Photoshop color not matching print color

I am not familiar with CS4. I do have Photoshop v3 and Photoshop Elements v2. They both have calibration help to do color management so that the monitor and printer output will be close.

The image attachment shows Photoshop v3 Calibration content page. I would imagine it carries over to CS4.

Alex, first, a properly calibrated monitor does help. Still, do not expect any printer to print out the color of any image with 100% accuracy. It is just not possible. The color on the monitor is generated by light and the color printed is generated by ink. It is also affected by the ICC color profile used.

If color is very important to you, I suggest you print out all the colors of the color profile you prefer(on a fabric similar to the one you will be printing on) so you can see how it looks in print. This will also enable you to select the printed color you want. I forgot how to do this so try google. In corel you can use VB macros though to print color swatches.

You can also search for CMYK, RGB, Pantone charts (those with color values) and print them on a cut fabric similar to the ones you will be printing on. Some are more than 10 pages long. I am referring to something like this.

By referring to the printed fabric, for example, you need to have the 4th yellow shade(4th down on the 2nd column) as it appears in print you know you need to set a RGB value close to 255, 255,102.

Not the most elegant way to do it but should solve your problem.

ok, I did a monitor calibration or so I went through the steps with the instructions in Photoshop.

I still can't figure out which color profile I have. IN CS4 I am designing in RGB Mode.. now on the printer settings am I supposed to pick "Working RGB" or "Adobe RGB" and should it be Photoshop manages colors or Printer manages color or no color management?



when I open the print window it says: From the top

Color Management - Document is chosen (profile: US web coated (SWOP) v2

Color Handling - Printer manages color

Printer profile - Working RGB - sRGB IEC61966-2.1

Rendering intent - Relative Colorimetric

Proof Setup - working CMYK

Is there a general rule/setting I should have these at to print my transfers?

I am not that familiar with the settings but I think you can decide better based on the print results.

In relation to what I posted earlier, I am just wondering if shirts like this will sell (I once printed a color wheel) but here's a printed color chart.


The print is called funtones or a fun version of pantone colors. If these shirts do sell then you can save your screens for printing on different fabric surfaces. You need more designs for the other colors though.

Source: http://www.snowshop.us/index.php?category=T-Shirts+-+S-S