Blue prints purple with Canon ICC profiles

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Level 1

8 points

Blue prints purple with Canon ICC profiles

Hi,

I am printing a "printer evaluation image" ( http://www.outbackprint.com/printinginsights/pi049/essay.html) with my Canon Pro 9000 (Mk I). When selecting System Managed on the ColorSync option in the print dialog everything prints perfect. (Of course I have selected the correct paper under media in the driver)

When selecting the paper ICC profile in the ColorSync option blue turns into purple in the printer dialog image, same things goes for the print (at least it matches...). All other colors, skin tones etc looks perfect.

So it seems to me like everything is ok as long as the printer handles the color management, but when Aperture 2 handles it something goes wrong.

I have spent several hours googling the problem, as well as double checking all setting, driver version etc. I have tried different papers and the problem is consistent. Both OSX and Aperture version is up to date.

Anyone with similar problem? Is it an Aperture problem or is it the Canon ICC profiles?

Thomas

MBP 2.4GHz, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Jan 2, 2010 3:10 PM

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Answer 1

tebonnerud Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 3, 2010 12:24 AM in response to tebonnerud

Hi,

Here is some additional information:

1). The Blue/Purple problem does not show using "on screen proofing" only on the print preview. For example: When selecting the "Canon Pro9000 PR1" from proofing profile menu the Blue appears Blue. When selecting the same profile in the print dialog the blue turns into purple in image preview.

2). I found two profiles that does not seem to have the blue/purple problem: The "Canon lJ Color Printer Profile 2005" and "HFA Can9000_MKPhotorag". The last one was downloaded from Hannemuele directly. I have not printed test prints to confirm it on paper, but the print preview shows good blue.

Thomas

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Answer 2

Jan 3, 2010 8:38 AM in response to tebonnerud

I found this article helped me setup things correctly for printing in aperture (including ICC profiles):

http://support.apple.com/kb/TA38346?viewlocale=en_US

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Answer 3

tebonnerud Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 3, 2010 11:49 AM in response to J. McNamara

Hi J. McNamara,

Thanks for the input - I know the document and I am following all the guidelines in it. The only difference is that in the pro9000 driver it is not possible to explicitly turn off color management. However when an ICC profile is selected in the print dialog the color options are "greyed" out which I beleive means it is disabled. I do not think I am double profiling as that should affect other colors, not just blue.

On the other hand I have done some more testing. My first statement about everything works with "system managed" is not true. It does work with Photo Paper Pro II, but with Canon Photo Rag I got the blue prints purple problem also with "System Managed" - tried both black point compensation on and off.

The evaluation image is using ProPhoto RGB. Maybe I have a color space conversion issue?

Thomas

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Answer 4

tebonnerud Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 4, 2010 2:50 PM in response to tebonnerud

Hi,

Here is an update for those who are interested:

I believe I have been able to isolate the problem to Aperture. This is what I did:

Step 1). Used Keynote to make a 100% Blue square and exported that to a 16-bit TIFF.

Step 2). Imported the TIFF into Aperture, used the DigitalColor Meter utility to ensure it was 100% Blue. Print: Selected the Canon Pro9000 PR1 Profile, In the print settings selected Photo Paper Pro II and set quality to high. Preview is purple AND print is purple.

Step 3). Then imported the TIFF into Pixelmator, again with DigitalColor Meter utility ensured that it was still 100% Blue. Print: Under Color matching menu selected Color Sync and Canon Pro PR1 Profile, under Quality and Media menu selected Photo Paper Pro II and set quality to high. Preview is Blue AND print is Blue!!

To me this seems to indicate the following:

1). The Canon driver is good - Works perfectly with Pixelmator

2). The Canon Pro9000 PR1 profile is fine - works perfectly with Pixelmator

3). The Printer is fine - again... Pixelmator

4). Even though my system is not color calibrated, it is quite good - Preview match print with Pixelmator.

That leaves Aperture and how it handles ICC profiles with the Canon Pro9000 driver...

Anybody else able to confirm this?

Thomas

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