Printing

I have created a beatifull image after selecting an object using extract (I converted the original 'background' to a layer then copied the layer in order to have my selections background in the original image to show up in the final) and then inverting to desaturate the background. I see it like I want it on the screen, the object is fully colored, but when i print the object is desaturated like the background. How come its perfect on screen and not the print? What can I do to print what i see?

Thanks a million!
Ryan

I use to have this problem. I found out that it was my printer.

You may need to buy some new ink, another brand of photo paper, or maybe even a new printer.

Hope this helps alittle.

Ill run out tomorrow and buy paper and ink with the hopes of making the color richer.

Thanks,
Ryan

Try converting your image to cymk and see what happens. RGB is an "Additive" method of mixing colors and CYMK is a "Subtractive" method. Essentially, to get black with RBG you remove colors. In CYMK it works like paint (which is why it the format for printing) in that you add all the colors to make black. All that said, RGB colors are very bright and cherry, and CYMK versions can be be more subdued, so that could be your problem.

I purchased new ink and new photo paper. The image is still dull.
Can someone please get the .psd image off the net and view it for yourself to see what I mean?

members.home.net/rtbnj/panda.htm

Thanks,
Ryan:(

OK, first things first: In all liklihood you DID NOT have to go buy new paper and ink. Unless the ink is 3 years old and the paper yellowed from age, you shouldn't have to do that. Replace the cartridges if the jets are hopelessly clogged, but other than that your color should be fairly consistent from the first print until it runs out. If you want super high-quality, go ahead and buy specially coated Photo paper...just do test prints on regular 60 lb/Basis 24, 92 or greater brightness paper so you don't waste the expensive stuff.

I tried to have a look at the image you linked, but your server kept timing out before the whole image loaded. From what I was able to see, the dynamic range (darkest black to lightest white...might help to think of it like a graphic eq on your stereo) looked really limited and washed out, particularly in the Mid-Range. You'll need to work on that using your Levels, Curves, Hue/Saturation, Brightness/Contrast functions....whatever you're handy with.

You should also have a look at your image in CMYK preview. But that will really only be beneficial if you have your system farily well calibrated and you've specified the correct printer profiles. A printer profile is a group of settings that tells Photoshop to simulate onscreen what you can reasonably expect to see when your image is printed out. These profiles are specifically made for each particular printer model, though not all printer manufacturers supply them for you to load into Photoshop's color management setup.

Sounds to me like you need to get some good color management info under your belt. It's a really deep and broad subject, but it's something you will have to deal with at every turn...might as well start learning it now.

Here are a few good places to start....bookmark and refer to them often until you start "getting it."
http://www.macworld.com/2001/04/howto/color.html
http://www.ian.lyons.btinternet.co.uk/photoshop_6/ps6_1.htm
http://www.inkjetmall.com/store/techsupport/photoshop6-tutorial-1.html
http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/0,1819,4118,00.html
http://macworld.zdnet.com/1999/09/create/fraser.html
http://www.digitaldog.net/tips.html
http://www.creativepro.com/author/home/40.html

I know its a lot to absorb—I'm still working on understanding it well, and I've been studying it for years—but it's just a fact of Photoshop life.

Hope that helps you some.

Utopian23.... Thanks!

Ryan

I used the color management. It works great! Only now when I try to open a .psd file in paint shop pro it tells me
"not a valid psd file" What is the problem and how can I get the files again to read in paint shop pro. i like this paint shop pro because the batch conversions give the file a nice color for some reason.

Thanks,
Ryan

Oh! the black in my images using color management are great in photoshop

I answered my own question here with some fooling with the file. It seems if I leave the layer as a background it wont read in psp7 with the color management in effect. If I convert the background to a layer0 then the file is maneagable in paint shop pro.
Again thanks to Utopian23 for all the links to color management setups in photoshop 6. Without those files I would be in the dark.

Thanks
Ryan

Ryan...

You're quite welcome, mate.

I can only hope that some of the other folks who need to learn about color workflow and profile management will take the time to bookmark and read through some of those links. Lots of good info on those sites, and stuff that everyone will need to know sooner or later if they continue to use Photoshop.