Printing an Image on a Personal Printer

Printing an Image with Proper Color Management

1. Navigate to File > Open to begin the color-managed printing workflow.
2. Open Smiling Baby-Adobe RGB.tif from the Color Management Seminar Files folder. This sample file provides an excellent test case for evaluating your color management setup, as it contains a wide range of skin tones and color information that will reveal any profile mismatches.
3. Access the print interface by selecting File > Print. This opens Photoshop's comprehensive print dialog, which has evolved significantly since earlier versions to provide more granular control over color output.

4. Locate the Color Management section on the right side of the Print dialog, as illustrated below. This critical panel controls how color information is translated from your monitor's color space to your printer's capabilities:

   

5. Configure the Color Handling option, which determines the color management workflow. Select Photoshop Manages Colors from this menu for optimal results.

   This choice establishes Photoshop as the color management engine rather than delegating to your printer driver. While printer drivers have improved substantially over the years, Photoshop's color engine typically provides more predictable and professional results. Remember this selection—you'll need to disable the printer driver's color management in subsequent steps to prevent conflicting color transformations that can result in muddy or oversaturated prints.
6. Select the appropriate profile from the Printer Profile menu that matches your specific printer and paper combination. This profile acts as a translation table, converting Photoshop's color data into instructions your printer can accurately reproduce. Using generic profiles often yields disappointing results, so invest in custom profiles if you're doing critical color work.
7. Click Print Settings near the top of the window to access your system's native print driver interface.

8. You'll now enter your operating system's standard print dialog, where you must locate and disable the printer's built-in color management features. Since printer interfaces vary significantly across manufacturers and models, the exact location of these settings differs, but these platform-specific guidelines will help you navigate the options:

   Mac:	In the dialog's lower section, locate the dropdown menu displaying Layout or Copies & Pages and select an option labeled Color Management, Color Options, or something similar. Look for terms like "ColorSync" or "No Color Adjustment."
   Windows:	Check the available tabs for Color Management, Advanced, or Properties options. Many Windows drivers place color settings under an "Advanced" or manufacturer-specific tab.

9. Save your settings by clicking Save (Mac) or OK (Windows). These printer-level adjustments will typically persist for future print jobs, streamlining your workflow.
10. Return to the Photoshop Print Settings window and click Print to execute the color-managed print job. Your image should now print with colors that closely match your calibrated monitor display.

11. Close the file when printing is complete. Consider comparing the printed result with your on-screen image to evaluate the effectiveness of your color management workflow and make any necessary profile adjustments for future projects.