Printing question asked a little differently

[Jack Bush]

Is there anyone here who manages to print pictures that are as vibrant as they are on the monitor? If so, how the heck do you do it?

[Jeff Perry]

Jack, ALL of my prints come out as "vibrant" as they appear on the screen (unless I really mis-match my settings and paper). I use an inexpensive Canon iP4200, with Canon inks and Canon paper (although I have good results with other papers, especially where the mfg has provided profiles.)

Be specific, what is the problem with your prints? Too dark? Not saturated enough? Banding?

What computer OS, version of Elements, and what printer are you using?

What ink, and what paper are you using?

How are you setting up the printer in you settings?

Jeff

[cats4jan]

If you are printing from PSE, it's important to let Adobe control the print which means you need to tell the printer to let Adobe handle it.

You also need to use the correct paper profile. It has a major impact on the results.

I believe in using Epson paper with Epson ink with the correct profiles for my Epson printer, but I think the real secret is having the correct paper profile chosen at all times. Most major paper companies have profiles for your printer.

And yes, I get amazing results from my printer. Everyone I've shown them to has been impressed.

I've always gotten good prints from my Epsons, but it wasn't until I learned about paper profiles did I get excellent results.

[Ric Cisson]

Jack, you did not say, is your monitor calibrated?

[Jack Bush]

I use Elements 7. I have an Epson R1800. I use Epson papers -- usually Ultra Premium Presentation Matte -- and always have the correct paper profile selected. I tell the printer to let Elements control printing. I use Epson ink. The OS is Windows XP. I calibrate every two weeks with a Spyder 2.

Results are a little dark, a little under-saturated, and (I don't know how else to say it) lack the vibracy of the monitor picture.

[MikeBC]

Jack,

Things are different on my Canon printer, BUT you probably also have to configure the EPSON printer to not colour manage things or you wind up where think you are nor.

A quick test would be to set it to Use Printer Color Management for one print and see what happens. If it comes out better - and probably by a whole lot - you have to tell the EPSON to stand down.

Probably something like this (from my Wife's printer)


Edit:

This is for Kodak papers on a different printer, but is in the right area as to how to configure your printer. It is the one on Printing.

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/products/papers/inkjet/iccDemo/inkjetTraining_en.html

[Jack Bush]

Thanks, Mike. I didn't look at the video (I'm on dial-up and right now the speed is painfully slow). I did look at the thumbnail. I see that ICM is ticked off and that's what I do but I also check off the No color management button beneath that.

[Ric Cisson]

Jack,

David Brooks, a contributing writer for Shutterbug Magazine has been addressing the problem of "prints too dark" in his blog, http://blog.shutterbug.com/davidbrooks/

Additionally, not yet posted on www.shutterbug.com (http://www.shutterbug.com), he has written a very thorough artilcle for the August 2009 issue of Shutterbug Magazine, titled "Prints Too Dark? Problem Solved" The article discussion, as all his blog discussions on the subject, is thoughtful and one could argue, makes common sense. I have been following his discussion in depth, as have a number of local photographers.

I offer this for all to read and give due consideration.

[Jack Bush]

Thanks, Ric. I'll check out the blog.

[frank abramonte]

Thanks, Ric. Looking forward to the next article.

Do you know where to adjust the monitor white luminance of 90.0 CD/m2 on an iMac 20" display?

[Jack Bush]

Thanks, Ric. Looking forward to the next article.

Do you know where to adjust the monitor white luminance of 90.0 CD/m2 on an iMac 20" display?

I just asked the same question of David Brooks at Shutterbug. I'm glad you asked it here. In my case, it would be an Acer monitor.

[Ric Cisson]

Frank, I am not qualified to respond, as I am a PC person. I am working with Eizo Color Edge CE210W. It is about 3 years old now, had problems initially with the ColorNavigator software in calibrating and profiling, but after a few weeks e-mailing back and forth with tech support, finally locked in to an acceptable level, and my prints have been pretty much WYSIWG. Every once in awhile, I wish my prints could match the monitor image, that is to say, just a little bit lighter. (Mind you, I am very happy with the results over the past 3 years, but have often asked the question, could my prints be any closer.) David Brooks blog, and now his article in the August 2009 issue of Shutterbug, has been a wealth of information for me to consider.