BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Further Photography Resources

Rashed Ali Al Rashed		Printing Images Hi there, Sorry in advance if this is not the proper place to place my question. I always print my images through my HP laptop. recently I bought a MAC laptop and installed/configured my printer. the same configuration on my HP was placed also on my MAC. I printed at least five A3 sized pictures! unfortunately all the five carried out VERY low resolution. I tried changing the setting on all, yet the outcome was poor, very very poor. I seek your assistance in this. Regards Rashed To love this question, log in above January 17, 2011

Nancy Marie Ricketts		I, too, have a Mac (MacBook Pro) and you have to go online to your printer brand's website and download a printer driver for the Mac operating system--it would be different for the HP. The Mac cannot process the HP print driver and that is why your images come out poor. If that doesn't work, try calibrating your screen. Some Macs have calibration software built in. Or, you can purchase color calibrators--ColorMunki, etc., again expensive equipment. However, I would think that the proper driver would do the trick. Let me know if this works. Nancy Marie Ricketts To love this comment, log in above January 17, 2011

Nancy Marie Ricketts		After re-reading your resolutions problem --did you un-install the HP configuration? That might be "fighting" with the printer driver for the MAC. Deleting it might not be enough. Either find the uninstall in your files, or go to the HP website and ask them for it. Please let me know if this helps. To love this comment, log in above January 17, 2011

Rashed Ali Al Rashed		Hi Nancy, Thanks for your time reading and responding, What I meant about HP is my old LapTop. I have (2) printers : -Canon Pixma 9600 (A4) -Epson 1410 (A3) both were configured on my HP Laptop. When I shifted to Mac, I installed the drivers recognized for MAC only. i did everything, I am thinking that it has to do with internal configuration from -lets say- Photoshop, aperture...etc. BTW, I already updated the my printers software. and YET, Poooooooor results. Thanks :) To love this comment, log in above January 18, 2011

- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery		Hello Rashed, Do a couple of searches on this forum for "Calibration" and you will get quite a list of threads to read through.. Do you have your printer set to the same profile as your monitor ? Are you using any kind of Calibration tool/software ? Calibration is the key to making your prints match your monitor. I have read mixed reviews about Huey and I use Spyder2 Pro made by Colorvision that I bought in 2006 and it does the job. When using a calibration tool, you must create a profile and then assign that profile to your printer & your monitor. If you are not doing this step, you are still using mixed (or default) profiles and they will not match. I also keep the ambient lighting in my room the same and re-calibrate every 2-3 weeks or immediately if the lighting in the room changes. Hope this helps, Carlton To love this comment, log in above January 18, 2011

Rashed Ali Al Rashed		Hi Carlton W, I think im beginning to grasp the idea. thanks to you. i sensed the logic now, (calibration) both of you mentioned that. Quote "Calibration is the key to making your prints match your monitor" unQuote Ok calibration it is, time to do some reading about it. Thanks all,,,,,, To love this comment, log in above January 18, 2011

Lynn R. Powers		Hi Rashed, Well since Carlton mentioned the importance of calibrating everything and did a much better job of it than I could, I have one other suggestion. Purchase a large screen and plug it into your computer. The difference while working on photos will be noticed, especially if you work with RAW images. It will be easier, have better color resolution and a lot faster. I went from a 17" laptop to a 21" iMac and was amazed at the difference. What appeared as blown out colors on the laptop showed up on the larger screen with lots of detail. The only thing that I regret about the 21" screen is that it isn't a 27" screen. Both lack of money and space contributed to my selection. Dell and Mac each make large monitors that are both fairly economical and with good quality. If you decide to go with the Mac, Apple will give you a helping hand as far as how to set it up with your Mac Book Pro. I wish you much luck. Lynn To love this comment, log in above January 18, 2011

- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery		Hi Rashed, Spyder3 Express is less than $100 and will do the job. The directions & usage are very easy to follow but getting the profile set to the printers can be tricky depending on how easy the printers control settings are to access. I've had my original Spyder2 Pro Calibration for 6 years when I was using PC's and when I switched to MACs a couple of years ago, it worked perfectly. I used the same disk on my MACs to get them set up :) I re-calibrate every 2-3 weeks but sometimes get a bit lazy with my iMac since it doesn't move and my room (ambient) light never changes... Cheers, Carlton To love this comment, log in above January 18, 2011

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