Printing your own photos: vital first steps in using your new photo printer. Paper and photo choices
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- Опубліковано 28 сер 2024
- Keith Cooper looks at getting to grips with your new photo printer (Canon, Epson or others) and why some care in your initial choices for paper and types of image to try printing will help in the long run. How image editing can make all the difference and why really looking at prints in the right light is key.
Learning to see the print as the final result and how monitor calibration and icc printer profiles contribute to creating great prints.
Applies equally to any make of good photo printer and papers.
See also Keith's video about choosing the best papers for your printing
• Choosing the best pape...
There is much more in the 'Choosing the best paper' article at www.northlight-...
For details about particular printers and software choices see the main printing page on Keith's Northlight Images web site: www.northlight-...
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You are putting together a really great series of videos on printing Keith, it's clear that you have a lot of practical experience to draw upon. Great work!
Thanks - if you think of any specific topics, do let me know. I've lots of stuff on the Northlight site for sources, but videos are a new thing for me...
A grateful thank you! I'd be completely lost in the morass of "information" without the wisdom of your guiding light. First time photo printing, purchased the Pro-200, and I was feeling quite discouraged until I found your videos and articles.
Thanks - that's really nice to hear!
Another great example of the stuff I need to hone my skills on to make better prints, fluff-free and practical. Thanks as always.
Thanks - suggestions for stuff to cover are always welcome. Here or email me via the Northlight site
Being a printing novice, I find your videos invaluable!
Thanks - that's great to know
great work Keith, your printing videos are the best and most informative i've seen yet :)
Thanks - much appreciated. I'll get on to thinking up some more!
It is good to see someone talking from the experience and adding extra value to the content. Subscribed!
Thanks - glad it was of interest
Muchas gracias, todos muy buenos consejos.
Ooh, new video! Looking forward to this!
I' m so happy I came across your channel 👍 !
great!
@@KeithCooper Thanx a lot 👍👍😊.
Hi Keith, I’ve just found you after buying a Canon ip8750, really wanted a pro but just couldn’t justify the cost at this time. I find your videos so helpful!
I got the bug after using a hp6000 series with some good quality paper - I was amazed with what I achieved with such a cheap printer! So excited for A3+ now..
Glad the info has been of help!
This was the best video I have watched from you so far (even though all of them are really good). Very, very helpful. I just but an EPSON P900 to start printing. So I have to learn a lot. Thanks for all your efforts to help other people by spreading your knowledge and experience!
Thanks - glad it was helpful!
You’re an awesome teacher Keith awesome delivery. I’m so keen to try home printing again but I can’t get my fat head past the cartridge issues I hated them in the past not sure too much has changed. I do fancy the idea of eco tank printers but would have to put up with tinted mono prints then again I’m not looking to sell my stuff it’s for personal use only so I’m edging to the epson so much to learn. 😆 good job you’re a patient teacher
B&W is perfectly possible with the 8550 - It's all about settings and paper choices
You choose papers after you choose the printer... ;-)
@@KeithCooper top man cheers getting closer to diving in. I have a few weeks shooting on the South Island first then I’ll go looting errrr shopping I meant shopping 👀
Just realised you are in NZ - I'm told Epson won't sell the ET-8550 in that market?
@@KeithCooper that's plan A buggered then cheers mate
I checked this with Epson UK who said that it is listed
www.epson.co.nz/shoponline/shop/browseproductGroup.asp?catid=6&typeid=33&gid=175
Many thanks for this great new video! Maybe a future episode could be a practical example with photoshop of the adjustments needed to a file before printing on a specific paper based on the proof view.
Thanks for the suggestion.
I have a longer (22m) video for next weekend that looks at some aspects of this. However it's still quite general about the type and degree of adjustments to make. That's because any adjustments depend on the image and the printer/paper, as well as what software is being used. I only do more detailed stuff in the written articles, and even then I write more about the principles rather than any precise numbers. I always feel that explaining the principles involved is the most important bit - hopefully the next video will help!
@@KeithCooper waiting for it! I'm sure it will be very interesting
Thanks Keith. Looking forward to lots more as I'm relatively new to printing. Using a canon ip8750 which seems to be giving me some good results but then I'm not too fussy!
Do check the articles as well, since I've only just started making videos - the articles (1200+) on the site go back a way, and have more detail.
www.northlight-images.co.uk/photography-articles-and-reviews/printing-paper-reviews-articles/
So, Keith, are there any circumstances where you would change the print quality from 'Normal' to 'High' and what are they ? Thank you for your entire video series, the best I've come across. I've learnt a lot about the entire process.
