Print Fest.....

[PMG]

Originally Posted by mh68

I bought a set of inks from Ebay earlier Pauline, so should have them Tuesday.Do you mean that the colours of the print arent matching those of the image on your monitor?

Mark H

Yes and No! I have my monitor set up how I like to view pics - it isn't bob-on with the scale - you know the coloured boxes - but it is how I like to see them so when I print I preview and then turn the gamma up a touch or couple of touches and print comes out perfect.

But the difference at the mo is that there isn't as much red/warm shade in the print as on the screen - even my fox and red squirrel are on the cool side! So I need to play and find a setting which I think is natural and also learn how to turn it up when I print things like autumn colours where I have heavily saturated........

Pauline

[mh68]

Yes I think I know what you mean.Maybe as you say just a case of finding the right setting which you can apply specifically to images you want to print. I asked because I had a lot of trouble matching print colours to monitor colours when first printing through Lightroom, but once I downloaded the set of profiles for my printer from the Epson site and installed them, the problem was sorted.

Mark H

[PMG]

Originally Posted by mh68

Yes I think I know what you mean.Maybe as you say just a case of finding the right setting which you can apply specifically to images you want to print. I asked because I had a lot of trouble matching print colours to monitor colours when first printing through Lightroom, but once I downloaded the set of profiles for my printer from the Epson site and installed them, the problem was sorted.

Mark H

The problem maybe that my copy of PSP 7 is old but I prefer it to anything else but maybe the new printer would work better with a more up to date programme - the trouble is I don't want to be forced to learn anything else new just now - I would prefer to stick in my mud......... I'm going to have a go at designing my own website over the next few weeks and that will be enough heartache at one go: I need to get on a display my shots - others are doing it and doing it well and its high time I got pitched in! By the way I've just been looking at yours on flicker - like those autumn colours ones - smashing!

Pauline

PS Congrats btw on passing 1,000 posts - I'm always last to spot these things and comment - mam always says I'll be late for my own funeral (funny that cos I wasn't intending turning up for it at all!!)

[mh68]

Thanks Pauline

The program shouldnt make that much difference,its probably just your monitor settings showing a slightly more saturated image than it actually is,and the printer is reproducing the colours more accurately.I`d just try increasing the saturation a bit on the printed images and see what that does, it should help avoid having to calibrate your monitor.

Mark H

[PMG]

Originally Posted by mh68

Thanks Pauline

The program shouldnt make that much difference,its probably just your monitor settings showing a slightly more saturated image than it actually is,and the printer is reproducing the colours more accurately.I`d just try increasing the saturation a bit on the printed images and see what that does, it should help avoid having to calibrate your monitor.

Mark H

Yes I don't like the machines idea of calibration. I have printed out three little test shots each increasing saturation and its not just as I would like it - the colour has strengthened but its done it in areas where I don;t want it to. So I shall have to play with a few more settings to increasing the warm side - but not tonight josephine - I have to be up bright eyed and bushy tomorrow to work in the golf shop - so bed calls and play must be put on hold!!

Pauline

[mh68]

I`m sure with a little patience you`ll sort it Pauline (says he who almost kicked the printer last night )

Mark H

[HowlinWolf]

PMG,

When you print (or post process on-screen), it is advisable to do so under the same lighting conditions every time, so as to produce repeatable results. It's also a good idea to make prints under the same light as what you'll view them with, i.e. tungsten or daylight. Different light sources will have different effects on the colours, hence your "cool" images when viewed the next day.
I'd steer clear of third party inks, as they are not formulated to work with certain media, as Epson papers and inks are. I once tried a different ink with my preferred paper, and it became more trouble than it was worth, despite using the profiles suggested on the ink pack. Drying times also became excessive as the paper surface was not receptive to the ink formula. As the Americans say, your mileage may differ.

Your monitor settings may be as you like to view images, but as you intend to set up and publish your own web site in the near future your images will appear different on other displays than your own, especially those who calibrate their monitors on a regular basis. Publishing on the Internet is a shot in the dark in this respect, to the point where a friend of mine was (blissfully) unaware that monitors even needed calibrating, but wondered why all his prints came back from the lab with a red colour cast. He'd compensated for his own monitors inaccuracy, and blamed the lab for his problem!

Just some points to consider.

HW

[PMG]

Originally Posted by mh68

I`m sure with a little patience you`ll sort it Pauline (says he who almost kicked the printer last night )

Mark H

Gave it a miss altogether tonight and went to bed and to sleep - or so I thought - now its 10 past one am and I'm up and back down here........... there are times when I wish I didn't have a computer - does it rule my life - you bet it does!

Pauline

[PMG]

Originally Posted by HowlinWolf

PMG,

When you print (or post process on-screen), it is advisable to do so under the same lighting conditions every time, so as to produce repeatable results. It's also a good idea to make prints under the same light as what you'll view them with, i.e. tungsten or daylight. Different light sources will have different effects on the colours, hence your "cool" images when viewed the next day.
I'd steer clear of third party inks, as they are not formulated to work with certain media, as Epson papers and inks are. I once tried a different ink with my preferred paper, and it became more trouble than it was worth, despite using the profiles suggested on the ink pack. Drying times also became excessive as the paper surface was not receptive to the ink formula. As the Americans say, your mileage may differ.

Your monitor settings may be as you like to view images, but as you intend to set up and publish your own web site in the near future your images will appear different on other displays than your own, especially those who calibrate their monitors on a regular basis. Publishing on the Internet is a shot in the dark in this respect, to the point where a friend of mine was (blissfully) unaware that monitors even needed calibrating, but wondered why all his prints came back from the lab with a red colour cast. He'd compensated for his own monitors inaccuracy, and blamed the lab for his problem!

Just some points to consider.

HW

Thanks HW for all that info - very helpful.

Its all made the more noticeable as the big book I keep my A4 prints in is full of the one's doen on the old Photo Ex 700 which always printed on the 'warm' side unless I made an effort to stop it, so its a complete turn around to find the new epson prints 'cool' but its better that way around. I shouldn't have got into Print fest mode at night under bulb lighting - but it just happened - I thought ooh lets have a see what you're capable of and when I saw one I just had to do more!

I notice other interesting things about the process too: like prints always seem to come out of the printer sharp and then the ink spreads ever so slightly and blurs a tiny amount (unless this is my eyes but I don't think so - I actually think I can see this happening?) Prints look superb when fresh but dry a tad disappointing........ All in all tho esp with the advent of gloss optimiser, printing and prints are a pleasurable end product - and other folk I've shown them to are not as critical as me........... Nit picker extrodinaire when it come to finished stuff.

I shall have to see what happens with the inks - the one's I had before from Guernsey were excellent and I've got them again - if they are no good then it will be epson only and not much making it into print cos of cost. Anyway the red ink light is flashing - I think the yellow is almost done - so I shall soon find out............

Thanks again for help HW

Pauline