Difference between image and print preview

[blimpgreen]

I have an image that looks perfectly fine in the normal editing mode in Gimp, but when I go to the printing dialog, the print preview image is significantly different. The image shown in the print preview is overly saturated and darker, and I've tried to change options in the print dialog like "Color Mode" and "Quality" but there's no effect on the print preview image. The print preview image is a more accurate representation on what actually is printed though, so in that respect the print preview works.

What are my options if I want to get the print preview and the printed image closer to what I see in Gimp? Do I have to desaturate and lighten the image before I attempt to print it or is there a smarter way to get the print preview and printed image more in line with what I see in the normal editing mode?

[rich2005]

The printer uses CMYK which has a reduced gamut from the computer RGB screen. The print will be different from the computer display. Colours are subdued, less vibrant.

Strictly you should use a color calibrated monitor, giving a icm profile for the monitor and then use a paper icc, both for the Gimp Edit -> Color Management setup. That will give a good approximation of the print.
see: https://docs.gimp.org/2.10/en/gimp-imagi...ement.html
Also it is worth looking through the article here: https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/color-...inting.htm

From experience, most users have their monitor set way too bright. It does help by using the simple adjustment shown here: https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutori...ration.htm Even laptops have a brightness control.

This just my opinion: For users without monitor calibration (me) it is a matter of knowing the equipment limitations, ie. rule-of-thumb. When I print, monitor brightness set down, I still bump the brightness up a little in the print dialog. I know from experience the result is close to the computer display.

This using the gutenprint plugin otherwise use a copy of the image to adjust. https://i.imgur.com/Hmz9yK6.jpg
If you can get gutenprint to work with MacOS / your printer, it is worth installing. Mac can be a problem and not all printers are supported. see: http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/MacOSX.php

[blimpgreen]

(05-28-2020, 07:25 AM)rich2005 Wrote: The printer uses CMYK which has a reduced gamut from the computer RGB screen. The print will be different from the computer display. Colours are subdued, less vibrant.

Strictly you should use a color calibrated monitor, giving a icm profile for the monitor and then use a paper icc, both for the Gimp Edit -> Color Management setup. That will give a good approximation of the print.
see:  https://docs.gimp.org/2.10/en/gimp-imagi...ement.html  
Also it is worth looking through the article here: https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/color-...inting.htm

From experience, most users have their monitor set way too bright. It does help by using the simple adjustment shown here: https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutori...ration.htm Even laptops have a brightness control.

This just my opinion: For users without monitor calibration (me) it is a matter of knowing the equipment limitations, ie. rule-of-thumb. When I print, monitor brightness set down,  I still bump the brightness up a little in the print dialog. I know from experience the result is close to the computer display.

This using the gutenprint plugin otherwise use a copy of the image to adjust.  https://i.imgur.com/Hmz9yK6.jpg
If you can get gutenprint to work with MacOS / your printer, it is worth installing. Mac can be a problem and not all printers are supported. see:  http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/MacOSX.php

Thanks for the links! Unfortunately gutenprint didn't support my printer, but I'll try to adjust my monitor settings. The brightness is probably way off.

[sl60]

It's a very common problem. Most commercial printers (that is, consumer version, not magazines, etc.) use sRGB which is what Gimp uses. I find that if I turn my monitor brightness way down and set the gamut up a little, plus lighten the image in Gimp it works pretty well--and even then some images still print too dark. You need to get the ICC profile code for the printer you will be using and add it in Edit>Preferences>Color Management>Soft Proofing add your monitor and the ICC profile for the printer. The soft-proofed image will be more or less what the print will look like--except, as above, if your monitor is too bright it will be dark. Do a sample test and then adjust acordingly.

[ramestica]

(05-31-2020, 11:31 PM)sl60 Wrote: It's a very common problem. Most commercial printers (that is, consumer version, not magazines, etc.) use sRGB which is what Gimp uses. I find that if I turn my monitor brightness way down and set the gamut up a little, plus lighten the image in Gimp it works pretty well--and even then some images still print too dark. You need to get the ICC profile code for the printer you will be using and add it in Edit>Preferences>Color Management>Soft Proofing add your monitor and the ICC profile for the printer. The soft-proofed image will be more or less what the print will look like--except, as above, if your monitor is too bright it will be dark. Do a sample test and then adjust acordingly.

the need for a consistent color management workflow is very important, that's my take from the feedback above.

But still. If one enables soft-proofing in View > Color Management (proof color option), why is that the display does not change as dramatically as when one opens the printing dialog? It seems like as if soft-proofing is not working in Edit mode.