briano

How do you calibrate you printer to your monitor? I have an Epson 810 and it always prints my pictures about 10 shades darker than the monitor?

Yooper Loc: U.P. Michigan

I've had the same problem with the Epson R2400 that I used to have, and to some extent with the R2880 that I have now, although I haven't printed much with it recently due to other responsibilities. I use high resolution graphics monitors (both CRTs until recently, when I replaced one with a 24" NEC LCD) calibrated with a Spyder2 Colorimeter, and the only solution I ever found was to figure out how much to increase the brightness in the image to get it to print the way I wanted it. In Photoshop I would add an adjustment layer labelled for printing and only turn it on just before I printed. In Lightroom, I now adjust the image with a specific increase in brightness just before I print. It is frustrating, but that is the only solution I could find short of spending a lot of money for a printer profiling program. I even downloaded the latest custom paper profiles for the paper I was printing on (Epson Exhibition Fiber and Epson Ultra Premium Luster) and still had problems.

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

You need to get program that will calibrate both the monitor and your printer to each other.

I use colormunki as it also allows me to make my own profiles as the paper companies do provide profiles, but...
they may be great, come close or not.

rayford2 Loc: New Bethlehem, PA

Go to: www.cambridgeincolour.com
Select "Tutorials" then click "colour management and printing" and then click on "How to calibrate your monitor for photography".....Great educational photo site.

Don_G Loc: Houston, TX

I have had similar problems before relying on the printer profiles for the paper in use. I found the manual adjustments to be expensive and unreliable.

I have done this with R800 and R2400 and nail it everytime. I have calibrated the CRT with Colorvision and Spyder 2. This has worked with Photoshop and Paintshop Pro. If you use only the genuine inks and paper made for the printer should work.

Third party paper will work if you get their profile. I have tried making my own profiles with varying success.

After thought, your printer driver may not be selecting the correct profile for your paper. Try selecting manually to be sure that the profile and paper match. Some models of Canon and Epson printers will not allow use of third pty paper. No third pty profiles are allowed. The correct profile is critical.

PCL92

I have a Epsom R1900 and have a similar issue so I just add a print only adjustment layer that is 2 stops over exposed and that usually works.

gcphoto Loc: Ventura, Ca

I use "Spyder"........this is a must!!! about every three months.....seems to give me the results I need......still using the old gray mare......epson 2200 with bulk ink only way to print economically........you may need to raise the last set of rollers to prevent streaks.......Media Street ink

kayautho Loc: Boynton Beach, FL

I'm probably too late but anyway...
Most printers have a gamma adjustment in one of the printer dialogue boxes that are available when you hit print. You're probably set at 2.2. Bring it down to 1.8 and if necessary move the brightness control down a bit, maybe -2 or -3. The brightness control should be near the gamma control. Don't say you haven't got it - call epson if you can't find it.