Help!! Screen Colors Don't Match Printed Colors

[jennyf92]

My screen colors don't match my printed colors, so it is frustrating when I create something based upon what they look like on my computer. Does anyone know if there is a way to fix this? It happens on both my Epson and HP printers. My computer is a Mac.

Thanks,
Jen

[DonnaNJ]

Hi Jen: I can't really help you but if you click on search and type in 'calibrate monitor' several posts come up with suggestions on what to do. HTH DonnaNJ

[KerryMac]

Are the color spaces on each device the same?
Or maybe you're creating in Adobe RGB, for example, and printing in sRGB, or vice versa.
Everything needs to be set the same. Check that and see if it helps.
I hope it does!

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

Donna's right, Jen. You need to calibrate your monitor. The Mac has a built in utility for this, but you really would do better to invest in a calibration device. They can get pretty pricey, but they really do make a difference.

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

Kerry's right, too.

Make sure that you're using the right printing profile in the print settings. I have downloaded the profiles from the Epson site and I make sure to select the one for the paper I use. I also make sure that Photoshop manages the colors and that Color Management is turned off in the Print Settings (this is for an Epson R1800). Every printer will be different. If you're using CS4, that's another issue, too. My monitor is calibrated and prints nearly perfect from CS3. When I print from CS4 using the same settings, they're much too dark. Turns out the drivers aren't compatible for some reason. So, I create in CS4 but when it's time to print, I open the file in CS3. Fun times.

[Amy L]

This has always been a tough issue for me, but I have never invested in calibration software. Right now I am having so much trouble with color issues and dark prints from CS3 (using Snow Leopard) to my R1800 that I just tried letting the printer manage the colors. This worked much better. I hate it, but I have tried so many combinations that I want to pull my hair out!

[cstaff]

My issue as well. HP8750 and I found I need to let it manage. Still a learning process but so frustrating... especially with the cost of ink

[jennyf92]

Thank you all for your responses. Here's the problem...I have no idea what any of you are talking about!!!

I am going to search the threads for how to calibrate the monitor and I will start there, but what do you mean by downloading printing profiles and letting the printer handle color management?

If it is too overwhelming to explain, could you point me in the direction of somewhere that I can find out more about this stuff?

Sorry I am so clueless .

Thanks,
Jen

[ccblue]

Jen,
Had the same problem and didn't know what a calibration device was either. I did find one though and now using it. The prints are now coming out much closer to what I see on the monitor and not so terribly dark. The device plugs into your USB port and you hang onto the monitor. Mine has a weight on one end of the cable so it will balance. You only have to hang it on your monitor while the software (that comes with the device) is running. The device "sees" your monitor and creates a profile for your monitor so that it will display more accurately. The calibration device that I got was one of the cheaper ones, I found it at Amazon - here's the link: ColorVision-Spyder2-Express-Win-Mac
Hope that helps

[KerryMac]

Jen, Scott Kelby writes some fantastic, easy to understand books about Photoshop. He has a whole chapter that walks you through all the settings in both PS and on your printer.
If you're using Photoshop, here is a link
Amazon.com: The Adobe Photoshop CS4 Book for Digital Photographers (9780321580092): Scott Kelby: Books

I think he might have one for Elements too.

[kdif]

Cassie,
Can you explain more about CS4 and the drivers not being compatible. I haven't heard about it . Is it the driver for your specific printer or Epson printers in general? I have just switched to an epson photo printer (not a big one at all). I have all the color settings the same and have PS managing the printing and the printer color managment off and most of my colors are ok, but I notice that the reds are too dark and in general some of the colors aren't as bright as they should be. Anyway, it's not too bad but I don't want to spend more time on it if it's a software incompatibility issue. So could use please expand a bit more. Thanks.
Kathleen

p.s. I don't even have cs3 anymore on my computer to check it out.

[jennyf92]

Originally Posted by KerryMac

Jen, Scott Kelby writes some fantastic, easy to understand books about Photoshop. He has a whole chapter that walks you through all the settings in both PS and on your printer.
If you're using Photoshop, here is a link
Amazon.com: The Adobe Photoshop CS4 Book for Digital Photographers (9780321580092): Scott Kelby: Books

I think he might have one for Elements too.

Thanks, I'm going to check it out right now.

-Jen

[Cassie Jones (1gr8muggle)]

I would highly recommend Scott Kelby's book, too. His are the settings I use in CS3.

As for the compatibility issue with CS4, I just Googled it and came up with several hits in forums where people were discussing the issues they had using their Epson R1800 (and other printers) with CS4. I don't have Snow Leopard, still using Tiger, so I know it's not the OS. To see if it was my issue, I printed the same image from CS3 and CS4, and the CS3 print was fine while the CS4 was very dark. The discussions I read said that the profiles that you can download from Epson don't seem to work the same in CS4.

I really don't know why or if there's a fix, so I just print from CS3. Sorry I'm not more help.

I don't have the Photoshop CS4 book by Kelby. It's possible that he addresses this issue.