Which profile do I use?

[Quicksnapper]

Could I ask you wise people a complete rooky question please. I am trying to improve the quality of my photography generally and like to print some of my efforts for club competitions and as give-always to friends. As such, I recently calibrated my monitor (iMac) and printer (Epson Photostylus) and saw definite change in the intensity / saturation of the colours in my prints when using the new profile. However, I now realise that the paper I use also has a profile, which I can download from the supplier's web site. This also gives a different result.

So ...which profile do I use? The post calibration profile, the paper profile or neither ... Or am I missing something here. (Feel free to tut and roll eyes at my ineptitude .... ) Thanks.

 

[Chappers]

OK so let me make sure I understand what you have done.

First you calibrated your monitor
Next you produced a profile for the Paper/Printer you are using.
You then used your printer profile within your printing software to produce the print.

If that's what you have done, Fine

Are you happy with the results from your own profile?

Many paper manufacturers produce what are Known as Generic or "Canned" profiles. They produce these using the an off the shelf printer, such as the one you have and generate a profile form it. These can be fine and ones from Ilford are generally very good. However these profiles are generic and you may get differences between systems. A custom profile, made on the printer you are going to use should give you a much more accurate result

Don't forger, the printer, ink and paper have an effect on the final profile. Change one of these and the results will be different, for example going from matt to glossy paper. You will get an even greater difference changing paper supplier as the way the paper absorbs the pigment from the ink will be different

 

[EOS_JD]

As Chappers says
Forget the monitor profile - That is only for the display

Each combination of ink/paper will require a different profile. If you buy papers from Fotospeed or Permajet they provide free custom profiles that will match your system rather than generic ones.