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Color Printing Tips
by Craig Hamer, ISV Program Management, Business Printing Division, Hewlett-Packard Company

Q: Can you give me any tips on how to set my printer so that it prints the colors as I see them on the screen?

We, at EQ, recently got this customer query. Since we didn't feel fully qualified to answer, we turned to HP's Craig Hamer for advice. (For more of Craig's printing tips see his earlier Floppy Gazette article, Tips for Printing on Fabric.)

A:This is a great question about matching computer monitor colors to actual printer output colors.

The problem is that the request is simple enough (and asked by many) but the answer is difficult and can go in many directions. Please don't feel frustrated by what follows. I am not an expert on printer/monitor calibration but I would like to share some of what I know and have experienced.

First, without going into much detail, here are some simple things to try for better monitor/printer color matching:

At the Printer -- Try different paper.

There are many grades of paper. Each paper type can affect the colors. (I like the HP Bright White paper, available at many office supply stores). You may need to experiment.

At the Computer -- Try a different printer driver setting

Printers have settings such as Best/Normal/Fast. Different amounts of ink are used for each setting and this can affect color. Try adjusting the printer driver settings for the color hue and intensity by sliding some of the adjusters in the driver.

At the Monitor -- Try adjusting "Brightness" - Try adjusting "Contrast" - Try adjusting "Color Temperature" (some monitors have this control)

Other Things to Consider

Monitor Color vs. Print Color - The color gamut of a computer monitor is different than the color gamut of an inkjet printer. There are some colors that a monitor can produce that an inkjet printer (any inkjet printer) will NEVER be able to reproduce.

Your Monitor's Color - Computer monitors often vary in the colors they produce. Just go into a computer store and look at the line of monitors and compare their screens.

What Some Professionals Use - For people that produce artwork for advertising and *HAVE * to have the colors just right, HP makes some printers…10ps/20ps/50ps… that range in price from $849 to $2,995. These are for people requiring precise color control. There still could be monitor/printer color issues with this. I'm just pointing out that there are high-end printers intended for optimum color control.

Calibrating Your Monitor - A company called Pantone markets a device (Spyder) that is used for calibrating the computer monitor. This calibration would be done on a weekly or monthly basis. Typically businesses requiring color control/matching would purchase this device.

Software - Each computer application (program that prints) can alter the colors that are printed. I personally experienced a situation where I was working with a computer artist and I could not get his artwork from a CD to print the original *intended* colors correctly. The artist saw my printouts and said they were the wrong colors (they looked ok to me). The tests I eventually did would make for a long story…the bottom line is that I tried three different graphics programs and all three printed out slightly different colors using my same computer system and same HP printer. Talk about frustration…

Room Lighting - The room lighting can change colors as well. I visited a company that uses HP printers in the design of fabric. They print on paper first (using HP Premium InkJet paper) and then take the printout to what I'll call a "light station." The printout is then looked at for color because the light is carefully controlled.

So…like I said, the question regarding computer monitor colors and printer output colors is often asked. Unfortunately there is no direct and simple answer that works for everyone. Hopefully what I've written doesn't frustrate you too much. Perhaps a simple change in paper or printer driver setting will help enough to overcome most of the color matching issues.

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CONTENTS: Announcements - Ask EQ - Free Stuff - Works For Me - Show & Tell - Quilt University - Hidden Block Quilts - Tessellating Fish - Designs by Alene - Karin Hellaby - Mischele Hart & Ann Castleberry - Color Printing Tips - Electric Quilt Computer Lab

	Volume 9, No. 2, Winter/Spring 2003 View Other Floppy Gazettes
	CONTENTS: Announcements - Ask EQ - Free Stuff - Works For Me - Show & Tell - Quilt University - Hidden Block Quilts - Tessellating Fish - Designs by Alene - Karin Hellaby - Mischele Hart & Ann Castleberry - Color Printing Tips - Electric Quilt Computer Lab Color Printing Tips by Craig Hamer, ISV Program Management, Business Printing Division, Hewlett-Packard Company Q: Can you give me any tips on how to set my printer so that it prints the colors as I see them on the screen? We, at EQ, recently got this customer query. Since we didn't feel fully qualified to answer, we turned to HP's Craig Hamer for advice. (For more of Craig's printing tips see his earlier Floppy Gazette article, Tips for Printing on Fabric.) A:This is a great question about matching computer monitor colors to actual printer output colors. The problem is that the request is simple enough (and asked by many) but the answer is difficult and can go in many directions. Please don't feel frustrated by what follows. I am not an expert on printer/monitor calibration but I would like to share some of what I know and have experienced. First, without going into much detail, here are some simple things to try for better monitor/printer color matching: At the Printer -- Try different paper. There are many grades of paper. Each paper type can affect the colors. (I like the HP Bright White paper, available at many office supply stores). You may need to experiment. At the Computer -- Try a different printer driver setting Printers have settings such as Best/Normal/Fast. Different amounts of ink are used for each setting and this can affect color. Try adjusting the printer driver settings for the color hue and intensity by sliding some of the adjusters in the driver. At the Monitor -- Try adjusting "Brightness" - Try adjusting "Contrast" - Try adjusting "Color Temperature" (some monitors have this control) Other Things to Consider Monitor Color vs. Print Color - The color gamut of a computer monitor is different than the color gamut of an inkjet printer. There are some colors that a monitor can produce that an inkjet printer (any inkjet printer) will NEVER be able to reproduce. Your Monitor's Color - Computer monitors often vary in the colors they produce. Just go into a computer store and look at the line of monitors and compare their screens. What Some Professionals Use - For people that produce artwork for advertising and HAVE to have the colors just right, HP makes some printers…10ps/20ps/50ps… that range in price from $849 to $2,995. These are for people requiring precise color control. There still could be monitor/printer color issues with this. I'm just pointing out that there are high-end printers intended for optimum color control. Calibrating Your Monitor - A company called Pantone markets a device (Spyder) that is used for calibrating the computer monitor. This calibration would be done on a weekly or monthly basis. Typically businesses requiring color control/matching would purchase this device. Software - Each computer application (program that prints) can alter the colors that are printed. I personally experienced a situation where I was working with a computer artist and I could not get his artwork from a CD to print the original intended colors correctly. The artist saw my printouts and said they were the wrong colors (they looked ok to me). The tests I eventually did would make for a long story…the bottom line is that I tried three different graphics programs and all three printed out slightly different colors using my same computer system and same HP printer. Talk about frustration… Room Lighting - The room lighting can change colors as well. I visited a company that uses HP printers in the design of fabric. They print on paper first (using HP Premium InkJet paper) and then take the printout to what I'll call a "light station." The printout is then looked at for color because the light is carefully controlled. So…like I said, the question regarding computer monitor colors and printer output colors is often asked. Unfortunately there is no direct and simple answer that works for everyone. Hopefully what I've written doesn't frustrate you too much. Perhaps a simple change in paper or printer driver setting will help enough to overcome most of the color matching issues. ============================================================== CONTENTS: Announcements - Ask EQ - Free Stuff - Works For Me - Show & Tell - Quilt University - Hidden Block Quilts - Tessellating Fish - Designs by Alene - Karin Hellaby - Mischele Hart & Ann Castleberry - Color Printing Tips - Electric Quilt Computer Lab
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