Advise on calibration software

[Joe AC]

Hi, I'm looking to try a print some of my pictures. I use lightroom 3 to edit and work off of a 21.5" iMac. And i scan using an epson V600. Can some of you please guide me in terms of what to do in regard to monitor/printer calibration? Is it nessasary? I've never calibrated either and would like some guidance. Right now my only printer is an Epson stylus photo R320. I'd like to experiment with this to get a grasp on printing. Thanks in advance for your replies.

Thanks
Joe

[Joe AC]

Bump. Anyone?

Thanks
Joe

[Ranchu]

Use the stock profile for the screen on your imac, COLOR LCD XXXX or whatever, use the Epson paper you have printer profiles for, that came with your printer software. It's just that simple, luckily.

[Joe AC]

Originally Posted by Ranchu

Use the stock profile for the screen on your imac, COLOR LCD XXXX or whatever, use the Epson paper you have printer profiles for, that came with your printer software. It's just that simple, luckily.

Thanks. So, just to be clear. I was under the impression that I needed to calibrate my monitor and printer using some sort of 3rd party plug in?
If I do decide to get monitor calibration software, are you saying that I don't need printer calibration software and that I can just you the profiles that came with the printer?

Thanks again
Joe

[Pablito]

don't look for a solution before you have a problem.

Beyond that, real accurate calibration requires a device, like Colormukii, not just software.

....and you need to take into accunt the light level in the room, and the brightness of the monitor.

[Ranchu]

Originally Posted by Joe AC

Thanks. So, just to be clear. I was under the impression that I needed to calibrate my monitor and printer using some sort of 3rd party plug in?
If I do decide to get monitor calibration software, are you saying that I don't need printer calibration software and that I can just you the profiles that came with the printer?

Thanks again
Joe

What pablito said, basically. Apple does make individual profiles for their screens, they must be stored in the OS or hardware somewhere. I could not improve on the one for my laptop. If you were using a dell screen and a g5 things would be different, but you have closed systems on each end, a good thing. I used spider 3 elite with the original software or Coloreyes. I've never used a print calibrator so I cant help you with that. Epson's profiles were fine when I used Epsons, a while ago. You can bet they're highly motivated and they have plenty of resources. Just use their paper and inks, I doubt calibration would improve on that. It's when you start getting adventurous with paper that things get complicated.