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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Colours washed out on Epson R800
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Showing posts 1 - 8 of 8, (reverse)
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 08/03/2004 11:26:30 PM · #1
I've just bought the Epson R800, and I can't get a decent print out of it. Everything looks grey and washed out. I have to really pump up the contrast, and darken the image on-screen for it to look at all good in print. (even then it's grey and horrible-looking)
Is this normal?

ANYONE THAT'S BOUGHT A PHOTO PRINTER:: Do I need to set up anything? Colour profiles? Monitor calibration?

HEEEEEEEEEEELP!!!

Message edited by author 2004-08-03 23:26:59.
 08/03/2004 11:33:37 PM · #2
Can you give more information, like what sort of photo paper you are using?

Also, is your monitor properly calibrated?

Finally (and I hesitate to ask this, no offense is intended here): Are you printing on the shiny side of the photo paper?


Message edited by author 2004-08-03 23:33:56.
 08/03/2004 11:38:38 PM · #3
ditto to all the questions rich asked.

Plus, are you setting up the printer driver for the paper type that you are using ? Paper makes a _huge_ difference in print quality - cheap laser/ photo copy paper is rubbish and will give consequently rubbish results.

Good quality paper will give good results, assuming you set up the printer driver to use that paper.

If your monitor isn't configured at all, then you have no good way of knowing what the print output will look like. Profiles only make sense when used with a calibrated monitor - as they are all based off of that known point.
 08/03/2004 11:48:28 PM · #4
Originally posted by richterrell:
Can you give more information, like what sort of photo paper you are using?

Also, is your monitor properly calibrated?

Finally (and I hesitate to ask this, no offense is intended here): Are you printing on the shiny side of the photo paper?


i laughed. I'm a telephone based modem technician by trade. i ask those sorts of questions all the time.

OK,
- Photo paper, "glossy premium" - can't remember brand, 210gsm
- I have an older monitor that is not too bright. I do, however have a GeForce4, so I can change the image when it goes through the graphics card. (brightness, etc...) What can I use to calibrate??
- Photo-paper right-side-up?? i'm not going to dignify that with a response.

- Print driver. yes, all set to correct paper sizes, all prints done on photo paper are set to "photo" option, and set to use glossy photo paper.

OK, what's the best way to calibrate a monitor? (without buying one of those things you stick on the front)

EDIT: My monitor is an old HP one that has the manual dials for changing size/brightness/etc... it's 1024x768 res.

Message edited by author 2004-08-03 23:49:49.
 08/03/2004 11:59:27 PM · #5
I use Adobe Gamma, which is bundled with Adobe Photoshop and I believe Elements. If you have neither of these, you might try searching the web for a free tool.

I think you can download a trial copy of Elements as well, that may be a workaround to getting the Adobe Gamma applet.

Message edited by author 2004-08-03 23:59:39.
 08/04/2004 12:02:46 AM · #6
I have had my best results with Epson Premium Glossy Photo Paper. All prints that I have made so far have been wonderful. I have never calibrated my monitor and still get great prints on my R800
 08/04/2004 12:04:57 AM · #7
I've got a funny feeling that my monitor at home is pretty dark. I KNOW it's shitty, but the bank provided for a 10D, not a new monitor.
Awww stuffit. I'll just buy a 12" PowerBook.

Cheers everyone, you've confirmed my thoughts.

Is Adobe Gamma easy to find? (start menu, etc...????)

Message edited by author 2004-08-04 00:07:21.
 08/04/2004 12:10:38 AM · #8
as a point of reference, I've had terrible results with HP photo glossy, okay results with Kodak photo glossy and great results with Epson photo glossy, in Epson printers. Roughly the same but reversed in HP printers - it makes that much of a difference in some cases.
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