Help! Epson Prints Too Dark

I got an Epson 2200 printer while I was using PS-CS2, and the output was a reasonable match to my calibrated monitor.

I recently upgraded to CS4, and ever since doing so, all my prints are coming out much darker than the image on the monitor. I've re-calibrated, but there's no improvement.

Of course, I could dim the monitor's brightness until the result matched the print, but then the monitor wouldn't be calibrated anymore.

Any suggestions on how to solve this problem?

Are you sure you are still using the same workflow in CS4 as you were in CS2 for all of the printer settings from PS? Photoshop manages colors? The right ICC profile? Etc. More details on your settings and system might help diagnose the problem.

Ken, not only is the workflow the same as it was in CS2, files I made and printed in CS2, and kept for future reprints, still come out too dark in CS4,

I know it's illogical but in spite of using a Spyder pro 2 and now a Colormunki, I have always had to apply +15 brightness before printing.
I use Epson printers and Epson inks. It's nothing to do with the inks of course.

I have had exactly the same problem! I have tried several methods of calibrating my monitor and used the same devices as Colin Smale. I, too, use a method of lightening my prints but I use the Shadow/Highlight and keep it between 25-35%. Not perfect but it helps.

If anyone has a solution that works better I would be glad to try it!

Turn down the Intensity. I run my monitors at 90 cd/m2. If its too high(bright), the photos print dark.

Howard,

Could you provide all of the printer and Photoshop settings you are using? I know you said above that you are using the same workflow but in the process of setting up the new version of PS, it is real easy to miss something that would cause this issue. Assuming no other changes have been made in your system, that would have to be the root cause.

Thanks.

Howard,

Here is page about color management in CS4. There are several articles listed that are taken from the book Real World Adobe Photo Shop CS4 for Photographers that you will find useful in the present context.

Color Settings in PS4

--P

Dan, I'll try to write down all the settings, but I'm not sure I know what all the relevant ones are. I can understand if a file I created in CS4 might have the wrong settings, but how would that explain the too dark results of printing an old CS2 created file when printing it in CS4 without further modification?

Preston, that link doesn't seem to work.

P.S. I tried reducing the monitor's brightness, but by the time the grey areas approach a match with the print, the whites are muddy and the blacks have lost all detail. So that won't work, either.

Howard,

Copy and paste this link into your browser address bar.

http://www.adobepress.com/articles/article.asp?p=1315593

The link I posted earlier does work for me on IE8.

--P

I can understand if a file I created in CS4 might have the wrong settings, but how would that explain the too dark results of printing an old CS2 created file when printing it in CS4 without further modification?

Because the print settings aren't stored with the file. You could print any CS2 file with all different kinds of print settings in CS4. No need to modify the file.

Howard,
Are you using a Mac? Did you up-grade to Snow Leopard? If so, that may explain your problems. Luminous Landscape has a fairly detailed discussion of the dark print problem. Essentially, Snow Leopard will not allow PS to manage color and the Epson drivers have problems managing the color correctly. Epson, Apple and Adobe have been trying to find a fix for the problem, but I'm not sure if its really been satisfactorily addressed. I had similar problems when I up-graded to Snow Leopard and ended up going back to Leopard as my operating system. If you're not on a Mac, I'm not sure what the problem is related to. Best Regards.

My bad. I should've mentioned I'm using a PC running Win XP.

O.K., Dan, here ya go ...

PRINT WINDOW:
> Page Setup
Best Photo
Epson Enhanced Matte paper
1440dpi
> Advanced Settings
Color Controls
Edge Smoothing
Color Handling: Printer Manages Colors
Rendering Intent: Perceptual

I don't know what other information to provide.

I see the issue: Under color handling, you have Printer manages colors. It should be Photoshop Manages Colors.

A few other things, mainly because enough people have similar questions. With any luck, this might help them.


Paper - you are using the Epson Enhanced Matte paper and that hasn't changed since you changed versions of PS?

Printer profile - Should be Enhanced matte

Printer settings, Mode, should be "No Color Adjustments". Since PS should be managing the color, you don't want the printer thinking on you. This keeps it from doing so.

Well, Dan, I finally got some time to follow your instructions and put it to the test. I used Epson Enhanced Matte paper, and all the settings you provided EXCEPT "Printer Settings, Mode." I couldn't see where that one appeared in the Printer Window.

The result was a definite strong magenta cast over the image, but at least it didn't seem too dark.

What went wrong?

Howard,
Shoot me an email re: that petroglyph at RMNP. Yours isn't listed here and I lost my email addresses some time ago.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled printer discussion....

I've got CS2 and CS5. Somewhere in there, they changed the printer setup dialog so I'll give you both:

CS2 - File\Print. Under "Media settings", there is mode, with a choice to check automatic or custom. Select Custom. There is a drop down box immediately below that. Select "no Color adjustment". Everything else as you have it.


CS5 - File\Print. On the far right side of the dialog box there is Color Handling area. Select "Photoshop manages colors." (I think you already found that.) Now in the middle of the dialog box, about a quarter of the way down, there is box labelled "Print settings" Click that and another dialog box opens. Under "Media settings", there is mode, with a choice to check automatic or custom. Select Custom. There is a drop down box immediately below that. Select "no Color adjustment".

If anyone out there is using CS4, could you chime in?

Thanks.

I have the same dark print issue using a EPSON R1900 and a calibrated monitor however I use NX2 to print my images, anyone experience the same?

Anthony,

In order to track down the problem, we need more info.

What are your print settings in NX?
What are your print settings in the Epson print dialog?
What tool and software are you using for monitor calibration?

In a lot of cases, it's not that your prints are too dark, it's that your monitor is too bright. Therefore, a comparison between print and screen will make it appear the print is too dark.

Most monitor defaults are very high with respect to contrast ratio and luminance. A good starting point for contrast ratio for printing is 400:1. A good starting point for screen luminance is 110 Cd/m^2. The ability to specify these values when you calibrate your monitor depends upon the calibration software, so you might want to take a peek.

On a final note: A print is reflective and a monitor is transmissive, so there will always be a slight difference between print and screen. The trick is to get the match as close as possible.

--P

Also, what lighitng are you viewing the print under? The room in which I do my printing is relatively dark. I expect my photos to come out dark. The look fine once I move to better lighting or even outdoors.