Photo Printing troubles and questions!

SHaller · Dec 28, 2010

I recently received a canon pixma pro 900 mark II and finally got around to setting it up today. I've heard such good reviews about it and was thrilled to try it out. When i finally got to printing, the picture didn't turn out well at all. It looks decent from somewhat of a distance, but when you take a look at it, it is not so good. By the appearance, it seems like there are vertical line and thousands of small smudge like marks. I am a little clueless to what went wrong, but i think there could have been some bad reaction between the ink and the paper. I was thinking that i may be using paper that isn't compatible with the ink( im using some hp premium 4x6 photo paper that came free with a cheap all in one).

I also had a question about the print quality of my printer vs what they use at ritz camera. I havent done a comparison, but i would like to know if anyone had compared the two prints.

Finally, I have been noticing with prints, that they are a fair amount darker than they apera on the screen of my computer. Is there a set amount of brightness that i need to raise to make my prints as they appear on my screen ( I use aperture).

Thanks! I would really appreciate the help!

MissCream · Dec 28, 2010

As far as your first questions posted, I have no idea.... Helpful, I know.

The last question however, you need to calibrate your monitor, just adjust your color and brightness to what the printed picture looks like and you should get the same results when you print.

Derrel · Dec 28, 2010

hp premium 4x6 photo paper

---that's a bad way to start off...

SHaller · Dec 28, 2010

KmH · Dec 28, 2010

Bumping your thread is very poor netiquette.

Pro 900? Or Pro 9000?

The 9000 is an inkjet printer so yes, you will see "small smudge like marks", since the image is not rendered as a continuous tone print.

Each pixel is rendered by a number of different colored squirts from the inkjet printer heads. (the Pro 9000 has 6144 nozzels (768 per color) to squirt ink from.

As mentioned your computer display and your printer need to be profiled using a spectrophotometer like X-RITE's ColorMunki: X-Rite ColorMunki Photo Color Management Solution CMUNPH B&H

clanthar · Dec 28, 2010

Forget the HP paper unless you have a birdcage to line.

If you haven't calibrated your display that's worth looking into.

What software are you printing from?

When you make a print the printer's driver software should open and there are numerous settings that you have to get right. The settings are paper specific. You have two options:

1. Use Canon paper and use the settings for the printer that come with the paper.

2. If you want really good prints then buy a high quality paper and download the printer ICC profile for that paper and follow the instructions that come with the profile. For example, say you decide to use Moab Colorado Gloss (one of the better reasonably priced papers). From Moab's website: Colorado Fiber Gloss 245 - Moab by Legion Paper find the link for ICC profiles, find your printer and download the profile and read the instructions.

Joe

SHaller · Dec 28, 2010

Sorry i did mean pro 9000. I am aware that the hp paper is pretty junky, but that's all i had lying around. So i am supposed to be seeing these marks on my prints, because they look awful.

kundalini · Dec 28, 2010

If you have Photoshop that has the soft proof and gamut warning functions, you'll also want to run that through your choice of media.

tooppy · Dec 28, 2010

Your problem is that you have to learn another discipline which is "reproduction".
You must have a workflow from your camera to your printer.
To get good colours reproduction, your camera should be profiled, your monitor should be profiled, and your printer also for each couple inks/paper.
So there is nothing wrong with your results, it is just normal.
You have now to do your home work, search, read and learn another side of photography which at least as much complicated and interesting.

All the best
Michel

SHaller · Dec 28, 2010

tooppy said:
Your problem is that you have to learn another discipline which is "reproduction".
You must have a workflow from your camera to your printer.
To get good colours reproduction, your camera should be profiled, your monitor should be profiled, and your printer also for each couple inks/paper.
So there is nothing wrong with your results, it is just normal.
You have now to do your home work, search, read and learn another side of photography which at least as much complicated and interesting.

All the best
Michel

I know that I need to learn the art of reproduction, but i know this is not a problem with my lack of skills. I know its hard to judge what is wrong without seeing the print, but like I said before, I it looks like it is a problem with the ink or the paper. It looks that these small smudges are because of unsettled ink. I brought this photo to best buy and ritz, and they both though it was the same thing. I bought some canon pro platinum 4x6 and i'm hoping that fixe it. I will make another post shortly with my results. Thanks for the input!

SHaller · Dec 28, 2010

So the problem turned out to be the paper. I guess i am going to stick with the canon paper from now on. Thanks for the help!

tooppy · Dec 29, 2010

SHaller said:
So the problem turned out to be the paper. I guess i am going to stick with the canon paper from now on. Thanks for the help!

It is difficult on some papers to found out the right side to use, your description could be you printed the wrong side of the sheet.

SHaller · Dec 29, 2010

It is difficult on some papers to found out the right side to use, your description could be you printed the wrong side of the sheet.[/QUOTE]

It wasn't that either. The glossy was on the front and the brand writing was on the back. It's just that the cromalife ink from canon only settles well on canon paper(or just not on the paper i was using).