Printing

Crazyhorse · 4 Feb 2009

I use PS 4 extended and have recently bought an HP photosmart C5380 printer. I use either HP advanced photo paper or HP premium plus photo paper.

I've noticed that the prints are coming out a bit dark, what you see on screen is not what you get printed.

Can anyone advise me please?

Lisa

pxl8 · 4 Feb 2009

The magic words - monitor calibration.

Think about it for a second. How is the printer supposed to know how you've set up your monitor? It doesn't. Calibrating your monitor will adjust it so it conforms to a standard which means the s/w doing the printing will be able to translate the image data from the standard used for the screen into one the printer understands.

The "other" way is to turn the brightness down on your monitor until it matches the print, then edit the shots so they look right once more and print them again. This works to a degree but only for your screen and printer - view images on another screen or use a different printer and there's no guarantee the prints will still match.

Chappers · 5 Feb 2009

Lisa

Sounds to me like a monitor calibration problem. Ideally monitors should be calibrated and profiled, but I'm assuming that at the moment you don't want to go that route.

You could try a couple of options, turn down the brightnes on the monitor untill it matches the print. Not ideal but can work. Second have a look at the advanced printing options within the printer control panel ( I'm an Epson person so I can't help to much with HP). You should have a set of controls that allow you to adjust brightness , contrast, and colour. Simply increase the brightness setting until the print matches the screen. Then save this as a preset, which you can use each time you print.

Hope this helps

Crazyhorse · 5 Feb 2009

Hi

Thanks for the replies. I'll try adjusting the brightness on the printer settings first.

Many thanks again.

Lisa

Tazzie · 5 Feb 2009

Lisa, FWIW I have the same trouble (although different printer), just spent some money on a monitor calibrator to find I still have exactly the same problem still

If I work out a solution I'll let you know!

pscolling · 5 Feb 2009

I know its not what you want to hear but I've given up printing my own photos completely and now get them printed on-line... I'm sure it works out vastly cheaper than keep having to buy ink and paper!

Craikeybaby · 5 Feb 2009

It isn't only your monitor that you need calibrated, you need to make sure that you're using an ICC profile that matches the printer, ink and paper you are using (if you are using OEM ink and paper and the OEM driver you are normally OK) and also remember that it is hard to compare an image on a monitor which is emitting light to a print which is reflecting light.

If your monitor isn't calibrated that would be a good first port of call, even if you decide to send your prints off to be printed.

Crazyhorse · 5 Feb 2009

Tazzie said:
Lisa, FWIW I have the same trouble (although different printer), just spent some money on a monitor calibrator to find I still have exactly the same problem still If I work out a solution I'll let you know!

Thanks. That's not very good is it when you've done the proper monitor calibration.

This is a new printer I have and to be honest, I'm not very impressed with it, it takes 5 ink cartridges and they don't last very long at all. My other printer which was also an HP and a lot cheaper, printed photos out more or less the same colours as what I see on the monitor.

Although, I took the tip earlier on where someone (sorry forgot name) said adjust the brightness on the advanced printer settings. The print came out better actually.

I haven't had time to do anything else as I've just got back from the hospital. My daughter slipped on the ice/snow and sustained some nasty bumps to her face and nose. She now has two black eyes, a purple nose and a big purple bruise across her cheekbone. I guess it could have been worse.

I took the day off work today before that happened and as she wasn't at college because it's closed, I was going to offer her £10 to let me take some head and shoulder shots.

No point now though! :lol:

Lisa