Epson print is darker than the image on monitor: I have the Epson P800 printer and love it. However, I have a problem with the image on my desktop computer coming out darker when...

Golden Rule Loc: Washington State

I have the Epson P800 printer and love it. However, I have a problem with the image on my desktop computer coming out darker when printed. I post process the image starting with LR and move it to Photoshop where I finish the post process then get ready to print that image. I have had to increase the brightness on the page setup for the printer and hope for the best. Each photo when printed may require anywhere from +9 to +15 on the printer page setup and that just doesn't work so good to me since printer ink is so expensive. Any ideas on how to remedy this dilemma?
My Dell computer monitor brightness is set to 51 and the contrast at 50 if that gives any extra info on my problem.

prembetsy

you have to calibrate your camera....computer screen and printer plus paper to be used to make them work together....

Golden Rule Loc: Washington State

prembetsy wrote:

you have to calibrate your camera....computer screen and printer plus paper to be used to make them work together....

The colors print out the same between the computer screen and printer but the print is just darker. Do I still need to calibrate my computer monitor?

prembetsy

yes.....once a week it is done and changed when paper stock is changed...

Golden Rule Loc: Washington State

prembetsy wrote:

yes.....once a week it is done and changed when paper stock is changed...

Thanks! I guess X-Rite has the market on monitor calibration? How would I go about calibrating according to paper type?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Golden Rule wrote:

Thanks! I guess X-Rite has the market on monitor calibration? How would I go about calibrating according to paper type?

1) purchase a DataColor Spyder or an XRite Color Munki calibration tool and calibrate your monitor.
2) install the correct profile for your printer AND the paper you’re using.
3) make sure that your PP application is handling your printer color management, NOT your OS.
4) soft proof your image before you print using the profile you’ve installed in your PP application.

If you have questions on any of the above procedures, just ask...

Cheers

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Lower the brightness on your monitor by at least 15% and then check your image in the app that you usually use to edit photos.
Then re-adjust your photos exposure for what looks right and you may also want to use a histogram for proper exposure.

If you really want to do it right, then you need to calibrate your monitor and calibrate for the proper lumen output on your monitor.

Golden Rule wrote:

I have the Epson P800 printer and love it. However... (show quote)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Golden Rule wrote:

I have the Epson P800 printer and love it. However... (show quote)

Darken your display. Better yet, bounce for an il Display Pro and properly calibrate your display. You won't regret it.

Golden Rule Loc: Washington State

jeep_daddy wrote:

Lower the brightness on your monitor by at least 15% and then check your image in the app that you usually use to edit photos.
Then re-adjust your photos exposure for what looks right and you may also want to use a histogram for proper exposure.

If you really want to do it right, then you need to calibrate your monitor and calibrate for the proper lumen output on your monitor.

I will assume that the calibration tool I purchase will be able to do the calibration for the proper lumen output?

Golden Rule Loc: Washington State

Gene51 wrote:

Darken your display. Better yet, bounce for an il Display Pro and properly calibrate your display. You won't regret it.

Thanks Gene, I will purchase one of those. Is it straight forward for a new user to this product? I see that B&H photo has the i1 Display Pro with the color checker passport for $299 and without the color checker for $228. Do you find the color checker to be that important?

Golden Rule Loc: Washington State

TriX wrote:

1) purchase a DataColor Spyder or an XRite Color Munki calibration tool and calibrate your monitor.
2) install the correct profile for your printer AND the paper you’re using.
3) make sure that your PP application is handling your printer color management, NOT your OS.
4) soft proof your image before you print using the profile you’ve installed in your PP application.

If you have questions on any of the above procedures, just ask...

Cheers

Thanks TriX for the instructions. I'm glad to see that these will calibrate according to paper type. I'm new to calibration and have no clue as to how user friendly they are.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Golden Rule wrote:

Thanks TriX for the instructions. I'm glad to see that these will calibrate according to paper type. I'm new to calibration and have no clue as to how user friendly they are.

The procedure is straight forward - just follow the on-screen instructions - takes about 10 minutes. BTW, you should be able to buy either of the calibration tools I recommended for~$150 (they are often on sale) - I use a Datacolor Spyder 5 Pro.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Golden Rule wrote:

The colors print out the same between the computer screen and printer but the print is just darker. Do I still need to calibrate my computer monitor?

Yes, and if you are serious, you need a hardware calibrator like a Xrite.

johnst1001a Loc: West Chester, Ohio

Another point to consider is the room light in your computer room. The image on the screen will have a different color if you have a florescent vs incandescent vs sun light lighting. Likewise the printed photo will sow differently if shown in rooms with different lights.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

TriX wrote:

1) purchase a DataColor Spyder or an XRite Color Munki calibration tool and calibrate your monitor.
2) install the correct profile for your printer AND the paper you’re using.
3) make sure that your PP application is handling your printer color management, NOT your OS.
4) soft proof your image before you print using the profile you’ve installed in your PP application.

If you have questions on any of the above procedures, just ask...

Cheers