Why does one photo print with blue/purple shadows when most others match my screen?
Asked 9/21/2025
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My monitor is an ASUS PA329CV in its sRGB preset, and I’m printing from Photoshop to a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-300 on paper with an ICC profile. Most of my prints match the screen reasonably well, but one image with snow and shadow prints with a blue/purple tint in the shadows. In Photoshop’s print dialog I selected “Photoshop manages colors” and chose the paper ICC profile. I also tried different rendering intents, but the tint remains. What’s the right way to troubleshoot this kind of mismatch, and am I using the ICC profile correctly?
Originally by bmargulies. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
bmargulies
8mo ago
2 Answers
1
In the photoshop print dialog, I indicate 'photoshop controls colors', and I select the ICC profile for the paper.
That is incorrect (and a fairly common mistake).
The printer/paper profile enables the editing program to render the colors the same as how the printer will print them. That way you can edit them to your liking before they are printed. Ideally, your monitor is also calibrated with a custom profile; which enables it to render colors as accurately as it can.
You should not use the printer profile for anything other than softproofing the image within Photoshop.
- select custom proof colors (menu View>Proof Setup>Custom)
- select the printer/paper profile to emulate, rendering intent, and paper color
- enable softproofing
- edit the image so it will print as desired.
- allow printer to manage colors (as long as the image is in a typical/known color space)
- optional- save the proof setup with a custom name in step 2; save the edited image with a new name as it is only (ideally) suited for printing on that printer/paper.
Edit: Alternatively, you can select Photoshop manages colors enabling "match print colors" (and paper white/gamut). That will cause the little preview window to go into softproof mode using the printer/paper profile; and if you don't like the way any of the colors will render go to step one above.
Originally by Steven Kersting. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Steven Kersting
8mo ago
0
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The key suggestion from the replies is that the printer/paper ICC profile should be used mainly for soft proofing, not as a substitute for proper display/printer color management.
A sensible workflow to troubleshoot this image is:
- Make sure your monitor is properly calibrated/profiled.
- In Photoshop, use View > Proof Setup > Custom.
- Choose the printer/paper ICC profile there, along with the rendering intent, and enable paper color simulation if available.
- Turn on soft proofing and inspect the problem shadows.
- Edit the image while soft proofing so the shadows look the way you want for that printer/paper combination.
- Then print with the printer using its correct color-managed workflow, avoiding double color management.
Why only one image? Snow and shadow scenes often contain subtle near-neutral tones that can reveal color casts much more easily than other subjects. If most images print well, the issue is likely that this photo contains tones that your chosen paper/printer profile renders differently, and soft proofing should show that before printing.
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