Attn: All you Computer Techies.. I need help!

[amyh]

Okay, so I went out tonight and purchased an hp color laserjet 1600 printer tonight because I am determined to do a ton of DIYs starting with my STD's! Well I'm having issues! Its not printing the same color!!! The green was dark, more like mint than lime. I tried changing the color settings and although the color did lighten a bit, its still not the shade of green I want! What should I do?

[Tait Weddings]

I wonder if an inkjet will give you more accurate colors? I have an Epson R220 and think it is a great printer for under $100. I *think* lasers are better for character/text quality and inkjets are better for color. I did all my invitations, programs, save the dates, you name it with my little Epson printer. I also like this printer because you can print directly on CDs (for labels) which is pretty cool.

[MikkiStreak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tait Weddings I wonder if an inkjet will give you more accurate colors? I have an Epson R220 and think it is a great printer for under $100. I *think* lasers are better for character/text quality and inkjets are better for color. I did all my invitations, programs, save the dates, you name it with my little Epson printer. I also like this printer because you can print directly on CDs (for labels) which is pretty cool.

You're thinking along the right lines.... The install software that interprets color ranges will vary from printer to printer. Just like some software applications will have more / less color options to select from also.

[anaderoux]

Amy I have an HP Laserjet 2600 printer and I have the same problem... try setting the document's color (if you're using photoshop or Illustrator) to CYMK, that's the color format laser printers recognize.. It's never been a big issue for me 'cause I always end up liking the color that's printed but if you really want the color you see in screen maybe I can help you match it..

[TammyWright]

"Attn: All you Computer Techies" really means "attention GEEKS"

[MikkiStreak]

Quote:

Originally Posted by host "Attn: All you Computer Techies" really means "attention GEEKS"

hehehehe.... Now I know I'm getting old because I wear the geek hat proudly!

[anaderoux]

Quote:

Originally Posted by host "Attn: All you Computer Techies" really means "attention GEEKS"

hahahahahahaha

[Christine]

as the official computer geek teacher here, I officially cannot help you! sorry Amy I always have problems with green

[lambert13]

It may be an issue with your monitor. I noticed a while back that when I would have photos printed at a lab, the color balance was always coming out different than what I created in Photoshop at home. The problem was my monitor. I ended up buying a monitor calibration kit to get my monitor setting to where they should be.

 

A quick check to see if that's the problem for you would be to open the file on a different computer and see how it looks. If the colors appear different, its your monitor.

 

A less likely cause would be the interaction between the software you are using to print from and the printer. When I print a photo at home straight from photoshop it usually looks different than if I print from the windows photo viewer that is integrated to windows.

 

Forgot to mention also......... Did you calibrate the printer yet? It probably pops up automatically, but maybe not.

[Mishi]

I think he is right, I think it is your monitor. If it is a saved image, you may want to try to email it to yourself and then check your mail and open it on another computer (work, laptop, friends computer) to see if it looks the same there.

Also, if you have a pic of something that is the right green, like a pic of a dress or something, you can open it in photoshop, like suggested earlier, and click on the color in the pic you want and it will give you the exact color number for you to use in your project. This will make sure you are using the exact same color on every diy you do.

If you aren't familiar with Photoshop, you can send me the example pic you are pulling the green from and I would be happy to get the color code for you.

Either way, good luck ;-}