Going mad with Epson 3800 - images too dark

This may disclose your problem, or at least give you some insight.

Take an exposure reading (aperure and shutter) to determine correct exposure of your monitor displaying a totally white page in PS.

Then position a white printing paper sheet under your viewing light, and take an exposure reading of that.

The paper and screen should give the same exposure (at the same iso of course) before you can expect a print to roughly match its monitor display. If the paper requires more exposure, your monitor is too bright or your viewing light too dim.

In my experience most viewing setups are about half as bright (or less) as they should be to match the monitor.
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JerryG

My galleries at:
http://www.pbase.com/jerryg1