Epson R360 prints to dark.

[Guest]

I have my computer screen an 22in LG Flatron LCD calibrated with a Spyder 2 but my photos from an Epson R360 printer on Epson Ultra Glossy photo paper always appear slightly darker than the screen appearance. Am I expecting too much or am I getting the settings for the printer incorrect.? If so can anyone suggest what is the correct way to set up the printer to achieve the desired results.?

[Ian]

Re: Epson R360 prints to dark.

I have my computer screen an 22in LG Flatron LCD calibrated with a Spyder 2 but my photos from an Epson R360 printer on Epson Ultra Glossy photo paper always appear slightly darker than the screen appearance. Am I expecting too much or am I getting the settings for the printer incorrect.? If so can anyone suggest what is the correct way to set up the printer to achieve the desired results.?

It's a fairly consistent fact that many LCD monitors have a naturally bright point. I can't get the brightness of my Digimate 24 inch monitor down to the brightness level that would be ideal for matching the printed output. You may simply have to make an allowance when viewing on-screen?

Ian

[Autumn]

Re: Epson R360 prints to dark.

I have the same screen as Ian and also have the same problem.

I also calibrate with Spyder 2!

I have made myself an action in Photoshop "Plus 20 Brightness" which I use after processing.

I just press the action and it works quite well for me.

[ni1yak]

Re: Epson R360 prints to dark.

If you are using Photoshop then soft proof your image. Check out Adobe's web site for a tutorial on soft proofing.


Pete.

[rogleale]

Re: Epson R360 prints to dark.

Dennis,
Monitor calibration does not usually include any brightness measuring.
Soft proofing will not compensate for a too bright screen because you are seeing the result on the same screen. If you can not reduce the brightness of your monitor then Audrey's method using a Photoshop action is the most effective way of print matching.
If you are using an nVidia graphics card you may be able to reduce the brightness level by right clicking on the screen background, opening the nVidia control panel, and selecting 'Adjust desktop color settings' where there are various graphics card controls.

Roger

[Guest]

Re: Epson R360 prints to dark.

Rogleale - Many thanks for suggestions but I have a feeling that you are incorrect when you say that monitor calibration does not include any brightness measuring. One of the first checks when using the Spyder 2 is to set the white level and black levels which involves using brightness and contrast controls of the monitor so that points on two scales are just visible. When I look at the monitor brightness and contrast levels after calibration the controls appear about one third the way up the scale. I could theoretically turn these down further but then this would not agree with the calibration.

[rogleale]

Re: Epson R360 prints to dark.

OK Dennis, the Spyder 2 must include brightness, I don't have experience with it. However - if your prints are still turning out too dark, and prints are what you are aiming at, I would suggest that you reduce the brightness after the calibration until your prints match the screen. This SHOULD not affect the real result of calibration, which is to get the screen colours matching the numbers that the OS, or Photoshop sends to it.

Roger