iMAC and epson 3880 print adjustment

[IWC Doppel]

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Anyone with a 27" iMAC and an Epson 3880 found settings within the print adjustment that help balance the image brightness and contrast to that of the screen ?

 

I have been experimenting with my new 3880 and Jessops paper (I know, nothing available on a Saturday)

 

Tks

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[archi4]

I also print with a 3880 from my iMac and consistently get prints matching the screen extremely well using many different papers.

In my experience this can only be achieved by the following:

Calibrate the screen to a luminance of about 80 cd/m2. iMac screens are much too bright. This will require soft and hardware but for only calibrating the screen that is not too expensive.

For each paper type obtain both the profile and the correct media setting for the Epson 3880 printer. These can be obtained from the paper manufacturer.

In the program you print from turn off color management by the printer and in the Epson dialog make sure the correct media type is used and the color adjustment is off.

 

If you have correctly calibrated your screen you can use the standard 3880 printing only setting the media as specified and not turning the color adjustment off. Calibrating the screen is essential and should give pretty good results.

 

The color profiles provided by the paper manufacturer are quite good, but I find the profiles I make myself using x-rite i1 profiler are better. I will gladly share them if I know what paper is wanted.

 

Just realized the images are unreadable - If you wish I will redo and adapt to te program you print from - Capture One, PSCS6 or Lightroom

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Edited October 14, 2012 by archi4

[IWC Doppel]

Archi, hi

 

Thanks very much, I have not calibrated my screen, I have calibrated projectors and TV's in the past and did have a Xrite, but it was unfortunately stolen. I have a friend who can probably help as he is THX certified.

 

I would be very interested in some slightly larger pictures if possible. I am currently playing with a jessops matt paper as I will be ordering some 'proper' paper tomorrow. I intend to start with some Ehhanced Matt, Traditional Phot and Cold press natural.

 

I am using LR4

 

Much appreciated

[Jeff S]

As I've commented in various other posts, the printer is only one step toward consistent and quality prints. One needs to optimize the entire workflow from camera to printer, and screen calibration is but one necessary step in that chain, as is proper paper profiling.

 

A quick web search on topics like "why are my prints too dark?" will bring up loads of commentary. So, too, will a search on color management (from camera to screen to printer), which is an essential topic for producing predictable prints in the digital world.

 

This Eric Chan 3800 FAQ is old, but it discusses some of the important variables (and print settings) in the workflow that more generally apply to digital printing. I offer this not as a specific recommended workflow (I don't use many of Eric's suggestions), but rather as a prompt for some issues to consider.

 

Nothing substitutes for the judgment of the user, but it's critical that the underlying principles are first understood. BTW, introducing multiple papers at the outset just exponentially increases the variables to consider. I highly recommend sticking to one paper initially, for the same reasons it made sense in the film world...one film, one paper, one camera, etc, before introducing new variables. I believe in 'keeping one foot on a rock.'

 

Jeff

Edited October 15, 2012 by Jeff S

[archi4]

IWC doppel, Hi,

If you have your monitor calibrated to 80 and of course the colors calibrated as well and you are only using Epson papers, then you only need to choose “managed by Printer” in LR4 and in the printer dialog choose basic, and under color choose color controls and either EPSON Standard or Adobe RGB.

The Printer will automaticall find the correct Profile.

My recommendation if you find the prints too dark or too light calibrate your screen to either a slightly lower or higher luminance for consistent results. (one of my iMac’s is calibrated to a luminance of 80 and the other to 72)

Using the slider in LR4 is nice for one print, but another file may need something else so a screen with a constant luminance setting eliminates the most important variable.

In the drop-down menu which appears when you click on “managed by Printer” in LR4 you can then choose a paper profile which you have previously placed in HD/Library/ColorSync/Profiles.

In the printer dialog you must then choose the correct Media Type and in Color Settings “Off (No Color Adjustment)”

Because I consistently use this last method, I have installed the Profiles for the Epson papers in the Profiles folder. Next to the Epson paper, I mostly print on Ilford and Harman Baryta and have made my own profiles.

Because screen shots uploaded are either too small or use up so much space in the forum, I would prefer to send them to your email along with any profiles you might wish.

Sorry for the long answer and also if it includes too many things you already know.

[IWC Doppel]

Jeff, hi

 

Regarding paper, I was looking at Traditional Phot (Ehibition), Enhanced Matt, I would value any thoughts. I will be 95% B&W

 

Rgds

[Jeff S]

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As I mentioned in this post, I tend to use gloss baryta papers. For b/w, I primarily use 3 papers, from warm to cold tone as follows: Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Pearl; Hahnemuhle Photo Rag Baryta; and Canson Infinity Baryta Photographique. These resemble some of the wonderful fibre papers I used in my film days.

 

My work rarely calls for a matte paper, and I don't use Epson papers, so I can't provide any specific guidance on the paper you mention. But, as I commented above, the paper isn't as important as the work flow, provided of course that the paper does justice to your work, which is a matter of personal taste.

 

Unfortunately there aren't any shortcuts. As in the darkroom days, a solid grounding in the technical principles is required, but after that it's all about developing a disciplined technique, lots of practice, and, most of all, using good judgment and a good eye. Different people using the same gear (no different than camera gear) will produce different results of varying quality.

