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I'm having a terrible time printings some portraits for a gallery show.  I'm using Ilford Galerie Prestige Gold Fibre Silk paper, 13x19, and printing with an Epson 1430 Artisan printer.  I'm printing through LightRoom, using the Ilford profile for that paper.  I've turned off color correction for the printer itself and am using the color settings in LR.   I'm using Relative Intent.  Here is an example of my digital file:

 

http://www.pbase.com/tinamanley/image/166471709/large

 

Here is an iPhone photo of the actual print:

 

http://www.pbase.com/tinamanley/image/167279204

 

See the greenish shadow on her jaw?  All of my portraits are printing with these green shadows somewhere.  I've tried adjusting the color balance of the whole photo which makes it too pink and I've tried adjusting the toning of just the shadows which doesn't seem to help.

 

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  This is driving me crazy!!

 

TIA

 

Tina

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Basic question, but did you perform a nozzle check?

 

If ok, you might try deleting and reinstalling the print driver.

 

I know this won’t help today, but longer term, if you’re regularly printing for shows or sales, consider the P800. Results are significantly better than prior machines. And ImagePrint 10, while expensive, automates all these color management and setting issues by skipping the Epson driver, and further provides superb profiles (and continuous soft proofing) for virtually all papers. It avoids these mysteries.

 

Jeff

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Somebody on another list suggested that the fault is with the Ilford paper which has recently had lots of problems with color casts.  I tried printing the same file on a sheet of Canson Platine Fibre Rag and it came out perfect - no green shadows at all.  I just bought 100 sheets of the Ilford which I'll now save for B&W prints!   Thanks.

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I use both papers and will need to check. Some of my Ilford is the older stock, however, and I’m sure that’s fine.

 

FWIW, the closest paper to the old Gold Fibre Silk is Canson’s Infinity Baryta Photographique, not the Platine, both color and texture.

 

Glad you resolved it. I still recommend the the changes, though!

 

Jeff

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I use both papers and will need to check. Some of my Ilford is the older stock, however, and I’m sure that’s fine.

 

FWIW, the closest paper to the old Gold Fibre Silk is Canson’s Infinity Baryta Photographique, not the Platine, both color and texture.

 

Glad you resolved it. I still recommend the the changes, though!

 

Jeff

 

Thanks, Jeff.  I've ordered the Canson’s Infinity Baryta Photographique and look forward to trying it.  Do you use the Canson profile with LightRoom managing the color or do you let the printer handle the color management?

 

I wish I had gotten the Epson P800 the last time I bought a printer instead of the Epson 1430 Artisan.  Maybe someday!

 

Tina

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Hi Tina. I still use LR, but no longer print from its module. Instead, as noted, I now use ImagePrint 10, which unfortunately costs the same as a discounted P800 ($895), but is worth its weight in gold. It works with LR as a simple plug in and overrides the Epson driver. It comes with superb profiles for virtually all papers, so you select the paper profile and size and it handles ALL settings to optimize the print quality with your machine. No more missed settings, color management issues (with Epson, Adobe or Apple), and is always in soft print mode, so WYSIWYG.

 

Before switching to IP, I always printed through LR, with color management off.

 

I think you’ll love the Baryta Photographique. If you stiill have the problematic Gold Fibre Silk, I would try to return it. The color cast could still cause issues with b/w tonality, if you’re picky as I am. And the Baryta is gorgeous with b/w. The blacks are also richer with the new P800 inks if you can eventually upgrade. Your good work deserves it!

 

Jeff

Edited by Jeff S
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Hi Tina. I still use LR, but no longer print from its module. Instead, as noted, I now use ImagePrint 10, which unfortunately costs the same as a discounted P800 ($895), but is worth its weight in gold. It works with LR as a simple plug in and overrides the Epson driver. It comes with superb profiles for virtually all papers, so you select the paper profile and size and it handles ALL settings to optimize the print quality with your machine. No more missed settings, color management issues (with Epson, Adobe or Apple), and is always in soft print mode, so WYSIWYG.

 

Before switching to IP, I always printed through LR, with color management off.

 

I think you’ll love the Baryta Photographique. If you stiill have the problematic Gold Fibre Silk, I would try to return it. The color cast could still cause issues with b/w tonality, if you’re picky as I am. And the Baryta is gorgeous with b/w. The blacks are also richer with the new P800 inks if you can eventually upgrade. Your good work deserves it!

 

Jeff

 

I used ImagePrint many, many years ago when I used to sell a lot of prints.  Now, almost all of my sales are digital.  I'm not sure I could justify purchasing ImagePrint now.  This is an important gallery show, though, and I want the prints to really match my digital images.  The colors with the SL are perfect and I'd like to see them in the prints.  I'll be debating this with myself for awhile.  

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Tina

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I used ImagePrint many, many years ago when I used to sell a lot of prints. Now, almost all of my sales are digital. I'm not sure I could justify purchasing ImagePrint now. This is an important gallery show, though, and I want the prints to really match my digital images. The colors with the SL are perfect and I'd like to see them in the prints. I'll be debating this with myself for awhile.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Tina

FWIW, IP is a much better product now than it was years ago. You can always download a free trial if you’re curious (although prints will have copyright imprints).

 

Before IP I invested in a custom profile service. The IP profiles are as good or better. And if I made my own custom profiles, good gear would cost twice as much as IP (helps me rationalize!).

 

Good luck with your show.

