Another monitor calibration question

[cats4jan]

I have a LCD monitor and an Epson R800 photo printer. This printer is soon to be replaced - probably by a Canon.

My prints are darker than my monitor shows - I know this is a calibration problem, but since this printer will be replaced by the end of the year, I do not want to calibrate the monitor for this printer.

When I'm finished with my scrapbook pages, I merge the layers - change the size to 8x8...

Then what is the best step to lighten my page just a bit?

I tried using enhance> adjust color> color variation - and clicked "lighten" once

That washes out the color.

Any suggestion for an easy trick to minimally lighten my project without washing out color.

And any viewpoints on Canon vs Epson?

[jlwilm]

Hi Janice,

I have a similar issue with my Canon i9900 printer, LCD monitor and PSE4/5.

I have found that I have to rely on the monitor to get things the way I want, then just before printing, add a Brightness and Contrast layer and up the brightness. Looks a little over on the screen, just right from the printer.

I have tried using the Adobe Gamma and it made a difference with the screen and am in the process of investigating a SPYDER for further refinement of the calibration.

I believe there is still an issue with the printer profile and the paper/ink combinations I am using, which is a bit of a blend of Staples ink and Costco Kirkland papers.

I was about to purchase a kit that includes the printer profile calibration, but wound up purchasing telephoto lens for my Canon 30D, so the printer has to wait till later this fall/ :D

[Wendy]

Hi ...

OK I am useless at colour mangement ... but:

First thing is when you calibrate your monitor its nothing to do with the printer ... calibrating just makes the image on screen correct.

Then you have to sort out getting what you see on screen (now correctly calibrated) to print out the same. That can be all sorts of things ... printer profile, if Photoshop is managing the colours or the printer, the paper you use, ink etc ...

Wendy

[TonyW]

Janice: If you want to experiment and assuming it's a consistent problem with the printer and not something to do with other settings then you can adjust the printer output. In printer properties under advanced you can change the gamma, brightness, contrast and a bunch of other things. If you get it right you can save it as a custom setting.

That will only work if you are using Printer Color Management and managing color with the printer. If you are using a printer/paper profile and have ICM and No Color Adjustment checked then I don't think it will do anything.

Tony

[cats4jan]

Yes, it is a consistent problem. Lighter projects are all right, but darker projects get too muddy for me.

But working with the advanced settings? I think we have now delved into the realm of "I truly don't know what I'm doing."

There are so many issues mentioned - and the finesse of fine tuning - that I doubt I'm capable.

My main worry is - I'm going to screw things up so royally that I will never recover.

Right now, the photos are all right - not the absolute best - like I want them to be - but I'm afraid of undoing what is pretty good now.

As far as other issues - I stick pretty much to Epson paper - and I use Epson brand ink. At least, those issues don't come into this.

Thanks for the input - I may get brave when I get my new printer - and screw around with the old printer to see if I'm capable of doing these "fine tunings" before tackling the new printer.

As far as monitor calibration? I guess I misunderstood what that meant. I thought we were trying to get the monitor and printer to think alike - but really, we are trying to get the monitor to show it's "true colors." That makes sense. DUH