Don's Custom Printer Profiles and Color Management

Don's Custom Printer Profiles

Last Update = 5/16/2009

Including Color Management Information -

-or -

Why Doesn't It Look Like The Image On My Monitor?

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North Sea Sunset, from Scotland's north shore, Picture Copyright © by Don Gucker 2009

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Optimistic Young Duck, Canon1D, Canon 300mm f2.8L

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Back to profiling ...

To simply print targets and order profiles, click on CONDITIONS TO DOWN LOAD TARGETS.

(Note: If you are using Light Room as your editing and printing program, please email me for special instructions before printing a target set.)

Since you chose to find this page, I assume you are seriously interested in producing quality digital photographic prints. My purpose is to help you produce prints that closely 'match' the image on your monitor, and by doing this, to increase your enthusiasm for digital printing.

I furnish ICC Profiles, with both Mac and Windows using ICC profiles. I specialize in inkjet printer profiles, including Epson printer profiles, Canon printer profiles, and HP printer profiles. I store electronic copies of your profiles for a least a year, just in case you need a copy due to a computer problem.

Don's Profiles started when I created printer profiles for several individuals that had become discouraged with ink jet printing because their results did not match their expectations. I was very gratified after hearing their enthusiastic comments, hence this web site.

There are now many sites on the web that sell printer profiles. Why use this one?

Several practical reasons, the GretagMacbeth professional equipment that I use, quality, and FAST TURNAROUND. The equipment is top of the line (not a small hand system), and includes the finest professional equipment and profile creating software available.

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Ansel Adams believed a photographer must understand craft issues in order to control the photographic process, and thus produce prints that express the full possibilities of that process. Color Management (CM) is a digital photographic and print related craft issue, and lacking basic knowledge of color management will cost you in terms of time, ink, paper, and frustration; but most importantly of all, in the capability to effectively print the images you create on your your monitor.

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A custom profile will do two things for your print quality (while reducing your printing costs): first it will produce a very close match between your monitor image and your printer output, and secondly, a custom profile will take advantage of the maximum gamut capability (see Color Management Info) of your printer. Using the full gamut that your specific printer is capable of, is like adding more colors to your crayon box. Strange as it sounds, manufacture's printer profiles most often don't take advantage of the maximum gamut of your specific printer (for good reasons - see Color Management Information).

To create a fine (digital) print, two pieces of color management technology are essential; a calibrated monitor and a custom printer profile. To understand why this is so, please click on the 'Color Management' link.

Recommended monitor calibration equipment:

X-Rite: EODIS2 : i1Display 2 The general consensus is that this instrument will do all you need for a modest price.

For more information on the need for custom printer profiles, monitor calibration, printer drivers, and color management, click the Color Management link. Other sidebar links will provide information on the profiling process, my equipment, and the nuts and bolts of how we work together to produce profiles that will direct your printer to produce a faithful reproduction of the image on your monitor.

One customer wrote, "your profiles are easily the photo bargain of the century, and without a doubt, the best photo investment I've ever made!! Thank you." I suppose the proof of the pudding is the folks who return time after time for new profiles.

Another wrote,

Don,

The profiles are great. While I see improvements with both printers, the 4880 had the most room for improvement. The density of prints done on the 4880 is now better and the color is great. I saw some literature stating the EPSON profiles for the 4880 are so good that RIPS or custom profiles are not needed. I disagree - yours are better!

Thanks again,

A word of caution: Prior to printing targets it is critical that you read ' Test Charts (or Targets), And How To Print Them'.

Pricing: Your price for the profile set is $45. Your $45 profile order will include 3 gamut profiles (3 profiles with slightly different printing - color characteristics) at no extra charge.

'Duck On Ice'

There is a small pond near our home that often freezes in winter, and this American Wigeon is a 'duck on ice'.

You can reach me with questions or comments at: dongucker@donsprofiles.com

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X-Rite: EODIS2 : i1Display 2 The general consensus is that this instrument will do all you need for a modest price.