 

Jeff

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One more question, please.  I have the Baryta paper now and am about to buy the Epson P800; however, first I read all of the reviews.  Many of them say that the P800 cannot handle thicker art paper.  They even mention particularly the Baryta paper, saying that the printer makes pizza wheel marks across the paper.  If I spend all of this money and end up with pizza wheel marks, I will be very upset.  Has anybody had that problem with the P800??  All of the photos I will be printing will be produced by Leica cameras so I guess this is relevant ;-)

 

Tina

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I have had gear wheel tracks on baryta paper with a P800 but the paper was not fed properly (front feed, my fault). The front right hand corner was smeared and embossed. I sent the printer to be repaired but no fault found. I feed much more carefully now.

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One more question, please. I have the Baryta paper now and am about to buy the Epson P800; however, first I read all of the reviews. Many of them say that the P800 cannot handle thicker art paper. They even mention particularly the Baryta paper, saying that the printer makes pizza wheel marks across the paper. If I spend all of this money and end up with pizza wheel marks, I will be very upset. Has anybody had that problem with the P800?? All of the photos I will be printing will be produced by Leica cameras so I guess this is relevant ;-)

 

Tina

I have both and wouldn’t have recommended them if there were issues. I had none with the 3800 and the Canson Baryta, or even the thicker Hahnemuhle papers, and the P800 front feed is even better. As always, one needs to use care and minimize curl to the extent possible.

 

Again, IP ensures that all printer settings are optimized for the paper used, so presumably it adjusts the platen gap, etc. So I can’t swear that one won’t have issues with manual settings, but I learned to deal with those before I had IP and used the more finicky 3800 feed (on that machine, I always used the front feed with thicker papers and not, as many used, the rear feed). Back in those days, I was also more careful to not print close to the paper edge, but that hasn’t presented issues with my current printer/paper/ IP workflow.

 

Have you tried the Baryta? If so, what do you think compared to the IGFS?

 

Jeff

Edited by Jeff S
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I have both and wouldn’t have recommended them if there were issues. I had none with the 3800 and the Canson Baryta, or even the thicker Hahnemuhle papers, and the P800 front feed is even better. As always, one needs to use care and minimize curl to the extent possible.

 

Again, IP ensures that all printer settings are optimized for the paper used, so presumably it adjusts the platen gap, etc. So I can’t swear that one won’t have issues with manual settings, but I learned to deal with those before I had IP and used the more finicky 3800 feed (on that machine, I always used the front feed with thicker papers and not, as many used, the rear feed). Back in those days, I was also more careful to not print close to the paper edge, but that hasn’t presented issues with my current printer/paper/ IP workflow.

 

Have you tried the Baryta? If so, what do you think compared to the IGFS?

 

Jeff

 

Thanks, Jeff.  I was about to buy the P800 on your recommendation but made the mistake of reading too many reviews!  I also intend to get ImagePrint.  All of this is so expensive, I want to be sure not to do anything I will regret later!  The Canson Baryta is beautiful paper and doesn't have the green shadow problem of the IGFS.  I only made one print because I'm saving the paper for the P800.  I won't make any money from this exhibit because 100% of the proceeds will go to the schools for Syrian refugee children.  I'll have to find some way to make up my losses!  Expensive printers, inks, and papers are totally irrelevant in the stock photography world,  ;-)

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Thanks, Jeff. I was about to buy the P800 on your recommendation but made the mistake of reading too many reviews! I also intend to get ImagePrint. All of this is so expensive, I want to be sure not to do anything I will regret later! The Canson Baryta is beautiful paper and doesn't have the green shadow problem of the IGFS. I only made one print because I'm saving the paper for the P800. I won't make any money from this exhibit because 100% of the proceeds will go to the schools for Syrian refugee children. I'll have to find some way to make up my losses! Expensive printers, inks, and papers are totally irrelevant in the stock photography world, ;-)

Tina, kudos to you for the refugee work. I can’t think of a better way to use the medium.

 

I do photography for fun, not professionally or for significant profits off print sales. But I do love printing and have done my own since the 80’s (and also collect vintage prints). And do my own matting, framing, etc. I won’t even tell you about my fantastic wall mounted mat cutter that makes custom cuts a breeze!

 

So, for me, equipment and materials for printing are a given. Now it’s digital, but for years it involved darkroom expenses. I often get far more bang for the buck on the back end of the photo chain than I do on cameras and lenses. And as you probably know, companies like Epson make money off the inks, not the machines. Be sure to look out for both Epson and dealer discounts, which are frequent (check the Epson site for promos.... I saved $400). Same scam as companies that sell razors and razor blades. (The 80ml cartridges will be far more economic than with your old printer.)

 

You’re not the first here to get IP or the P800 on my recommendation. I know that Brian P is delighted with his switch. And I’m confident you will be as well. Your work is terrific, and this will allow it to shine.

 

Keep me posted. And feel free to ask more questions. Good luck with the show!

 

Jeff

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks, Jeff.  I've ordered the Canson’s Infinity Baryta Photographique and look forward to trying it.  Do you use the Canson profile with LightRoom managing the color or do you let the printer handle the color management?

 

I wish I had gotten the Epson P800 the last time I bought a printer instead of the Epson 1430 Artisan.  Maybe someday!

 

Tina

Tina,

 

I use the Canson profile for color prints on Baryta Photographique, but use the printer's Advanced B&W driver for black-and-white prints on that paper (both from Lightroom). That on a P-8000 that I rent on a time+ink basis.

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