(If your prints are coming out with horizontal lines all over everything - this is called banding and is generally a low ink or clogged nozzle issue and has nothing to do with the color or the paper.)
A "color profile" or "color space" is information that allows devices such as cameras, monitors, and printers to understand how the image color will be represented. It is important to understand how to use color profiles in your graphics program, so you can accurately predict how your printer will reproduce color. Visit color.org for detailed information on ICC color profiles.
I often hear people complaining about bad color and poor quality prints, followed by the question: what paper do you recommend? The answer to this is the paper you're using is probably fine - but you're most likely using the wrong color profile.
So how do you use the right profile?
The color profiles for your printer should have been installed with the printer drivers. If they were not, or you need help using them, contact your printer manufacturer directly. I use an Epson inkjet printer and a Konica Minolta laser printer and Adobe Photoshop. I'll be providing information based on that. For more specific help, contact your printer manufacturer or the help files of your graphics program.
In Adobe Photoshop:
- Pull down the Edit menu and select Color Settings. In the dialog box, set the RGB Space to Adobe RGB 1998 and the CMYK setting to US Web Coated SWOP v2. (Inkjet works in RGB and Laser works in CMYK so if you're using an inkjet printer the CMYK setting doesn't really matter.)
- Open the image you're working on, complete all of your edits, color adjustments, etc. and save the document.
- When you are ready to print go to the Edit menu and select Convert to Profile. (In older versions this option is under the Image menu, Mode sub-menu.)
- Select your printer / paper combination color profile. For my Epson 1280 I almost exclusively use the Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight profile. I use Epson brand inks and paper for consistency and I find that the Matte Paper profile works pretty well with Glossy and Presentation papers as well.
- Pull down the File menu and select Print with Preview.
- In the print dialog make sure the Print Space is set to your document profile. In this case it's the Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight profile. And make sure that the color adjustment option is OFF! This is very important. (Every printer dialog is a little different, so if you're having trouble locating these options, see your printer manufacturer.)
I've been to color management seminars, read books, studied websites, and have a degree in commercial photography and every one I've met has a different method for achieving good color. With my printer setup this method is the only one that works consistently for me, and having shared it with others, I find it works for them too. But I'm not an expert, and I don't have all the answers so please feel free to do some independent research and share your findings.

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