Help... Problems with Epson ICC Profile!

[druser]

The profile supplied with my EPSON R220 produces very dark prints of perfectly exposed pictures (tried printing with both PS-CS2 and Qimage). Yes, I am very sure that I am not double profiling and have turned off all color management at the printer driver level. I have made sure the supplied printer profile is picked up by the printing application. I have experimented with both "perpetual" and "Relative Colorimetric" intents with virtually no noticebale difference in the (dark) results.

Also, tried printing the same jpegs directly from Windows Explorer with the "Photo Printing Wizard" and color management at the driver turned on (Color Mode set to EPSON Standard). The results were a LOT better than with using the ICC profile supplied with the printer. Yes, I am using the right paper (Epson Premium Glossy Photo).

Have tried locating ICC profiles on the web for this printer specifically but no luck. Tried using ICC profiles on the web for the same family/line of printers but get a magenta cast. So, as you can imaging, I am really frustrated.

Any help in the form of advice/suggestions/pointers would be greatly appreciated!

 

[colourperfect]

Hi,

Is your monitor profiled ?
If you post your images on the web do they look dark ?
What happens if you turn the soft proof on in PSCS ?

I assume you are using the print with preview print function.

Have a look here

http://www.computer-darkroom.com/ps9_print/ps9_print_1.htm

for a step by step check list.

Ian

http://www.colourperfect.co.uk

 

[Bill Fagan]

Still sounds like double profiling. WinXP has a nasty habit of ignoring print driver settings. Go to START/ PRINTERS AND FAXES/. Right click on your R220 and select properties. Click on the color management tab. Click on the manual profiling choice and REMOVE the profile or profiles from the box below. You can always add them back later if this doesnt help. I had a terrible time with consistency until I removed the automatic profiling by WinXP.

 

[druser]

Wil try this! I have noticed that this profile shows up there by default. Thank you for this suggestion, Bill!

Still sounds like double profiling. WinXP has a nasty habit of
ignoring print driver settings. Go to START/ PRINTERS AND FAXES/.
Right click on your R220 and select properties. Click on the color
management tab. Click on the manual profiling choice and REMOVE
the profile or profiles from the box below. You can always add
them back later if this doesnt help. I had a terrible time with
consistency until I removed the automatic profiling by WinXP.

 

[druser]

Here are the results of all tests suggested on the forum (thanks again to all):

1. Recalibrated the monitor - made sure all the values were within the ranges recommended by Bob (WP 6500, gamma 2.2, WPL110cd/m2). No change.

2. Right clicked on R220 and select properties. Clicked on the color management tab. Click on the manual profiling choice and REMOVED the profile from the box below. No change.

3. Downloaded PhotoDisk test image and printed it with various combinations (using the ICC profile & no color mgmt at driver; not using the ICC profile at app & with basic color mgmt at driver). Prints printed using the ICC profile turned out to be much darker as expected.

So, basically have tried everything with this supplied ICC profile with my Epson R220 printer but it makes perfect images too dark. (By the way, there is only one ICC profile E_FICMAIA.ICM that came with the printer that I used for all this. Other profiles I found on the web for the same family of printers do not work)

So, I am back to square one, folks

Willing to try other suggestions...

 

[Tucsondave.2]

I don't have that printer but Epson printers will print dark if "No color management" is selected.

Does your printer driver have a "color controls" button? If so select that, "gamma 1.8" if you have that option, and if there's a bunch of sliders make sure they are centered. This will not affect the use of icc profiles.
Hope this helps.
td

 

[druser]

Interesting... In all my tests so far I have been using these two options (ICC Profile in the application OR Color Management at the printer driver) mutually exclusively and the prints are too dark with the ICC profile. What you are are suggesting is to use the ICC profile in the printing application (like PS or Qimage) AND the color management (Gamma 1.8 and a mode like Epson Standard) at the printer driver level. Isn't this exactly what is termed as "double profiling" and shunned by most experts?

I guess I have nothing to lose in trying it since I have tried so many things in vein so far to find a solution to this problem...

I don't have that printer but Epson printers will print dark if "No
color management" is selected.
Does your printer driver have a "color controls" button? If so
select that, "gamma 1.8" if you have that option, and if there's a
bunch of sliders make sure they are centered. This will not affect
the use of icc profiles.
Hope this helps.
td

 

[Tucsondave.2]

It's not double profiling. In fact Mike of Qimage fame suggests this when making your own profiles using his Profile Prism.
td

 

[James Kay]

Since you have Qimage already...it worked for me.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1013&message=17312529

--
FCAS Member #127
My Gallery:
http://www.jfranciskay.com/Gallery/index.html

 

[rt02906]

I have the same problem with R1800. My guess is that the problem is with Epson canned profiles. There are two solutions, IMHO:

1) Use a different paper and the appropriate ICC profiles. From what i read on this forum Inkpress Luster is pretty cheap and has good profiles. So are some other papers.

2) Get custom profiles for the paper you use. This is the solution i have chosen and just orderred custom profile for Epson Premium Glossy paper from kathysprofiles.com. I should have them in a week or so and will post the results.

Of course you could just play with your monitor until you fit it to the prints you get, but that just sounds wrong.

The question remains - if so many of us are having problems with the same issue should not manufacturer fix it?

RT

 

[Tucsondave.2]

Have you downloaded the latest driver from Epson?
td

 

[James Kay]

I tried using Ilford Peral Glossy paper and then downloaded the profile they provided on their website for the 1800. It still produced dark prints. I think the only solution is to have custom profiles made. That way you are dealing with your specific printer. Problem is you need one for every paper and resolution (photo, best photo,RPM) for the best results and that can get pricey.

I wish someone with a "dark" printer that had the hardware to generate printer profiles would put some profiles out there for us all to dowload for free! It sound like there are 2 camps, dark and normal. I have not heard of anyone complain about light prints yet with the Epson profiles.

--
FCAS Member #127
My Gallery:
http://www.jfranciskay.com/Gallery/index.html

 

[Don Gucker]

The problem with generic profiles is simply that one size does not fit all, hence the need for custom printer profiles that define your printer, ink, paper, etc.

I found the Epson profiles for my 2200 to not be adiquate.

I tried a color vision product, and that was not satisfactory. I finally got tired of waisting ink, paper, and my patience, and purchased a professional GretagMacbeth profiling instrument and software. The resulting profiles are very good, and first print is darn close to final priint. Unfortunately Gretag, in the licensing agreement will not permit generic profiles, but requires the owner to make profiles for a specific printer with an agreement that the profile will be used on no other printer. They don't have to be expensive - check 'printer profiles' on Google to see the options.

Don

 

[koni12]

"I don't have that printer but Epson printers will print dark if "No color management" is selected."

None of my Epsons have EVER done that.