How can I get the most accurate printing colors?

Question

I have an HP Photosmart 5180 All-in-One printer, and I the printing colors when I try to print photographs are not even remotely close to the actual colors. The contrast is always superboosted and the photo is dark. For example, in this shot:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/danamarie593/3439649513/

The rainbow lighting doesn't even print; it's just a solid black. Her hair prints dark brown with no detail, and her face is so light that it looks much too white.

What can I do to the printer settings to get the closest color match, or at least a tolerably close one. I have the quality set to best, the exact type of HP photo paper is selected, I don't understand what I could be doing wrong.

Answer 1

There are a number of things to do.

Firstly - don't expect miracles from an All-in-one printer, you won't get them.



The printer and screen need to be calibrated properly

The programme you are printing from affects things - if it is photoshop then let that take care of the colours.



set the printers colour profile correctly.

etc etc



TBH without seeing the actual problem and your current settings it is hard to give you specific advise.

Answer 2

There are a number of things you can do.



An all in one printer is made for general office work, not photography. I would recommend you upgrade to an Epson photo printer. I have an R1800. When I print images on this from images I have previously printed in the darkroom (color) the prints are almost indistinguishable. (Almost.) I don't find HP to be that great for photos, regardless of whether or not photo is in the name.



Print through photoshop, and let photoshop, not the printer control the colors. Always use the correct paper profile in photoshop.



Shoot and process the images in Adobe RGB 1998 - sRBG is a small web gamut that will not yield the best color rendition. sRGB is the default color space in most cameras so check and see if yours will work in Adobe RGB 1998. Shoot in 16 bit RAW, not jpg.

Answer 3

there's a pair issues I do to get consistent colour matching from my computer computer screen to my printer. I certainly have study that however adobe RGB (1998) has been a nicely-known, there is truly not something that shows it truly is a greater helpful colour area than sRGB, that's what i exploit and set my nikon D80 to. i discover I certainly have greater effective flexibility with it. yet another concern I certainly have performed to maintain consistency is to apply a colorimeter and calibration application, like Spyder to calibrate the computer screen output that's counseled for liquid crystal reveal video reveal instruments month-to-month. yet doing that certainly replaces the sRGB colour profile i'm so prepared on and after utilising the colorimeter, I certainly have not been that inspired. utilising sRGB the only non-consitent concern I certainly have with printing is assessment, colours are incredibly precise. So, attempt switching to sRGB and notice what that does for you. you have have been given a terrific printer, by utilising the way. I envy you. possibly there is a few perception Epson grants. i'm hoping this helps slightly.