Dark prints from Epson Photo Stylus RX640

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JimLin1965

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Hi,

I am having trouble getting decent prints out of my Photo Stylus RX640. Everything comes out much darker than the onscreen version using CS3. It is especially noticable in darker areas where any detail just disappears into one solid black mess. I have had a printer profile from pureprofiles.com and implimented the profile according to the instructions, but that hasn't improved things.

I have done a basic monitor setup using Adobe Gamma, but the monitor is new and wasn't far off. I have compared the photos I have on flickr on different monitors (friends and at work) and they dont seem significantly dark. I will be getting a Huey with Xmas money, but wondered whether anyone had any suggestions or quick fixes, as I want to do a few prints to take to a family lunch tomorrow.

Cheers,
JimLin :)
 
Did you follow the instructions for printing, ie select print with preview, set Color Management, in print settings set to ICM and disabled, etc?
 
Jim

I suspect the problem may be with the way CS3 is set up to handle your printer.

It's probably letting the printer handle the colour controls. You need photoshop do it.

It's no big deal so here are some suggestions. These setting are for my RX500 and R300 but should be similar to your 640.

2 parts to this.

One
Calibrate your monitor with the Huey. before you do remove adobe Gamma. You'll have 2 bits of software competing. You'll probably find it in the start up folder . Simply delete it and restart the computer. Then profile the monitor.

Two

You need to set up the printer options. You'll also need the printer profiles. You may have these on the disk which came with the machine. If not go to the support pages at Epson support page

Try this link

http://esupport.epson-europe.com/Pr...GB&data=vRaxNXeC8zjCTzgLADqmFil9zKyJEiCu&tc=6

I don't know what OS you are using but you need to install the paper profiles in the correct location. For XP it's Windows /System 32/Spool / Drivers/ Color.

Now in the print panel you need select "Photshop manages colour" in the print handling section. The select your printer profile in the next box. Rendering intent select Perceptual.

Nearly done

From the same dialogue page in Photoshop, go to page set up, Up will come the printer dialogue box. Select Advanced And in the Colour management box Tick ICM and No Color Adjustment. Make sure the paper ID and quality is set correctly and save these settings

DONE.


You may find this helpful as well

http://www.computer-darkroom.com/ps10_print/ps10_print_1.htm

Merry Christmas
 
Chappers, have you been at the brandy butter already?

Jim doesn't have a Huey yet but does have a profile...

apart from that :thumbs:

:lol:
 
pxl8

I assumed he would get the Huey. But using adobe gamma is a reasonable starting point, but he might not get as good screen to print match as with the Huey.

I only suggested the Epson ones as they are a good starting point. You can substitute the Pureprofiles after and see the difference.

Pass the Brandy:naughty:
 
Thanks for the quick replies. The instructions that are supplied with the profiles are almost exactly the same as Chappers post. I followed them to the letter and I'm still getting the problem.

There is definately something amiss. I have spent the afternoon doing test prints and have discovered that I can get a resonable print by selecting Colour Controls in the printer properties and dialling in an off-set of +23 on the brightness, rather than using the ICM option. My monitor is definately not that far out!

I have removed and reinstalled the printer drivers, but this hasn't made any difference. If you do a search for Epson + dark pictures on Google, there are plenty of queries raised by people, but no real answers.

The problem is, using genuine Epson paper and ink is not a cheap way of doing test prints :'(.

JimLin :)
 
copy and paste this image in Photoshop

sRGB_chart.jpg


Can you clearly see the 4 dark squares and the 4 bright ones at the top?

If you squint do the outer and inner squares of the 4x3 blocks appear to have the same brightness?

If no then I'm afraid your monitor is out.

One thing to check is that your working space is correct in CS3 and that you've not got proofing turned on.
 
I agree with pxl8. looks awfully like the monitor brightness is to high. It's good in one respect that it is purely the brightness and not colour that is the problem.

Good idea about checking proofing hadn't thought of that

Some monitors can be very bright. My Gateway has an output of 450Cd/M but I only run it at about 130.

At this level I get good screen to print match either from Lightroom or CS3.

As you get a good result with -23 dialed in, why don't you enjoy Christmas and use this setting until the Huey arrives.
This'll save you money on ink and paper
 
I have my main screen and my lappy calibrated with my eye one, when I first calibrated them I was surprised how much lower the brightness was, so this could well be a factor as mentioned above.

I had a profile done by the same people, the before and after prints of their calibration sheets showed a big difference.

I know what you mean about the Epson not being the cheapest around, but the quality is worth it, even though they do insist on squirting half the contents of the ink cart away when they do the cleaning cycle :annoyed:
 
My colour space is Adobe RGB and the colour chart is as described. I spent many years in the AV industry colour balancing videowalls by eye, so I feel have a good appreciation of what should be expected on a correctly setup screen.

Thanks for the advice so far, I just wish I could crack it.

JimLin :)
 
digitalfailure said:
I had a profile done by the same people, the before and after prints of their calibration sheets showed a big difference.
Click to expand...

That's an interesting thought, I printed an extra set of colour charts for my photography couse, so I'll compare them with one from the new profile.

Cheers,
JimLin :)
 
Jim

If it's any help PM after Christmas and I'll send you a Kodak Pro digital test image. It's a rfairly simple one but has a lot of "memory" colours. I'll also post of to you if you like a reference print from that image so you can compare screen brightneses
 
Another thought - are you comparing print to screen in a room lit with a 60w bulb or something similar? You really need to consider the print in good diffused daylight rather than side by side.
 
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