SETTING YOUR COLOUR SPACE

as

'BruceRGB'

I'm grateful to my colleague, Dr. Roger Moore ARPS, for providing the following information upon which I've based these recommendations.

To begin, there are two settings that need to be made.

The first is in the 'Print' dialogue box, there is a rather unobtrusive thing called 'space' at the bottom left. If you look in small window next to it, you should see a list of things including some Epson papers. Choose one that matches the paper you're printing or the closest one to it.

The second is in the 'Print' - 'Page Setup' > 'Epson' > 'More Settings' dialogue box (the one with the sliders for adjusting brightness, contrast, colour etc.) Set to 'ICM' (i.e. colour management).

These two settings in combination allow 'Photoshop' to talk to the printer through the Windows colour management system and in principle, cause the output to the printer to match exactly what's on the screen.

I believe this will still work even if you haven't altered the internal colour space model - as long as the 'File' > 'Colour Settings' > 'RGB Setup' box has the 'Display Using Monitor Compensation' box ticked.

Finally, for those who would like to use Bruce Fraser's recommended 'custom' RGB set-up (rather than the much-criticised PS5 default - sRGB), here are the values to put in:-

Bruce RGB Set up for V 5, & 5.5 (For V6 see below)

Go to File > Color Settings > RGB Setup

White point = 6500K

Gamma = 2.2

In the 'Primaries' box, click the drop-down arrow and choose 'custom'.

In the dialogue box that appears, the values to type in are as follows. (Actually it's quite possible that the only change you'll need to make is to the Blue settings)

red xy = 0.6400 0.3300

green xy = 0.2800 0.6500

blue xy = 0.1500 0.0600

Click on 'save' and name as BruceRGB

Save it in the Adobe Settings Folder.

To ensure that this colour space is also available when you enter the File > Print > Space dialogue box as an option, you'll need to save it under Windows too. Do this by opening Windows Explorer and finding Bruce RGB - in the Photoshop Settings folder. Highlight Bruce RGB > right click > Copy. Go to Windows > System > Color - highlight (click on) this folder and right click > Paste. Bruce RGB should then appear in the list of color settings.

Mission accomplished, it'll be available next time in the Printer > Space option list.

Bruce RGB for V6

Go to Edit > Color Settings

A large, 'Color settings' dialogue box opens

Click the 'Advanced Mode' (box top left)to give access to all settings

The options that appear are many. As a guide, I'll note below how my settings are, as a starting point try making yours the same.

Settings: 'Custom' (choose from the drop-down menu)

Working Spaces

RGB: Click on the drop-down arrow and from the menu that appears choose 'Custom' (it's top of the list), A new dialogue box appears, this is the Custom RGB box and it's where the new settings will be made.

Name: Type in 'Bruce RGB'

Gamma = 2.2

White point = 6500K

White x = 0.3127, y = 0.3290

Primaries: HDTV (ITU-R 709-2)

In the lower boxes, the values to type in are as follows. (Actually it's quite possible that the only change you'll need to make is to the Blue settings)

red x = 0.6400, y = 0.3300

green x = 0.2800, y = 0.6500

blue x = 0.1500, y = 0.0600

Click 'OK'

CMYK: US Web Coated (SWOP) v2

Gray: Gray Gamma 2.2

Spot: Dot Gain 20%

Color Management Policies

RGB: off

CMYK: off

Gray: off

Profile Mismatches: 'Ticked'

Conversion Options

Engine: Adobe (ACE)

Intent: Relative Colorimetric

Use Black Point Compensation: 'ticked'

Use Duther (8-bit/channel images): 'ticked'

Advanced Controls:

Desaturate Monitor Colors by: 20%

Blend RGB Colors Using gamma: 1.00

Click on 'save' and name as BruceRGB

Save it in the Adobe Settings Folder.

To check that all is well, re-open the Color Settings folder and make certain that 'Bruce RGB' appears in the 'Working Spaces' box. If not, use the drop-down menu and click on it.

To ensure that this colour space is also available when you enter the File > Print > Space dialogue box as an option, you'll need to save it under Windows too. Do this by opening Windows Explorer and finding Bruce RGB - in the Photoshop Settings folder. Highlight Bruce RGB > right click > Copy. Go to Windows > System > Color - highlight (click on) this folder and right click > Paste. Bruce RGB should then appear in the list of color settings.

Mission accomplished, it'll be available next time in the Printer > Space option list.

Note: the above settings should be viewed as a 'Preference' (return to the 'Know-How' page to select the version of Photoshop you need instructions for) and locked via 'Locking Your Preferences' -