Printing Too Dark!!

[Clark2006]

Does anyone know why my LO's and photos always print really dark? Is it my monitor or printer or what? :confused:

[Clark2006]

I have callaborated (however it's spelled) my monitor, btw.

[Vallie]

I know nothing about calibrating monitors but I noticed my prints looked dark so I just lightened them up and test printed till I got what I thought they should look like. Once I noticed they had to look a lot lighter on the screen I just compensated for it but I dare say that is probably totally not what to do!! :lol:

[Janet]

Color management is a difficult thing. Basically, as far as I understand, you need to callibrate your monitor to whatever you're printing on. So, if you use your printer at home most, then print something and then se your monitor as closely to that print as possible. If you print from somewhere online more, then get a print and set your monitor to that. It's the simple way to go, but it works. :)

I'll try to find links of stuff I've found - it's on my other computer. Anyone else around here more knowledgeable about color management???? I'm always looking to learn more.

[Clark2006]

Thanks! It's crazy, because they look really bright on the screen, lol. I thought they would be too bright, but it was the exact opposite...

[debbiel]

I have the same problem. Everyting looks great on the monitor but when I print, the page is very dark. However, I use a laptop and read that you cannot callibrate a laptop screen.

[evergreen100]

The talk is "calibrate your monitor". How do you do THAT???

[GailS]

What kind of printer do you have? Mine has settings where I can use such selections as ICM. It's an Epson R200. Also had to update the drivers for the printer to work right with Windows XP because of the dark printing problem. Might want to check your printer manufacturer website and make sure you have the most current drivers and software for manipulating your settings.

My printer software also gives me options to save my settings under a custom name so I can choose that each time, saves messing around with those settings every time.

Hope this helps!

[Vallie]

Sounds tricky! I guess the print will never look like what is on the screen because the screen is so bright and luminous and that quality doesnt translate to the print. I have darkened down my monitor because of glare as I was squinting a lot so what my eye sees on the screen isnt what is going to print IYKWIM! I find I have to finish my layout as I see it, then save another lighter copy to print, this is not all the time though, only on layouts that have particularly dark backgrounds as the detail seems to disappear in the print. I know it sounds a bit hit and miss but it works for me.:lol:

[colorella]

This is probably a wrong way to solve the problem,but I have changed my paper setting for printer from Premium Photopaper to Premium Paper.Now,it prints faster,the prints are lighter and look great and this allows me to get more prints from one ink cartridge.

[Janet]

Yep, trying the different settings when you print does make a difference.

To 'calibrate you monitor' there are lots of ways to do it. The way lots of folks go is the calibration device way. It means purchasing this device that hangs on your monitor and the software helps to set it to your scanner and printer (or set it to what your personal printing preference is - some of the online place will let you know or if you find a local high quality printing place, they can help with this). The in depth details can be found in links here:
http://www.asmp.org/publications/updig/index.php
and here
http://www.updig.org/guidelines/index.php

The cheap way to go that gets it close, but not perfect is:
To adjust your monitor, usually there are switches to adjust brightness and contrast and such. That's a start. If you can get it good with that, then cool! But if not, you can right click on your background (for windows folks - maybe someone with a mac can help)
Select Properties ---> settings ---> Advanced ---> Color and start playing with the settings to see what they do.
It has a default button if you don't like where it's going and want to start over.

On my laptop, I don't have that option. All I can do there is Color Mangement and add in different defaults (which can sometimes get you closer). Just keep track of what the original was if you want to set it back.

This is such a confusing area - I'm still stumbling my way around this. So, anyone with more info/ideas (cheap or not) please shout. :)

[cats4jan]

My Epson printer prints darker than my monitor - since I'm afraid of calibrating - I merely lighten my project by one step and that usually produces the effect I want.

Take one photo and your favorite paper and set your printer on each of the different settings (glossy - matte, etc.) and print a copy and label it - see if there is a setting other than the "correct" one - that produces a photo you find pleasing. Then keep that information handy for reference.

I am a fan of matte paper and print all my graphics on matte. I find the scrapbooking effects show better with matte.

[jenscherr]

I am a fan of matte paper and print all my graphics on matte. I find the scrapbooking effects show better with matte.[/QUOTE]

I am a fan of matte paper as well, my digi stuff looks perfect on it but I find tha tmy photos always come out really really dark and have almost a blurry effect. I have played and played and it is driving me up a wall! I just don't know what to do other than just taking them to a print shop now.

[Emma]

try the satin/luster paper instead. A compromise that gives the glossy phtoos you want w/o too much on the papers/graphics

[Emma]

calibrating can be involved or not: you get waht you pay for! The poor man's way :) is to just hold the paper next to it and adjust the knobs until they match as closely as you can in brightness, contrast, and color. You can also cut holes in the paper and put it right over the monitor.

Purchase a monitor calibration tool, it's a bit like a mouse that you put on the monitor, and is considered reliable in getting consistent print output from mutliple monitors.

[Clark2006]

Well, this is the crazy thing. You always hear, "set your print to best quality printing setting." Well, everytime I printed photos or LO's I always set the paper to photo paper and best quality setting. Well, yesterday I forgot to do that and it printed on normal paper, normal quality...and it looks alot lighter and better!! How crazy is that!! :rolleyes:

[Janet]

HOORAY! :) Doesn't matter how you get there - just whatever works!

[cats4jan]

jenscherr

I'm surprised you're getting the effect you want with the graphics, but the photos come out too dark. I find all my stuff is a shade darker - which I assume means my monitor is too bright.

My Epson printer has "gloss optimizer" and I find if I use gloss on my photos, it will print better photos.

However, that doesn't work with matte paper - I tried it - it didn't work.

clark 2006

With matte paper and cardstock - I find I can print on regular paper setting and it works pretty well - and I'm assuming I'm saving ink by not using the matte setting