In the Photoshop print dialog you choose one place to handle color conversion: either Photoshop manages colors using a printer and paper profile, or the printer manages colors using its own built-in logic. Pick only one, never both, because applying correction twice produces muddy or off-tone prints. For consistent results with specific papers, letting Photoshop manage colors with the correct profile is usually the more controlled route.
What the Setting Actually Does
Your image has a color space, such as sRGB or Adobe RGB. A printer needs that data converted to its own inks on a given paper. The conversion needs a profile that describes how that printer and paper combination behaves.
- Photoshop Manages Colors: Photoshop converts the image using the profile you select, then sends finished data to the printer driver with its color adjustment turned off.
- Printer Manages Colors: Photoshop sends the image as is, and the printer driver decides how to convert it.
When Each Choice Fits
| Situation | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Third-party fine art paper with a downloaded profile | Photoshop manages colors |
| Maker’s own paper with a matching profile installed | Photoshop manages colors |
| Quick proof or casual snapshot print | Printer manages colors |
| No profile available for your paper | Printer manages colors |
Steps for Photoshop Managed Printing
- Open the image and soft proof it under View, Proof Setup, choosing the paper profile.
- Open the Print dialog and set Color Handling to Photoshop Manages Colors.
- Select the printer profile that matches your paper and ink set.
- Choose a rendering intent. Relative Colorimetric with Black Point Compensation is a common general choice, and Perceptual can help with very vivid images.
- Open the printer driver settings and turn off color management or color adjustment, so the driver does not correct again.
- Set the paper type in the driver to match the profile, then print.
Common Mistakes
- Leaving color management on in both Photoshop and the driver, which causes double correction.
- Using a profile made for a different paper surface than the one loaded.
- Judging prints under dim or warm room light. Use a neutral, bright viewing light.
- Editing on a monitor that has never been checked with a colorimeter.
FAQ
Why does my print look darker than my screen?
Screens glow and are often set too bright. Lower the monitor brightness to a moderate level and use soft proofing to see paper contrast on screen.
Is Printer Manages Colors bad?
Not at all. Modern drivers do a decent job with the maker’s own papers. It simply gives you less control over the result.
The Short Version
Let one side handle color, never both. Choose Photoshop Manages Colors when you have a good paper profile and want predictable results, and choose Printer Manages Colors for quick prints or when no profile exists. Always match the paper setting in the driver to what is loaded.
