn it on in the Printer driver Properties.

Just don't turn it on in both the ICC-aware software and the Printer driver Properties at the same time - otherwise you get double-profiling and strange results.
That was the kid of message I was getting. It was mentioning double profiling and something about scripts.

If your software is not ICC-aware (such as with Publisher), you simply set up Printer driver Properties to "ICM", select your ICM Mode, pick your Intent (Perceptual) and your Printer Profile from the drop-down box (Artanium).
I will have a look at this later as I am just on a dinner break now. So basically I just need to set up my printer epson 1400 and I will be ok with my preferred Publisher? Not sure what is meant by intent or if my drop box has has Artanium. My inks are actually Rotech I was mistaken when I first thought they were Artanium

I normally print with the ICC-aware Qimage (cheaper than Corel/Photoshop) but I occasionally print using the non-ICC aware portable app Faststone Image Viewer. The former uses the profile, the latter lets the printer use the profile. The results from both are them same (I just prefer Qimage because it has more powerful quality algorithms, but FastStone is faster).
I will let you know how I get on later.

Thanks

[JSR]

I will have a look at this later as I am just on a dinner break now. So basically I just need to set up my printer epson 1400 and I will be ok with my preferred Publisher? Not sure what is meant by intent or if my drop box has has Artanium. My inks are actually Rotech I was mistaken when I first thought they were Artanium

I can't specifically say for Rotech because I've never used it but, if it helps, the following image shows my settings for when I'm using non-ICC aware apps:



I use these settings when printing from non-ICC aware apps like FastStone Viewer and Serif PagePlus. (PagePlus does have rudimentary ICC-aware options but I turn them off.)

Hope this helps.

[TonyM]

Hi JSR
Unfortunatley I cannot change the printer profile without having the show all profiles box checked (I only get Epson)
I can only check the box if I have ICM mode as Driver ICM basic. If I have it on host as your example I do not get the option to show all profiles and therefore only Epson in the printer profile.
I can change the input value to Rotech also but have left it as it came up sRGB IEC61966-2.1.
I have copied the rest of your settings. I am running windoes 7. Would this make a difference?
Should I change the sRGB IEC61966-2.1 to Rotech also?
Do you think I am on the right track.
Finally. Do I need to actually print from publisher? I was thinking of saving the design as a high dpi TIFF in a folder and printing using the attached properties.
Thanks
Tony

[JSR]

Hi JSR
Unfortunatley I cannot change the printer profile without having the show all profiles box checked (I only get Epson)
I can only check the box if I have ICM mode as Driver ICM basic. If I have it on host as your example I do not get the option to show all profiles and therefore only Epson in the printer profile.

"Driver ICM Basic" should be okay. (I've not tried it but, if it does what I think it does, it should be okay.)

I can change the input value to Rotech also but have left it as it came up sRGB IEC61966-2.1.

The input profile is generally the profile of the image you're printing. If the image was scanned with a particular scanner or created in an app and had a non-standard profile assigned, you would select the correct profile here. Most common digital cameras and scanners don't have a specific profile and work to RGB anyway. If all you're doing is printing an image from one of these sources then sRGB should do.

I have copied the rest of your settings. I am running windoes 7. Would this make a difference?

I don't have Windows 7. It's probably more ICC-aware than my Windows XP, and the printer drivers likewise, so expect a bit of trial and error. Once you work it out, you'll be fine. Just note down what settings you use for the future.

Should I change the sRGB IEC61966-2.1 to Rotech also?

No.

Do you think I am on the right track.

Yes.

Finally. Do I need to actually print from publisher? I was thinking of saving the design as a high dpi TIFF in a folder and printing using the attached properties.

Using the method we're working on here means you can print from any non-ICC aware app that you wish - even direct from within Windows. Normally, however, you'll want to use some kind of software to size/crop the image before printing.

Hope this helps.

[chongsta]

Just to throw a spanner in...

sRGB does give a brighter output pre-print on your monitor. You're not using photoshop so you wouldnt notice this but it might slightly affect the final print. You could also try the normal RGB profile if its available. its all about experimenting anyway.

It took me ages to get decent results with CMYK on a large format printer and i thought my knowledge would carry over to a desktop situation for sub-dye.....oh how wrong was I? Im straight back to the first chapter of printing lol - but in RGB now.

Good luck though, great advice given above, ive taken some of it in as well.

Cheers
dave.