Downloading the Target Image Kit and the Printer Setup Kit

First, visit the Downloads page, and download the TARGET IMAGE KIT, a “ZIP” file that contains two different sets of target image files, one or both of which you will have to print and send to me. Descriptions of the target images are shown in the table below.  The first target image is for creating a custom RGB Color profile for full color printing, and the second one is a special grayscale target image for creating an Advanced Black & White profile for black and white printing.  To read more about using an Advanced Black and White profile, visit the Advanced Black & White page.  If you are using Windows, the “zipped” files can be extracted using WinZip. If you are using a Mac, extract the files with Stuffit.  (If you don’t have this software, there are links below and on the Downloads page that will allow you to obtain usable trial versions). 

The Target Image Kit contains TIF image files, which when extracted, will install themselves automatically into separate folders on your computer, as follows:

The paper size dimensions refer to the size of the paper you will feed through your printer.  Each target image is designed to print only on Letter size paper (8½ X 11 in.).  The RGB Color target image contains 1,728 unique color patches, which when printed and evaluated, will allow for the creation of a custom RGB Color printer profile.  The Advanced Black & White target image is much smaller because its range of color is restricted to shades of black and white.  It contains just 51 grayscale patches, which when printed and evaluated, will allow for the creation of a custom Advanced Black and White printer profile.  Next, you must retrieve the PRINTER SETUP KIT -- choose the appropriate file that matches the software you use for printing.  The Printer Setup Kit provides instructions and screen shots for setting up your printer and your printing software to print the target image; and also, setting up to use your printer with a profile.  There are a limited number of software packages that will handle color-managed printing.  There is a Printer Setup Kit for each of the following software packages, which are the most popular programs that allow for a color-managed workflow:

• Adobe Photoshop

• ACDSee Pro

• Adobe Photoshop Elements

• Qimage (Lite/ Pro/ Studio)

• Paint Shop Pro

Conspicuously absent from this list is Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, which is fast becoming one of the most popular programs for image processing and printing.  Lightroom possesses full color management capabilities for printing your images, and you should not have any problem using a custom ICC profile with Lightroom.  The problem is printing the target image with Lightroom.  To print a valid target image, color management must be completely disabled in the printing software.  However, color management is always enabled in Lightroom, and there is no way to turn it off.  So, in order to obtain a custom profile for use with Lightroom, it is necessary use software other than Lightroom to print the target image -- software that will allow you to turn color management completely off.  Once the profile has been created, you will then be able to use it in Lightroom with no problems.  At this point, it appears that Adobe intended to have this feature in Lightroom, but there are a lot of folks rumbling about the inability to take complete control of the color management process when using this software package.  I believe that if enough pressure builds, Adobe may be forced to change the way this works in Lightroom.  Stay tuned...

For those of you who have Lightroom installed on your system -- and nothing else, you can easily download a "trial" version of one of the above-listed software packages that WILL allow for the disabling of color management.  This costs you nothing and allows you the opportunity to print viable target images.  Once you have your profiles, you can go back to printing with Lightroom.  Problem solved.

************************************* IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MAC OS X 10.6 USERS ************************************

Some people who are using Mac OS X 10.6.x are reporting unexpected and unsatisfactory results when printing with their custom printer profiles.  If you are using this OS, click  HERE  for more detailed information about this problem, possible solutions, and how to correctly print a target image for measurement and evaluation.  OSX 10.6.3 was released on March 29, 2010.  To obtain the best results with your custom profiles, make sure you have upgraded to this latest OS release.

************************************************************************************************************************************************

Download the Printer Setup Kit for the software you use, and save it to an easily accessible location on your computer.  Once again, you can use WinZip or Stuffit to extract the files contained in the ZIP file.  Here is a description of the files that are included: