Photoshop Printing

Proper printing is more than File > Print

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There are two fundamental ways to print an image: Photoshop or a RIP.  This topic covers printing images using Photoshop.  Guidelines for using a RIP are discussed on the RIP Printing page.

To the serious photographer, printing in Photoshop is more than File > Print.  We need to ensure our color management efforts include the printing of the image.  There are two essential steps to ensure this happens.  First, put Photoshop in charge of color managing the printing process.  Second, tell the printer not to color manage.

In order to demonstrate how to tell a printer not to color manage, the instructions on this page assume a high-end Epson desktop inkjet printer is being used.  For those readers not using an Epson printer, hopefully you can interpolate the instructions for your brand of printer.

Since there are slight differences between Photoshop CS2 and pre-CS2, this topic has explicit steps for both.

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Printing using pre-CS2

Put Photoshop in charge of color management

1. Show/Hide the steps
   1. Click File > Print with Preview.
   2. On the Print with Preview dialog box (Figure 1), make sure Show More Options is checked.
   3. Set the drop down box to Color Management.
   4. Set Source Space to Document.
   5. For Print Space Profile, use the drop down box to select the desired ICC profile.  If the profile is not listed, you will need to place it in the directory where the other *.icm files are kept.  This is usually an operating system directory and not a Photoshop directory.
   6. Set Print Space Intent to Relative Colorimetric.  Use the other choices only if you have a valid reason for doing so.
   7. Make sure Use Black Point Compensation is checked on.
   8. Do not close the dialog box.  You are not done yet.
      

      Figure 1.  CS Print with Preview dialog box

 

Set paper size, source, etc.

1. Show/Hide the steps
   1. Click the Page Setup button.
   2. Click the Printer button.
   3. In the Printer Name drop down box, select the desired printer.
   4. Click the Properties button.
   5. Select the appropriate paper source (sheet, roll, etc.)
   6. Select the type/brand of paper (plain, glossy, etc.)
   7. Select the desired printing resolution (dpi).  For an understanding of file ppi and print dpi, visit the Resolution page.
   8. Select the appropriate paper size (letter, Super B, etc.)
   9. Make sure the paper's Orientation is Portrait.
   10. Select, or deselect, any other options.

 

Tell the printer not to color manage

1. Show/Hide the steps
   1. Under Color Management, select ICM.
   2. Under ICC Profile, select No Color Adjustment.
   3. Click OK to close the printer's Properties dialog box.
   4. Click OK to close the printer's Page Setup dialog box.
   5. Click OK to close Photoshop's Page Setup dialog box.  The Print with Preview dialog box should still be open.

 

Print the image

1. Show/Hide the steps
   1. If you do not want the image centered on the paper, uncheck Center Image and use the Top and Left text boxes to set the margins.
   2. Since image resizing for printing is performed in the workflow prior to printing, leave Scale to 100%.
   3. Double check Print Space Profile to make sure Photoshop did not change it.  If changed, reselect the desired profile.
   4. Click the Print button.
   5. Make sure the desired printer is listed in the Print dialog box and click OK to print the image.

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Printing using Photoshop CS2

Put Photoshop in charge of color management

1. Show/Hide the steps
   1. Click File > Print with Preview.
   2. On the Print with Preview dialog box (Figure 2), click the More Options button to display the additional options.  If you see the Fewer Options button, then you are where you should be.
   3. Set the drop down box to Color Management.
   4. Set the Print option to Document and not Proof.
   5. Set Options, Color Handling to Let Photoshop Determine Colors.
   6. For Options, Printer Profile, use the drop down box to select the desired ICC profile.  If the profile is not listed, you will need to place it in the directory where the other *.icm files are kept.  This is usually an operating system directory and not a Photoshop directory.
   7. Set Options, Rendering Intent to Relative Colorimetric.  Use the other choices only if you have a valid reason for doing so.
   8. Make sure Black Point Compensation is checked on.
   9. Do not close the dialog box.  You are not done yet.
      

      Figure 2.  CS2 Print with Preview dialog box

 

Set paper size, source, etc.

1. Show/Hide the steps
   1. Click the Page Setup button.
   2. Click the Printer button.
   3. In the Printer Name drop down box, select the desired printer.
   4. Click the Properties button.
   5. Select the appropriate paper source (sheet, roll, etc.)
   6. Select the type/brand of paper (plain, glossy, etc.)
   7. Select the desired printing resolution (dpi).  For an understanding of file ppi and print dpi, visit the Resolution page.
   8. Select the appropriate paper size (letter, Super B, etc.)
   9. Make sure the paper's Orientation is Portrait.
   10. Select, or deselect, any other options.

 

Tell the printer not to color manage

1. Show/Hide the steps
   1. Under Color Management, select ICM.
   2. Under ICC Profile, select No Color Adjustment.
   3. Click OK to close the printer's Properties dialog box.
   4. Click OK to close the printer's Page Setup dialog box.
   5. Click OK to close Photoshop's Page Setup dialog box.  The Print with Preview dialog box should still be open.

 

Print the image

1. Show/Hide the steps
   1. If you do not want the image centered on the paper, uncheck Center Image and use the Top and Left text boxes to set the margins.
   2. Since image resizing for printing is performed in the workflow prior to printing, leave Scale to 100%.
   3. Double check Options Printer Profile to make sure Photoshop did not change it.  If changed, reselect the desired profile.
   4. Click the Print button.
   5. Make sure the desired printer is listed in the Print dialog box and click OK to print the image.