 

My work gets better over time, including prints I've made after having already made what I thought was a good print to start several years earlier. Sometimes this is due to improvements in the materials (better papers and inks), software (some of my prints using LR4 are far better than with LR 2), technique (better paper profiles using better equipment and more passes), and sometimes it's just my changing tastes and abilities. Often each improvement is subtle and incremental, but taken together the changes can be significant. There is still more I could do (using a RIP or Cone inks...for 7 shades of b/w...for instance), but for now things are good.

 

Have fun with your progress.

 

Jeff

[IWC Doppel]

Darn....

 

I wish I understood computers better

 

I do really struggle with PC's and MAC's, always have I have no clue how to download an ICC, I have watched it download (Top Corner on my MAC) then I have no clue where it's gone and how to add it to the menu. I wouldn't mind if I was daft, but I'm not, I just don't get computers

 

Any idiots guide to how to download would be much appreciated

[Jeff S]

Me neither as far as computers...but I regularly borrow a friend who happens to be a computer whiz and a good photographer as well. We met at a photo workshop 20 years ago. He does custom profiles for me on his expensive gear, and helped me set up my computer, printer, and such.

 

That was the lucky part. But in addition I've spent the last 4 years (when I switched from 40 years of film to digital) getting up the learning curve. There are tons of resources out there, in print, online and in person. My darkroom experience came in very handy; the transition is much easier having learned the benefits, and hard work, developing a disciplined approach. As I said, no shortcuts...except, that is, if you can find a capable friend, too.

 

Computers can be learned, like any tool; the harder part as I said is having good judgment, and a good eye. For me, that part was aided by practicing and studying photography (and painting and drawing), and collecting photos and books, for decades.

 

Jeff

Edited October 15, 2012 by Jeff S

[IWC Doppel]

I have just spent an hour on the phone to a techie mate, so that helped.

 

I do understand projection and nearly took a THX course for my home cinema, I am hoping some of this knowledge will come in handy. I think it's time for a bit more reading and another glass of wine

[IWC Doppel]

Downloading a profile is unfortunately clearly beyond my competence

 

I have watched three you tube videos, spoken to friends, received an e-mail from Archie and tried putting the download into different folders, restarted lightroom and nothing

 

I am running blind, this is a screen print of my library folder it look nothing like the neat video folders, I bl***dy hate computers

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[mija1789]

Profiles are stored in:

 

Library>ColorSync>Profiles

 

Pay attention: it is the root library, not the user's library

 

Profiles have the .icc extension

[Jeff S]

As Michel said...on the Mac, the unzipped file should be placed in your Library/ColorSync/Profiles folder.

 

In addition, I recommend a basic primer like Kelby's LR4 book, which lists steps to add your profile to the pop-up menu in the Print Job panel. Then you won't have to go retrieve it from folders anymore; it will be right there (with other selected profiles) when you print.

 

I name my profiles with a date, so that there is no confusion if I later add a new (better) profile for that same paper (thanks to my photo bud).

 

Jeff

[IWC Doppel]

Tks,

 

Time for more wine and reading

[IWC Doppel]

Thanks for the help guys, sorry for being a little slow here.....

 

I do have another question though !

 

I found a useful note on another site, regarding ABW and the suggetsion below seemed confusing as from memory if I choose an icc (eg Mr Chan's) I cannot then select ABW in print settings ?

 

" (Advanced Setup) Lightroom manages color. Use a one of Mr. Chan`s epson 3880 grey ICC paper profiles OR use a calibration device to build your own grey ICC profiles for different papers. Select Epson ABW mode. A great solution - if you have a 3880, a bit more difficult if you don`t as you will likely have to build your own profiles. I`ve had no luck in finding prebuilt grey profiles for other printers. "

[Jeff S]

I'm not clear on your question, but this article by Eric seems straightforward.

 

My approach, as already stated, is to build custom profiles using my own gear (which just happens to be a 3800, but could be any gear I have). I have certainly tried ABW mode, but despite Eric's recommendations, I generally prefer not to use it. Again, it's all about chosen workflow, and personal taste and preferences.

 

Jeff

[IWC Doppel]

I find that my menu on print settngs (left hand icon on LR4 that brings up print settings) are greyed out if I choose an iic print profile within the colour management part of the 'print job' in LR on the right hand side of the screen.

 

I also cannot choose any Velvet fine art papers as a media setting with profile on the right hand side of LR "managed by printer" or an icc

[mija1789]

1. Select your profile as you did (right hand side)

2. Hit "Print ... " (right hand side)

3. The Mac OSX Print Settings menu appears and you now have access to all the print settings (media type, layout, quality, ... )

 

Hope this helps (unless I am misunderstood your problem)

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[IWC Doppel]

Mija, hi

 

I ownder what might be going wrong, but if I choose the profile then in the 'print...' pulls up the same menu as 'print settings' on the bottom right hand side and I can choose media type, but I cannot do any advanced color adjustment or use ABW

 

If I choose ABW then the setting on the profile needs to be 'managed by printer'

 

Plus whatever I do I cannot choose any media type fine art paper as this is always greyed out

 

Tks

[Jeff S]

Which feed mechanism are you using? The media type may, for instance, require a specific choice like rear feed.

 

Regarding ABW, as I said, I prefer otherwise.

 

Jeff