Not that often. Sometimes for small prints (7x5) which have lots of fine detail, since people often view them very closely.
However it's just a general guide - partly to get people to think about print resolution, take a little less notice of 'marketing specs' and actually look at prints.
Any printer needs a bit of testing in this respect.
My test is to do two prints at different settings, write the details in faint pencil on the back, leave them for at least a day or two and then look at them without reading the backs ;-)
A really good print should work without my reading glasses on and then with them on look even better... The real secret to print detail (real and perhaps more importantly, perceived) is the careful use (and absence) of sharpening.
Hi Keith. Great videos. I have just purchased a Canon Pro 300 and have a really daft question.. My pc is windows 11 and i use Affinity Photo 2 for post editing. As Affinity does not support the Professional Print and Layout software as a plugin, do you know how to download it as a stand alone? Many thanks. Ian
Ah - can't help there I'm afraid - I've not used a win pc for decades.
I'd suggest asking on the printing forum at DPReview.com
Thanks for your informative videos, any possibility to make a video for the Epson sublimation printers?Thanks in advance.
Unlikely I'm afraid - it's just not an aspect of printing I have any experience of.
That said, perhaps it's time to produce a range of merchandising for the YT channel... I'll see what Epson says, but it's unlikely to be for some time.
I've been on your internet site and tried to find copies of the print proofs you mention in previous videos but couldn't find them. Could you provide a link, please? Thank you for the very useful information you provide. You have been a great help in clearing up the muddy waters of printing :)
Thanks - Check on the main print/printing page - I just re-jigged it to make it clearer ...just below my picture.
www.northlight-images.co.uk/photography-articles-and-reviews/printing-paper-reviews-articles/
@@KeithCooper Thanks Keith, I've found them. Your exploration of printing has been a big help. Thanks again
It would be nice if you actually went through some settings for printer driver and monitor setup and calibration
Ah, there are usually no 'general settings' I could give - they vary by printer /monitor (and not forgetting I only use Macs ;-) )
See each individual printer review for more specific stuff - especially the main written review, which will include links to every article/video I've made for that printer.
For calibration, see any of the reviews of calibrators [there are over 1500 articles/reviews on the Northlight site]
@@KeithCooper thank you for the response what I mean is take it from an image in fotoshop for example set the color profile space ie rgb or cmyk for the image save it. open the print dialog box set profile print rgb or cmyk, in fotoshop has the option to print cmyk proof.. I have the epson 15000 I get great prints from it but want to know can they be better. I can extrapolate the meaning doesn't have to be for my specific printer. Thank you Mr. Copper for such a quick response for something you did I think a year ago. Cheers
I do have a few walkthroughs covering my workflows which might be of help
This is the place to start ;-)
www.northlight-images.co.uk/photography-articles-and-reviews/printing-paper-reviews-articles/
BTW there is almost never any use whatsoever for CMYK, other than in commercial print/graphics work - I have a video outlining why ;-)
@@KeithCooper thank you will check it out. happy new year!
I am a printing novice too, but hAVE JUST BOUGHT EPSON 15000 !
Do you print through Photoshop ? or from jpeg in windows?
if P/shop, do you select 'printer controls colours et c or P/shop ?
A good printer - see my very detailed XP15000 review [is that the 15000 you mean?]
www.northlight-images.co.uk/epson-xp-15000-printer-review/
It includes all my related videos.
Covers all the print options - look at the free EPL [Epson print layout] software. Works for PC and Mac [I've not used a win pc this century... ]
@@KeithCooper I have also just realised (i saw it on shelf in one of your videos) that you are the author of the excellent book on'tilt shift lenses' which I have recently bought. I have been using shift ok for several years and love using it, but never really understood how to use 'tilt'.
Splendid! Glad it's of interest.
Sir, when you create a new page to print. Do you select don't color manage for every new document in Photoshop ?
Exactly the opposite - every page has a profile. For web work my working space is sRGB, whilst for print I'll usually be working in A98 or ProPhoto. This is then passed to the printer driver, selecting the profile for the printer/paper. It is 'photoshop manages color' for printing with the driver, or setting the paper profile in software like EPL.
Everything I do is fully colour managed
@@KeithCooper thanks 👍.
Hi Keith, great info as always. Can you help me out. I want to use a "lab" for printing my photos but they want me to use the sRGB colour space profile. Am I missing something here as I would have thought RGB would be the way to go?
It just means that however you edit your photos you need to save them in the sRGB colour space to send off to the Lab. sRGB is a specific RGB colour space.
