PSE2 Print quality help needed w HP printer

[UncleJam]

Hi,

I'm having trouble getting good looking prints from my HP printer w PSE2.

The colors seem to be pretty accurate, but the whole print is kinda washed out, not richly saturated like the screen image.

I have calibrated the monitor(Dell 770s), so I believe the gamma is correct and what I see is true.

When printing, I'm using the 'Printer Color Management' setting in PSE, and I have embedded sRGB color space in the file.

Any suggestions to resolve this would be really helpful.

Thanks,

[dancingqueen]

[QUOTE=UncleJam;89]Hi,

I'm having trouble getting good looking prints from my HP printer w PSE2.

The colors seem to be pretty accurate, but the whole print is kinda washed out, not richly saturated like the screen image.



Hi There,

I saw your post. I have PSE3 but I have the same problem. The same file can be printed from PSE3 and the color is just so so - if I use Microsoft Photo Editor or just the Print Wizard - or HP's Photo Impressions, I get great pics. I don't understand this. I'm just trying to learn PSE3 but the poor output is not an incentive to fool with it. Have you had any enlightenment since your post. I can tell you are much more sophisicated in your knowledge of file manipulation than I am.

Thanks,
DQ

[LFD]

Uncle Jam and DQ... Don't know if this will help, or not. I am using an HP Photosmart 8250. I recently calibrated my monitor using the Panotone Huey. In PSE 4 and 5, I have my Color Setting as Always Optimize for Printing. Before I print, I convert my profile from sRGB to Adobe RGB. I then have Adobe RGB 1998 for my space, HP 8250 Premium Plus for my profile, Peceptual for rendering intent. Then, when I click on Print, I choose Premium Plus for my paper, Best or Maximum for quality. For Color Management you need to choose Adobe RGB. Of course, if you didn't convert your profile prior to printing you need to choose sRGB as your source and later as your color management. I think I still have PSE 3 on one of my PCs so perhaps I can see how that is worded in that version.

It can be so VERY frustrating. Good luck. Someone more enlightened may have better suggestions.

LFD