PSIG News: Desktop Printer Experiment
February 7, 2002

Looking to replace your desktop printer or curious about output quality? Join the "great desktop printer experiment!" PSIG members are asked to download the image below and print it from Photoshop as is, without any retouching or color-correction. Members will then bring in their prints so we can compare them. The results should be pretty eye-opening.

Downloading the Image

Member Walter Chandoha has graciously provided one of his original photographs for this experiment. Please note that this image is Walter's property, and should not be used for anything other than this project. Colorbars have been added for reference.

The image has been "stuffed" for downloading as a self-extracting file. Once it is downloaded, you will have to unstuff it simply by double-clicking on it (if it has not expanded automatically.) The stuffed file is named "psig_test0202_12.jpg.sea.hqx" and it should expand to a JPEG file named "psig_test0202_12.jpg" which is ready for printing. If you have any trouble automatically decompressing the file, check to see that you have the latest free decompression software from Aladdin Systems.

download image
(file size: 1.9 MB)
(file removed)

Image Information

The image is 7.5" x 10" at 150 dpi (1125 pixel x 1500 pixel) saved as a JPEG with the highest quality/lowest compression setting from a TIFF original. (Note that the image is portrait/vertical, not landscape/horizontal as shown above -- this does not matter.) Print it as many times as you like, on as many different paper stocks as you like, just be sure to keep an accurate record of what you did.

Print Information

Open the image in Photoshop and print it on 8-1/2" x 11" paper. For each print, you will need to have the following information:

• name and model number of printer
• exact kind (name and manufacturer) of paper stock
• version of Photoshop the image was printed from
• any specific color settings you may be using
• any unique printer-specific settings, such as non-standard inks, that were used
• be sure to put your name on the back if you want your prints back

Print all prints at the best setting your printer will allow, and bring everything to the meeting on February 14th for display and discussion.