Elements 7, Printing.

[Alex60]

Hi,. Im using PSE 7, and having a few problems printing. I am finding that if I edit a selected print because it is too dark, When I print off, I get the original dark print, albeit the monitor shows the edited version.I think it has something to do with the 'exif' data. I am using the Epson 1400, with Epson inks and Epson Photo Glossy Paper.
Has anyone got any suggestions.

Looking forward to hearing from you....Alex60

[chris-p]

Hi Alex, welcome to the forum

This is a really common problem, and not one that is particularly easy to solve. Prints are always darker than what you see on screen because of the different ways you're viewing them. The screen is backlit and you see the print via reflected light. In fact, even the 3 primary colours are different on a screen and in the real world.

The answer to this is to calibrate your monitor and your printer using so that they always produce the same thing. Or keep adjusting your image so that its much much lighter and see if it helps.

Does the print get any lighter at all when you've adjusted it? And how much do you adjust it by before printing again?

[Alex60]

Chris,
firstly thank you for the welcome. I have edited the same photograph twcie making it slightly brighter, however when I print it off the result is close to the original photograph.When I choose to print a photograph that requires no editing I have noticed that the database shows two tick boxes, PRINT IMAGE MATCHING and EXIF PRINT,when I print from this screen I get prints near enough to what Im seeing on the monitor.which I am perfectly satisfied with.If I think that this print needs to be edited, eg, brighter, I find that after editing these two tick boxes have disappeared, and when I print I get the original dark photograph.I have thought about purchasing a Color Munki, but before I go to that expense I want to satisfy myself that I have done everything possible to rectify this little problem.

Best wishes..Alex.

[chris-p]

Yeah, I wouldn't shell out for a calibration system just yet...

Erm, what program gives you the two tick boxes. Is it Elements or is it the printer driver? The usual advice is to override any printer drivers by setting the colour management systems to "Photoshop manages colour" or something similar.

It's also worth checking that (if you're using the printer drivers to manage the colour rather than Elements) you're selecting the exact type of paper your printing on. If you haven't got it in the list you should be able to get a profile for it from the manufacturers website.

[Alex60]

Chris, thanks for that I will give it a whirl....Alex.

[Oly Paul]

Ok Alex, first off those two boxes are for printing straight from the camera as they take exposure and other setting from th ecamera exif data. Once you edit in PSE7 like altering the exposure,contrast and other things those camera setting no longer apply and hence those check boxes dissapear.

Set Elements to manage the colours

Try this

Use these exact settinsg and select the appropriate paper profile for your printer .



Now in the Epson printer setting select advanced and set the paper type and quality draft /photo etc as here and disable printer colour managmant as shown , it should have something similar in the 1400.



These settings and letting Elements 7 manage the colours should give you a good match if your monitor is fairly well calibrated, hope this helps.

[Alex60]

Paul,
Thank you for this information, I have not had the time to try this, but as soon as I do I will let you know the result.At least i now know why the two tick boxes disappear when the print has been edited.
Alex.