Photoshop colors do not match printer

[jpilson21]

We use version 6.0 at our school - and print to a nice HP color laser printer. This has always worked fine, but this year the screen colors are printing different on the color laser. For example, yellow prints as green, red prints out as purple, etc. I have tried resetting the general tools in Photoshop. Our network administrator has verified that nothing is wrong with the printer. Any thoughts from anyone?

[Tips]

If it once worked fine, and now doesn't you have to ask

1) What changed?

Did you upgrade anything? Different computer?
Different ink cartridges? Different paper?
Print settings changed? Different resolution?
etc.

* Reload printer drivers (from the printer's web site)

* Calibrate your monitor (Use the "Help" button for a Wizard)

* Read print driver's documentation, it should have
a step-by-step for resetting the calibration.

This is one of the ongoing woes of printing from Photoshop, and in using Photoshop files in other programs.

There is an excellent book on the topic: Color Management in Digital Photography: Ten Easy Steps to True Colors in Photoshop (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1933952024/ref=ase_thedesignpublish), and the Fine Art Printing for Photographers: Exhibition Quality Prints with Inkjet Printers (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1933952008/ref=ase_thedesignpublish) book. For all-round color in Photoshop, rely on Eddie Tapp's excellent Practical Color Management (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0596527683/ref=ase_thedesignpublish) book

:cool:

[Ovidiu]

I think the cartridge or the paper is changed. If the colors print so far from what is normal, most of the times is because the cartridge is to old and need to be replaced, or something else connected to the tonner.
If the primary colors get out dirty, this may be the case.
It may be a color management problem. You use any color profile for your printer? Have you changed the colors?
You print RGB or CMYK files?

[digitaldallas]

Hello:

You might also look for any kind of contamination between ink cartridges. The color changes your mentioning sure sound like possible mixing or contamination of ink.

:) Buzz
The Odee Company - Commercial Printer (http://www.odeecompany.com)