Fuji Pictro 3500 questions

[EugeneNalimov]

We recently bought Fuji Pictro 3500, and I have several questions.

Main reasons why we decided to buy it was (a) print quality, and (b) built-in color caliobration. I attached it to the computer, turned on, calibrated, etc. Nevertheless, printed images looks different from images on the display -- also calibrated Sony Artisan.

To be more exact: images look oversaturated, and mid- and dark- tones look too intensive.

I am downloading raw photos from Canon 10D, convert them to TIFF using Brreze browser, load into PS7, and use Pictro plugin to export them to printer. I am using sRGB as color space in PS7, and saying export module to convert from sRGB to PG3500 profile.

Any help would be appropriated...

[AndrewRodney]

-->To be more exact: images look oversaturated, and mid- and dark- tones look too intensive.

You need a good ICC profile for the printer! There's no way you'll get an accurate soft proof without one and by dong a conversion first, then you'd send the converted RGB file to the PG.

[EugeneNalimov]

I'v got profile with printer, and asked export module to concert to that profile. I thought the entire purpose of calibration was to let the printer be compatible with this profile -- no?

Thanks,
Eugene

[AndrewRodney]

You have a custom profile made of YOUR PG or the one supplied by Fuji? Big difference.

The on board calibrator is designed to take YOUR PG and set it to a standard behavior each and every time you change donor. But that doesn't mean it behaves like the actual PG that was used to produce the canned profile.

[EugeneNalimov]

Thank you very much. I thought that if it calibrated itself, it can as well calibrate to some "standard" profile, not to unique one...

Can you please recommend some *good* lab that make cutom profiles?

Another stupid question: after that I should turn off color management on printer, and convert images to that profile just before the printing, right?

Thanks,
Eugene

[AndrewRodney]

-->Can you please recommend some *good* lab that make cutom profiles?

www.chromix.com
www.profilecity.com
http://www.imagingrevue.com/

-->Another stupid question: after that I should turn off color management on printer, and convert images to that profile just before the printing, right?

yes. You need to setup the printer when you output targets for custom profile creation and keep note of those exact settings for when you use the profile. I do the conversions in Photoshop (Conver to Profile) and then send that through the export module to my PG4500. I prefer the pgoff setting since I know with that setting there will be no interference by the driver/plugin it gives a slightly larger gamut.

[TYTAN]

[ QUOTE ]
-->Can you please recommend some *good* lab that make cutom profiles?

www.chromix.com
www.profilecity.com
http://www.imagingrevue.com/

-->Another stupid question: after that I should turn off color management on printer, and convert images to that profile just before the printing, right?

yes. You need to setup the printer when you output targets for custom profile creation and keep note of those exact settings for when you use the profile. I do the conversions in Photoshop (Conver to Profile) and then send that through the export module to my PG4500. I prefer the pgoff setting since I know with that setting there will be no interference by the driver/plugin it gives a slightly larger gamut.

[/ QUOTE ]

Andrew,
hi there.
- do you setup your PG4500 export module to "ON4(PG4000 OFF)" or "OFF"? which one truly switches off any color management?
- when it is set to "OFF", the Gray Balance field gives you an option. what should be selected? "Gray2(1.8/6500)"?