Printing: Getting Colors Right??

I have just started doing some printing. I have a problem that perhaps someone can give me advice about:
I get an image all set up in PS just the way it looks good. But when I print it, the colors are not the same as my PS image. The whole image is usually duller and the color rendition is off. Increasing Brightness, and other guess-work, doesn't help.
So far I've been using my Epson CX3200 Printer (office variety) and Epson Enhanced Matte Paper. I plan to buy another printer quite soon.

Thanks for any tips, advice and comments, Tim Stenning

Is your monitor calibrated, and are you using the right profiles for that printer?

Brent, I'll look at calibration and work on figuring out the profile issue. Thanks. Tim

Tim - the two things that Brent ask about are the two critical aspects of getting prints that look like the image on your monitor. If you want a good refernce on the topic look at Tim Grey's book Color Confidence.

Scott, thanks. I'm on my way. Tim

Calibration, as mentioned, is very important. However equaly important is printer ability. I have the CX 3200 and use it for copying documents and gnereal office printing. I do not believe it is capable of producing high quality photos.Perhaps, medium quality 4X6 prints for non critical use is within its ability. I don't mean to sound harsh, but the 3 color and one black ink system just can't produce the same results as the 8 ink Epson and Canon printers.

However, calibrating your monitor and using he correct printer profiles can make the most of the CX 3200.

Ed, Thanks. I figured the printer could be a factor. I'll soon have a better printer. Tim

Make sure that you have checked the "let Photoshop color manage" in the print dialog box and that "color management" is set to OFF for the printer dialog box. Also if you use the View>proof set up, and then View>proof colors, in PS (I think this is aviailable in PS CS, I know it is in CS2) you can adjust to get much closer on screen to what you will see in print.

Thanks Grace.