Well James, this is one of the main problems people encounter in digital imaging. Unfortunately, just converting the image to CMYK (especially because most ink-jet and laser printers process images in RGB, not CMYK - CMYK is basically only necessary when creating film based separations for offset printing) will probably not be enough to get yourself consistent output from your digicam to monitor, and to printer and paper. The key lies in two steps: calibrating and profiling. Also I'm curious as how/why you converted LAB color? Was it to steal some of the contrast the brightness channel?
Calibrating is making sure that each device is capturing/displaying the right colors at the proper hue and saturation. (ie: 100% magenta is 100% magenta, and should capture on your camera/scanner, display on your monitor, and spray onto the paper as such).
Profiling is taking the data from the calibrating, and using it to assign certain values to the files from your camera so that the profile created from your specific output device (printer & paper), will be applied to the file and adjust the colors/tone accordingly so as display most accurately on your monitor.
For example, where I work we have different ICC profiles for the newspaper press and newsprint that we have in the building, as well as multiple profiles for the different commercial printers and presses/paper stocks that we out source our magazine and specialty publications to. After assigning the profile for the specific job in photoshop, I can be more confident that what I look at on my monitor in Newport, Rhode Island will print the same on a press in Canada.
Search around on the internet for more in-depth instructions/how to's. Also there are various sources to download profiles for specific ink-jet printers. But if you're really serious about calibrating and profiling your hardware, then get one of the medium priced kits that have all the software and hardware devices to profile all of your equipment.
Chris
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