Need help calibrating a monitor.

I use Lightroom. I have not sized anything other than drag the arrows to what I consider a good size and print it. So far it seems to work but I don't know what I'm doing. Is proper sizing important to the image quality?
 
I did some more practicing tonight. Last night I printed some shots of me and my girlfriend and was really happy with the results. I had to make adjustments as I went but came out with some pretty good prints. Tonight I decided to try some flower shots. The first print I did via Lightroom and it came out very off so I decided to try to print straight from the colormunki app and it was much better (exposure wise). But after making what I thought would be the right adjustments I ended up with the wrong color on the flower. I'm not sure why because I made no color adjustments only exposure adjustments. I recalibrated the monitor again just to make sure all was well and it did not change a bit. The before and after comparison pics looked exactly the same. I need to study what you have sent me but I am really starting to think that I need to calibrate the printer if I ever want to get this right. I'm taking baby steps but I am determined to learn this stuff. That from a guy that know nothing about computers. Lol
 
Try downloading a profile for your printer/paper/ink combination if one is available. What paper and inks are you using?
 
There are a bunch of them already loaded on the software. I searched for a paper profile but didn't find an exact match so ended up using a profile out of the software. Something like glossy paper. Sorry don't remember right now but it seemed kinda generic to me at the time. I am starting to think I need to get the other software.
 
What paper and ink are you using? You need to search for a Pixma 100 profile for that paper and ink.
 
I found out tonight why you don't put black boarders around ever picture. I'll be picking up a black ink cartridge tomorrow lol.

I messed with the sample prints today. I did not have much luck though. I was expecting to be able to find the correct adjustments in the print setup but found that there was not enough adjustment room. I ended back in Lightroom making my adjustments. I do think that this may be a good way to see what adjustments need to be made to correct some of the color issues I'm having. But once again I wonder if this is worth the effort or should I just spend the money on the other calibrating tool. So basically I learned more today but I'm still in the same position. Lol.
 
shaylou said:
The ink is canons original what came with it the paper is HP "every day photo paper", glossy. The only thing I can find on the box of paper that indicated anything is - Q8723A.
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I doubt you'll find a profile for that :) Cheap ass paper.

Don't adjust in the print set up... you shouldn't have the printer managing colours... it's awful. Get some decent paper that you can download a profile for, and let photoshop or lightroom manage the colours via a ICC profile like I showed you a few posts back. Look at that list of third party papers I posted last week.. get something off there that you know you can get a profile for.
 
Wow what a difference paper makes. I got some decent 10 and paper put it in and tried a print with no adjustments. It nailed it here's the results. View attachment 20435

The one on the right is the true color of the print on good paper with no adjustments. the one on the left is,,, I don't know what it is that's just the way it came out. Lol
 
Ok I just realized that wasn't entirely true. I had made adjustments to print studio pro software and that is what printed. But that was only brightness and contrast. The thing that the paper profile corrected so dramatically was the color itself. I'm getting closer. Thanks for all the help.
 
Pookeyhead said:
ppi dictates how large the print will be. I'd print from Photoshop if you have it, as the document size handling is better. First step is to resize the image to exactly the size you want. If you want A4, then use image/Image size and set 29.7cm x 21cm @ 300ppi.

That will then print exactly the right size.... then just set Photoshop's print dialogue as I showed in post #35.

Do you have photoshop?

It sounds to me like jumping right in and spending a few hundred dollars on media profiling may be a bit too much for you right now. Get used to the idea of sizing and preparing images for print first, and using the off the shelf profiles available for your printer and paper/ink.


This may help

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Thanks but i am using lightroom.
 
@shaylou You're welcome. Nice to see you're up and about and creating things after what you've been through as well.
 
Thanks so much. This was my first week back to work after 4 months sense the accident. It's hard to believe I was in a wheel chair less then two months ago. I'm not completely healed but I am walking without even crutches as this point. Okay limping without crutches lol.

My friend works in a garden center and so I'm about to go down there to do some macro shots of all the flowers and take advantage of this beautiful weather that rolled into Houston last night.
Now try not to laugh to hard when I tell you this but after I shoot I will help my friend set up and get his new printer running. So all of y'all's help will be helping more than one person.

I tell people all of the time that this forum had literally taught me photography. I will never stop studying but I am very proud of how far I have come and it's because of the good folks like all of you helping and sharing your passion for photography. For that, I thank you all.
 
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