PUB: Blues and Aquas Print Too Dark on HP DeskJet 820c/855c (146433)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Publisher for Windows 3.0
This article was previously published under Q146433 SYMPTOMS
When you print a publication to an HP DeskJet 820c, any object that is
colored aqua or blue (or any other color that uses a lot of cyan ink) will
be printed darker than it appears on screen. This behavior will be
especially noticeable if you select the Improve Screen And Printer Color
Matching check box in the Print dialog box.
CAUSE
This difference in color is caused by an inherent difference in the way
that color screens and color printers work.
WORKAROUND
To get an accurate idea of how the object will appear when it's printed to
the DeskJet, consult a printer's ink color reference book.
MORE INFORMATION
On your screen, the colors you see are made by mixing various proportions
of red, green, and blue glowing dots. This is why color screens are
sometimes called RGB screens. Creating colors by mixing different colors of
lights is called "additive mixing." The three primary colors in additive
mixing are red, green, and blue. If you add equal amounts of all three
primary colors, you get white light. Any other color of light can also be
made by mixing various percentages of red, green, and blue.
On your printer, the colors you see are made by mixing various proportions
of cyan, magenta, yellow (and sometimes black) ink. When you create colors
by mixing different colors of ink or paint it is called "subtractive
mixing." The three primary colors in subtractive mixing are cyan, magenta
and yellow. If you add equal amounts of all three primary colors you get
black ink or paint. Any other color of paint can also be made by mixing
various percentages of cyan, magenta, and yellow.
When you fill an object on a publication with aqua (the term Publisher uses
for cyan), that color is made by mixing equal portions of green and blue
light. Because the human eye is especially sensitive to blue and green
light, this color appears very bright. When you print this object, the HP
DeskJet prints it using pure cyan ink. When you look at this object on the
printed page, you are actually seeing white light reflecting off of cyan
ink. This makes the ink look less intense than the light coming from your
screen.
The color mixing information sent to the printer is derived mathematically.
The mathematics don't take into account the human eye's special sensitivity
to some colors.
NOTE: This effect is not limited to Publisher and HP DeskJet printers. Any
program printing to any color printer will also exhibit this effect.
| Modification Type: | Minor | Last Reviewed: | 8/17/2005 |
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| Keywords: | kbprb kbprint KB146433 |
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