via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Did you say which epson printer you are using? A new one or one of the older versions? The Epson 1400 and Epson 1900 are useless for a quality BW print. Are you printing using the correct paper profile? You don't say what program you are using to print, can you tell the program to print the image lighter? Can you do a proof print review on your program? What paper are you using, the paper makes a big difference in the final print look.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

I take my images to a local copy/print center and have found that they are darker than I want. Have found that if I ask them to print as light as they can, it is just right. However, they will reprint if I forget to ask that.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Could just be a matter of selecting the correct paper. They make papers with varying degrees of contrast. Look up Moab or Seagull and check out their papers. You may find a paper that has the contrast you are looking for.

canon Lee

Good advice given here. If you use LR ( light room) to edit, be aware that it's the "black" & "shadow" sliders that control how light or dark the print will be.... Monitor calibration is more for "color correction", not luminous. Glossy paper will print darker than any other type of paper... I have found that the "shadow" slider is very important, as it controls the mid tones, where detail can be adjusted.... I always adjust the "black" slider first, & tweak the "shadow" slider till I can see detail in the darkest part of the image.... Make sure that the "histogram", (in your camera playback), shows that you haven't "clipped" the blacks, then enlarge the image in your camera's playback so you can see how much detail you have in the black areas of the image. Good luck. NOTE*.. The print will never be exactly the same as what you see on the monitor, because, the monitor is like looking out a window, and a print needs light to bounce off it to get to your eye. It is a matter of getting to know your printer, and take note of how you adjust your file... It takes a bit of trial & error to get it just right... Remember your printer wants to change your settings (ICC profile), so its guessing. If you use the same printer all of the time, you will eventually know how to adjust the "shadows & "blacks", to get what you want.
I adjust in LR, using the programs histogram, knowing just how much to adjust ....

pesfls Loc: Oregon, USA

So many friendly suggestions and experiences. Thank you all. I will work on observing them.. I'll get there but it's more difficult than I realized to get a bw print that is what I want. I'm not a quitter so it'll come to fruition.

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

I am no expert and still learning, but what I do know is that you have to have the correct printer that is meant for printing good B&W photos. I have Epson P600 which is meant for the job. There is also a latest model, but that is more expensive. I think it is Canon that does a printer that also prints good black and white. It is all to do with the amount of black ink and the P600 has three. Birko on this site is the printer man, so I hope that he will see your thread and respond.

Also, you must calibrate your screen and I have purchased (which was recommended by UHH members) X-rite i1 Display Pro Calibrator which I am pleased with. Also, you must use the correct paper for the printer or get the ICC profile for that paper. Epson printers come with their own profile and no doubt so is the Canon. This is a very expensive hobby and I am glad that I didn't take up the hobby until I retire, as I couldn't have afforded it. In order to get your prints looking like other photographers, or as near to as theirs, you will soon realise that they have the right equipment for the job, if not you will be very disappointed.

Oh, I forgot one more important thing and that is to use the correct inks for the printer and don't listen to those that say to use compatible inks and especially when the printer is under guarantee. If you are not prepared to use the correct inks for the printer you might just as well purchase any printer and use any compatible inks and you will be back to where you started and you will be very disappointed. Yes, the correct inks are expensive, but as I said before, this is an expensive hobby.

I hope others will jump in regarding the Canon printer, so that you can make a comparison.

I hope this has been of some help to you.

Heather

maryo Loc: Santa fe

Like someone else mentioned monitors are setup for web and movies. The best thing to do is to set your monitor brightness down to 50% of the normal setting.

10MPlayer Loc: California

You really need to buy a monitor calibration system like Spyder5 Pro or something similar. It sets up your monitor and computer so that what you see on the monitor is what comes out on the printer. They aren't too terribly expensive. Nothing in this photography hobby is cheap. https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=spyder+5pro&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=78408933854763&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_2llb4qnlga_e

You also need a professional quality printer. If you don't want to buy one you can always take it to a quality photography shop that does printing. But to adjust your images correctly you need the calibrated monitor.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

A Spyder type unit will calibrate your monitor to show what you actually captured. It will look more like the shot you see on your camera's screen but to calibrate the screen with a printer it takes a more advanced calibration unit that costs 2 to 3 times more than the basic unit.

ygelman Loc: new -- North of Poughkeepsie!

Even given all the pieces of advice you got, with some small or large costs involved, here is something you can do to solve your immediate problem. No cost except using up some print paper.
1. As you post-process on your computer, keep your room light VERY low -- almost black -- with no reflections from the screen.
2. You'll have to boost your screen brightness to compensate.
3. Until you get the hang of it, When you send images to print, keep a separate file for each time you print. And keep notes as to which print corresponds to which file version.
4. You'll soon see how to handle the brightness of your screen image so that your print will look "as good" as the screen image. There will still be some difference because the screen transmits light whereas the print reflects light, but you'll eventually be very pleased with your prints -- even before you learn about good printer paper, paper profiles, etc, etc. Good luck.

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

I would find that very frustrating. It is like taking a slow boat to China, as the saying goes. The answer is to purchase a calibrator and a printer specifically for printing B&W photos. Unfortunately, photography is an expensive hobby.

ygelman Loc: new -- North of Poughkeepsie!

Well, I've found that the expensive method is not fool-proof and can be very intimidating. The steps I suggested are fast (no slow boat, here) and easy. Visit my website to see results.

Heather Iles Loc: UK, Somerset

Thanks ygelmam for directing me to your web site which was a pleasure to watch. I especially liked your light and shadow photographs and the little girl with her pulling her holiday trolley remains in my memory and your B&W photos.

You are a professional and is very good at what you do, so obviously your method of getting the desired print is well and truly tested. Perhaps I too, will give it a try.

Finally, you were too modest and so I didn't take you seriously and can only apologise for the ignorance on my part.


Heather

fergmark Loc: norwalk connecticut

Adjust your monitor brightness to match the print you got from it.

scsdesphotography Loc: Southeastern Michigan