@@KeithCooper Hi Kieth. I understand that sRGB is a colour space part of RGB. What confuses me is that some labs want Adobe 1998 which has a lager range of colours than sRGB. So I guess what I'm asking is, is there any appreciable difference between sRGB and Adobe 1998 when the print is done as to when I edit in Adobe 1998? I am sorry if this is a silly question but I'm a total noob when it comes to printing.
If you have already coverd this in another video can you give me the link and I'll look at it. Thanks Keith, you're a star.
It's a very reasonable question - in fact I've a video I'll likely post on Saturday that looks at just this!
In short, with many images you may not notice a difference - especially if you are editing on an sRGB screen
However, sRGB is small enough that it can definitely show vs. A98 in two colourful prints put side by side. More obvious if you have a wide gamut monitor to edit with.
In the video I look at when an even bigger space like prophoto may be needed - obviously this in in the context of doing your own printing but the principles are the same
Personally the lab's choice is an indication of the potential care and quality to expect -- sRGB is for the bigger market that doesn't really bother with stuff like that... A good lab will also provide paper profiles for people wanting to do some form of soft proofing.
@@KeithCooper Cool, can't wait for Saturday lol. Thanks for the feedback.
Screens can transmit display 1.2 billion colors or something with high bit depths. while a print is reflective color gamut and different inks have differnt abilities. Dye based is wider, yet less archival in most cases, and pigmented is close but smaller. I forget the numbers, and know Keith knows, but though comment readers might appreciate a perspective.
Ah, always beware of numbers in stuff like this. They are all too often used just for marketing and confusion ;-)
In my articles/reviews I actually make a point of avoiding any mention of gamut volumes and the dreaded dMax figure is merely used as an indicator of performance in one specific (limited) area. The problem is that without extensive explanation and context, any numeric values are essentially meaningless. So for example, the number of colours mentioned in connection with a monitor might be the number of colours that can be specified, but this may not be the same as the number that can be displayed and is likely far greater than the number of distinct colours that can be perceived, which is of course different for each person.
The biggest difference between prints and screen comes from the difference in achievable contrast ratios. This varies with paper/ink type and contributes a lot to why different images suit different inks/papers.
I've a longer video tomorrow which looks at at aspects of screen, editing and paper gamuts and colour spaces for colourful images
Keith, I am new to printing and have been given a Canon Pro-10S, should I leave the printer on all the time as some people suggest or as Canon say just left with power but not switched on.
I just leave them plugged in - most seem to default to turning off after a while.
The main thing is to use it at least every other week, even if just to print a nozzle test on plain paper
I recently purchased an epson et 7750. I’ve tried epson value gloss paper but the print are coming out with a line (roller?) down the middle. Do I need to get the very expensive epson paper?
Also I want to sell prints. Do you know how long the prints should last using these eco tank ? Tyvm. Rob
Prints should not show this - one to get back to Epson about, given it is a new printer.
Better papers will last a moderate time in the right conditions, but this is not a printer I'd use for selling prints, not unless I wasn't charging much ;-) It lacks the range of inks - the 8550 is one I'm currently looking at, which is better, but it all comes down to where in the market you want to position your print sales...
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Yes, it's been working and then not working for a while - sorry about that
I'm hoping to hear more from the hosting providers today about what's caused it and a fix
When it works, it's great, and then it 'clogs up' and goes very very slow - Highly annoying as you might imagine :-(
Do you coat your prints with a Printfix or some other coating? Oh..all that handling you do!!LOL
No, these ones are just for demo purposes, but most handle quite well.
For actual prints I sell, I handle with a lot more care, but still don't coat them.
For some large commercial prints I do get them laminated onto foam board with a semi-matte finish film, so they can fit directly into a custom frame, but this is for big stuff like 100" x 30" These end up in offices and the like, so need to be cleanable, and glass that size isn't practical.
@@KeithCooper I figured:-) I too have mounted on black core thick foamboard, but spray the front with a coating as it was wall mounted without glass. Unless fineart sale, too expensive to coldmount and laminate. Did some for an office space with some large prints that I sprayed, worked out OK so far :-). But I can see me do the spray on any print worth adding a bit more handling protection unless it goes behind glass, which is often the intended use.
Hi Keith,
Great instructional video as always,
What is the Media you used for the Beautiful Flower with the Black Background,
You did give the name in another of your videos, I've watched so many now,
but I should have written it down.
I am now saving the Links for some videos in my Evernote App,
so I have my own Playlist so to speak.
Thanks again
Thanks - that was a very lightly textured cotton rag paper in natural white (i.e. a slight warm paper, not a 'bright white' one).