I recently got a used (but barely) R1800 so I could make bigger prints than I can with the trusty (but smaller) R800. These printers are very similar, except for size. They even use the same ink cartridges.
I don't get good color out of the R1800. It is a color mismatch and an overall darker image. I've tried a few experiments (let printer manage color, use R800 profile instead, etc.) No matter what I try, the R1800 prints darker and slightly green/cyan. It passes all the nozzle checks and alignment is fine after manual correction. I have also cleaned the print heads "automatically" i.e. waste a bunch of ink.
I don't really know what else to try. I wonder if I should assume the printer doesn't work well with the standard Epson profiles?
Sounds like a custom profile is what you need, Pete. Different printers, even of the same model, may show visible differences with the same settings. A custom profile is tailored to your specific sample.
Panic No just double check all the printer driver settings to ensure you are not double managing. Some times the print driver dialogue are subtly different .
What happens if you allow the print driver to manage colours ? Is the colour still off?
If so you may have a dud printer you may have reason to ask why the previous owner got rid of it.
A custom profile may be the solution though it is unusual to not get reasonable colour with the generic profiles and epson paper.
Posted by David Bostedo on April 12, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Also make sure you have the most up-to-date printer driver and profile if you haven't already. And one question - which printer matches your monitor better? And is your monitor profile up to date?
You might consider a full profiling system that accurately profiles the screen and the printer. There are so many variables that can affect the final result that you would be best off taking control of as many of them as possible. You have two choices - have a third party profile your printer/ink/paper combination or buy a system that will do that for you.
The process is the same. If you opt for the third party solution, you will be sent a set of electronic image files that you print, then send back. They will measure the images and generate a custom profile. These are available for as little as $35 each and will make a big difference. The roll-your-own version allows you to test all the printer settings for optimum ink delivery, make precise adjustments for black and white compensation, and finally you can evaluate your results with regards to rendering intent with wide gamut test images. You can further tweak the profile to suit your taste.
This assumes that your monitor is calibrated and current.
Colorvision, Monaco and others provide low-cost solutions that work. I personally use the Colorvision.
I am using the very latest drivers and profiles from the Epson website. I use a Pantone Huey-Pro to calibrate my monitor (two actually). It was last done yesterday. The older printer (R800) matches the monitor much better. If I let the printer driver manage the colors, they are still off.
As I mentioned, this was a used printer. The original owner was a graphic design student who changed his major. I was told, and it looks like, the printer had very little use. I don't think I was intentionally sold a dud.
Hi Pete: assuming you are dong everything correctly (calibrated display; color management active and accurate), what you're seeing with canned profiles is no surprise to me. Some of them are really good, some are okay, and some just suck. A custom profile is always the best and most ideal solution if you care about excellent and trouble-free output.
I so happen to offer custom printer profiles Please follow my link below if you're interested (and I'd suggest that you should be )
Thanks Michael, I already figured out that you did custom printer profiles (googled it right after Guy suggested it). I'm quite sure I'm doing everything else right. I just have to get some larger paper (I'm been limited to 8.5" wide - those are some big targets you want printed out!
Pete, It sounds like a custom profile is the next step. But are you on a Mac by any chance? There are some obscure bugs between Macs and Epson drivers that can cause dark, off-color prints - even when everything else is set up properly. We mentioned this in one of our newsletters a while back: http://www.colorwiki.com/wiki/Tech_Support_Grab_Bag
Just because I'm curious, I printed out two profiling targets (sorry Michael, not yours) to see if they looked different to my eye: not much. Maybe I can see the darkness difference. Now I'm wondering what would happen if I mad a print w/o color management. I guess it will look crazy? I suppose I'm just wasting paper & ink now, but it is interesting.
Pete D.
ps - I'm using a Windows computer
Posted by David Bostedo on April 13, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Now I'm wondering what would happen if I mad a print w/o color management.
Pete - As you probably know, that's exactly what you need to do to get the profiles made. You need output from the printer in its "native" state, without any color management. If you do that from both your printers, you'll probably see decent differences (but that's a guess on my part). Michael could tell you a lot more I'm sure.
This color issue got me reading manuals... The ink cartridges for this printer are supposed to be used within six months of opening. I don't know how long they've been in the printer, but four out of the eight cartridges were manufactured in 2006 That might be part of my problem, or not.
I needed some larger paper to print my calibration targets, so when I get that next week, I'll print two sets. One with the old inks and one after I replace the really old cartridges. It kills a frugal person like me, but it would be stupid to profile a system with out of spec ink!
Steve - Unlike that CS4 install, this isn't all that bad. I have a smaller printer that works. Plus, I don't need to print. I just occasionally want to. Ah, the life of an amateur! You are right though, the idea of sending stuff out to be printed is looking better and better. Let someone else keep the ink fresh, the printer calibrated, and the drivers and profiles current.
Pete D. feeling just ever so slight green/cyan, but not terrible.
Discussion
12 repliesI recently got a used (but barely) R1800 so I could make bigger prints than I can with the trusty (but smaller) R800. These printers are very similar, except for size. They even use the same ink cartridges.
I don't get good color out of the R1800. It is a color mismatch and an overall darker image. I've tried a few experiments (let printer manage color, use R800 profile instead, etc.) No matter what I try, the R1800 prints darker and slightly green/cyan. It passes all the nozzle checks and alignment is fine after manual correction. I have also cleaned the print heads "automatically" i.e. waste a bunch of ink.
I don't really know what else to try. I wonder if I should assume the printer doesn't work well with the standard Epson profiles?
Pete D.
Guy
What happens if you allow the print driver to manage colours ? Is the colour still off?
If so you may have a dud printer you may have reason to ask why the previous owner got rid of it.
A custom profile may be the solution though it is unusual to not get reasonable colour with the generic profiles and epson paper.
The process is the same. If you opt for the third party solution, you will be sent a set of electronic image files that you print, then send back. They will measure the images and generate a custom profile. These are available for as little as $35 each and will make a big difference. The roll-your-own version allows you to test all the printer settings for optimum ink delivery, make precise adjustments for black and white compensation, and finally you can evaluate your results with regards to rendering intent with wide gamut test images. You can further tweak the profile to suit your taste.
This assumes that your monitor is calibrated and current.
Colorvision, Monaco and others provide low-cost solutions that work. I personally use the Colorvision.
As I mentioned, this was a used printer. The original owner was a graphic design student who changed his major. I was told, and it looks like, the printer had very little use. I don't think I was intentionally sold a dud.
I so happen to offer custom printer profiles
Pete D.
http://www.colorwiki.com/wiki/Tech_Support_Grab_Bag
-Patrick Herold
Tech Support, www.chromix.com
Pete D.
ps - I'm using a Windows computer
Pete - As you probably know, that's exactly what you need to do to get the profiles made. You need output from the printer in its "native" state, without any color management. If you do that from both your printers, you'll probably see decent differences (but that's a guess on my part). Michael could tell you a lot more I'm sure.
I needed some larger paper to print my calibration targets, so when I get that next week, I'll print two sets. One with the old inks and one after I replace the really old cartridges. It kills a frugal person like me, but it would be stupid to profile a system with out of spec ink!
Steve - Unlike that CS4 install, this isn't all that bad. I have a smaller printer that works. Plus, I don't need to print. I just occasionally want to. Ah, the life of an amateur! You are right though, the idea of sending stuff out to be printed is looking better and better. Let someone else keep the ink fresh, the printer calibrated, and the drivers and profiles current.
Pete D. feeling just ever so slight green/cyan, but not terrible.