Epson Photo 750 (Grainy Shadows)

[Tim]

Hi folks, I'm sort of new to the photo printing game so I will apologize in advance if this question has been asked repeatedly.

I am printing images that I have scanned from professional photographs onto Hammermill Jet Print Photo paper with my Epson Photo 750 printer. The 8x10 photos are scanned at 400 dpi or higher on a Microtek Slimscan C6 and are then printed at 1440 dpi. The problem is that although the colors are very close to those on the monitor using the ICM setting, ( have also tried PhotoEnhance3 as well as RGB ) the shadows in the image show up very grainy or blotchy. Does anyone know how I may correct this, I haven't experimented with a lot of different photo papers yet, but the problem is evident with Epson Photo Paper as well. Could it have something to do with the glossy finish on the paper? If anyone knows of a good web site devoted to the printing of color photos on ink jet printers could you please include the URL in your message.
Thanks
Tim

 

[Jean-Pierre]

Probably you dont know http://come.to/digitaldarkroom

Hi folks, I'm sort of new to the photo printing game so I will apologize
in advance if this question has been asked repeatedly.
I am printing images that I have scanned from professional photographs
onto Hammermill Jet Print Photo paper with my Epson Photo 750 printer.
The 8x10 photos are scanned at 400 dpi or higher on a Microtek Slimscan
C6 and are then printed at 1440 dpi. The problem is that although the
colors are very close to those on the monitor using the ICM setting, (
have also tried PhotoEnhance3 as well as RGB ) the shadows in the image
show up very grainy or blotchy. Does anyone know how I may correct this,
I haven't experimented with a lot of different photo papers yet, but the
problem is evident with Epson Photo Paper as well. Could it have
something to do with the glossy finish on the paper? If anyone knows of
a good web site devoted to the printing of color photos on ink jet
printers could you please include the URL in your message.
Thanks
Tim

 

[Jean-Pierre]

I ran exactly into the same problem as you. It seems like the driver cuts off black levels up to 50-60 (in the 0-255 scale).

In Photoshop, try these curve values before printing:
RGB(0,50 63,70 128,128 191,204 255,255)

Print with:

• Photo paper
• 1440 dpi
• EPSON calibration (do not use PhotoEnhance3 as it

would wrongly readjust black zero level)

• Automatic mode
• All sliders set to zero.

With these settings, dark grey shades are rendered OK. Pure black is not as good but overall picture is much better.

This of course if you are not using any calibration system (I just ordered WisiWYG and I am waiting for the IT8 target). More to come...

Jean-Pierre.

Hi folks, I'm sort of new to the photo printing game so I will apologize
in advance if this question has been asked repeatedly.
I am printing images that I have scanned from professional photographs
onto Hammermill Jet Print Photo paper with my Epson Photo 750 printer.
The 8x10 photos are scanned at 400 dpi or higher on a Microtek Slimscan
C6 and are then printed at 1440 dpi. The problem is that although the
colors are very close to those on the monitor using the ICM setting, (
have also tried PhotoEnhance3 as well as RGB ) the shadows in the image
show up very grainy or blotchy. Does anyone know how I may correct this,
I haven't experimented with a lot of different photo papers yet, but the
problem is evident with Epson Photo Paper as well. Could it have
something to do with the glossy finish on the paper? If anyone knows of
a good web site devoted to the printing of color photos on ink jet
printers could you please include the URL in your message.
Thanks
Tim