Printing "Stump the Chump.": I am using Lightroom CC with an Epson 3880. After not printing for a couple of weeks, I seem to have lost a lot of saturation, the photos look a little...

jstar Loc: Western MA

I am using Lightroom CC with an Epson 3880. After not printing for a couple of weeks, I seem to have lost a lot of saturation, the photos look a little washed out.
1 Monitor is calibrated
2 I have tried both printer and Lightroom control, no help
3 I have printed on a variety of good papers
4 Both relative, and perceptual
5 Correct profiles

I feel I'm missing something small (and Basic)
Thanks for considering my quandary!

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

How did you calibrate your monitor?

jstar Loc: Western MA

I use a spyder every 2 months.
Also, I have done a nozzle cleaning and check. It seems fine

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

To my understanding, Spyder is a reliable product, so your monitor should now be calibrated to match your prints.
I have read that Epson printers can take a bit of time to warm-up, especially the ink nozzles. These are the two areas of most common result changes from previous use.
Let the printer set in idle for while, then try again.

P.S. - This thread should really be in the Printers and Color Printing Forum at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-120-1.html

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

jstar wrote:

After not printing for a couple of weeks, I seem to have lost a lot of saturation...

Strange, but it could be that the idle time of the printer has something to do with this, rather than calibration. Have you tried printing colored text? When I have odd colors in an image, I do a test print of a page of large bold, colored text. That shows me if the printer is shooting out the ink properly.

Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

jerryc41 wrote:

Strange, but it could be that the idle time of the printer has something to do with this, rather than calibration.

I have a Stylus Pro 9900 that I never turn off. I doubt it uses much power.

Not sure what program you are using to print, but make sure that your paper profile was not inadvertently changed to the wrong one.

Same thing in the print driver, where you select the print media.

Lastly, if your printer allows, make sure you select the correct media from its on-printer menu.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Smokey66 wrote:

I have a Stylus Pro 9900 that I never turn off. I doubt it uses much power.

I have two turned on all the time. I figure the cost of ink at every restart is greater than the cost of electricity.

Smokey66 Loc: Hanover, ON, CA

jerryc41 wrote:

I have two turned on all the time. I figure the cost of ink at every restart is greater than the cost of electricity.

Agree, let alone dried print heads!

flyguy Loc: Las Cruces, New Mexico

jstar wrote:

I am using Lightroom CC with an Epson 3880. After not printing for a couple of weeks, I seem to have lost a lot of saturation, the photos look a little washed out.
1 Monitor is calibrated
2 I have tried both printer and Lightroom control, no help
3 I have printed on a variety of good papers
4 Both relative, and perceptual
5 Correct profiles

I feel I'm missing something small (and Basic)
Thanks for considering my quandary!

You need to run the Epson Printer Utility to clean out the printer nozzles.

I do this on both of my Epson Printers when they haven't been used in a while. It can be a problem if you live in a very dry climate and and don't do a lot of printing.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Jstar - from your title, you must be a Car Talk listener.

connievloutely Loc: Quaker State (PA)

Hi,

I just went through this awhile ago.

Make sure you are using the right driver and profile for your printer and paper combination.

The driver is set in your printer setup page and the profile can be set in your software on printer setup pAGE BUT NOT IN BOTH PLACES.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

[quote=jstar]I am using Lightroom CC with an Epson 3880. After not printing for a couple of weeks, I seem to have lost a lot of saturation, the photos look a little washed out.
1 Monitor is calibrated
2 I have tried both printer and Lightroom control, no help
3 I have printed on a variety of good papers
4 Both relative, and perceptual
5 Correct profiles

I feel I'm missing something small (and Basic)
Thanks for considering my quandary![/quote

have you cleaned the heads on the printer. after a lack of usage, the heads may be clogged.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

jstar wrote:

I am using Lightroom CC with an Epson 3880. After not printing for a couple of weeks, I seem to have lost a lot of saturation, the photos look a little washed out.
1 Monitor is calibrated
2 I have tried both printer and Lightroom control, no help
3 I have printed on a variety of good papers
4 Both relative, and perceptual
5 Correct profiles
I feel I'm missing something small (and Basic)
Thanks for considering my quandary!

Calibrating the monitor is only half of the calibration. Calibrating the printer is the other half.
If your into calibrating, calibrate both!! ;-)
SS