I need help with this epson 2400 BIGTIME!!! So, I'll walk you through what I've done right or wrong to come up with such a terrible looking image...

Step one: I open a file, clean it up, contrast, color, etc. I get it looking good for sending off to the client. Done.




Step two: I want to use my epson, which I've never been able to use correctly. It is loaded with all the correct inks in all the correct slots (using mk black for the matte paper). So, I go to convert my profile to the epson paper output, as seen below...




Step three: I use the print dialog box to make sure the correct paper and print quality settings are set...




Step four: I hit print, and this ugly thing comes out...




What am I doing wrong?!? This thing looks like a $49 printer did the job!!! I know I must be doing something waaaaayyyyy wrong for it to look THIS bad! Please help...

by the way, I'm printing on the correct side of the paper, so don't bother throwing that idea out here... Oh, and this is in CS, but I do have CS3 that I can work in (I'm just lazy, so I open CS out of habit).

There are so many things wrong with the workflow you've outlined that it would be difficult to get you where you need to be...but here's a very quick run down:

Why is your working space 1-LCD? Are you setting your display profile as your Photoshop working space? Wrong...color management 101.

Why are you trying to transform from your working space (unfortunately set to your display profile) to your output profile in Convert to Color?

What are your Print dialog settings in Photoshop? Without those, the rest is useless...

Your Epson printer driver dialog is also useless unless you explain what settings were in your Photoshop dialog and what extended settings you've set in the print driver...

It would also be useful to know what OS (it looks Mac) and I presume your working in Photoshop CS2? Would be useful to say that...

Bud, you need a lot of help...but, your skills at posting images on line in the forum are excellent...

Can you 'print with preview' so we can see what color management choices pop up? Also would like to see how the color options are set.

quote:

Originally posted by Schewe:
[qb] There are so many things wrong with the workflow you've outlined that it would be difficult to get you where you need to be...but here's a very quick run down:

...Bud, you need a lot of help...but, your skills at posting images on line in the forum are excellent... [/qb]

I knew I'd be doing a lot of things wrong. I don't know why I'm using my monitor profile as my photoshop profile. I have no reason. I was converting to the paper profile, since the box said that was a destination profile. I figured the paper was my destination, so...

Yes, it is Mac OSX, and I actually posted that this was CS, but that I have CS3 to use as well. I'll try to post more info when I'm back at the studio computer. Hopefully you all can straighten me out here.

Also, clean the heads. This is what my printer does after a while of non use. A head deep cleaning fixes it.

Did you turn off color management in the print dialogue?

For starters you should use print with preview. You should see the document profile. I use Adobe RGB 1998 as my working profile. If you see something else like your monitor profile you should change that in the color settings window thats where you should have your rgb,cmyk,grayscale dot gain etc.

When you open images you'll get a dialog convert, use or discard thats only if you have tagged the file with something else. Let's use point and shoot cameras they typically shoot in sRGB when you open it in PS and you have set Adobe RGB 1998 it will ask if you want to convert etc.

Now that we got that out of the way.

Print with Preview. Make sure you have Let Photoshop Determine Color, pick your paper profile, and your rendering intent.

Next Page Setup go to options and set your paper dpi etc.

Final here is the important thing......go to the color-management drop down and set it to none. This way PS is running the show.

I think you might have left it on, plus photoshop trying to covert to.

You need to correct your color preffs setting and do not use your monitor as a working profile.

www.computer-darkroom.com/ps10_colour/ps10_1.htm

www.computer-darkroom.com/ps10_print/ps10_print_1.htm

use Print Workflow 2

quote:

Originally posted by manphoto:
[qb]....go to the color-management drop down and set it to none. This way PS is running the show.
I think you might have left it on, plus photoshop trying to covert to... [/qb]

you are correct. I left it on. I will try this new batch of suggestions from everyone and see if it moves me in the right direction... thanks!

OK, my photos are now looking decent. Maybe even acceptable. I followed the steps in john maclean's links to get the best look so far. Now I wonder if I just need better profiles or what? The images are still a bit unnatural. The skin is a bit orange and the details are lost in the dark areas.

I can post more screen shot and print scans if you think it will help. I am using epson enhanced matte at the moment, but will soon be trying lumijet "matte two sides". I can switch to a better double-sided matte if you have suggestions...

OK guys, one more update before bed...

I switched over to my lumijet 2 sided matte paper, downloaded a profile from their website, and now I am almost there! Hooray!!! I still am losing a bit of detail in the darkest areas, and the skin tones are just a touch off (maybe the tiniest bit pink and orange), but man, this thing looks good now!

So, any suggestions on how to get this thing from third base to a home run? Is this where custom profiles come into play, or is there something I can do with the lumijet factory profile?

Your gamut is limited by the matte paper, and the images on screen will never look just like the monitor, no matter how good the profiles are. But it probably would have helped if you started with an RGB working space like ProPhoto or Adobe RGB, rather than your monitor profile.

Print this file (open with embedded profile) to see how dialed-in you are so far:
http://www.digitaldog.net/files/Printer_Test_file.jpg.zip

I have used the Gimp-Print profile with my Epson for years. I have found that it simply gives me better control over my prints. It is a free profile and would suggest that you try it out.

Most of my pics are on the dark side...so I frequently have to lower the contrast a little in color management to bring the details back. The way the printer adds contrast is to shove all the darkest tones together...hense the loss of details.