Photoshop Projects

A Printing Problem (Prints are too dark)

Sometimes Printing problems can be quite “VEXING!”

The problem in this case is with an Epson 2200 inkjet. The printer is putting too much ink on the paper, producing dark prints…

The usual suspects with this problem are:

a) Monitor is too bright

b) Two color profiles are being applied to the print (one from Photoshop, and one from the printer)…

But in this cases an HP Printer prints the same picture beautifully, so the problem lies elsewhere!

Here’s a possible solution

I found with some ‘Googling’ that this problem seems to be specific to this printer, and maybe with Epson Printers in general.

When printing, click on your usual settings in the dialog boxes. In addition, in the 2200 Properties dialog box, on the Main tab (versus Layout or Maintenance Tabs), click on Ink Configuration (Lower left). Adjust the Color Density to get something that you like. It’s currently set at 0. I seem to recall from that thread that others found -12 to -14% worked. For me and my printer, -14 is good.

Another individual used -20%

A few test prints with minus 20%, Minus 12% and a middle number like minus 16% and the problem should be solved.

Below are instructions to change the settings from an On-line Epson 2200 reference guide at

http://files.support.epson.com/htmldocs/pho22_/pho22_rf/index.htm

As an aside, Interestingly enough for my Canon Printer I had to the opposite problem! Not enough ink was being sprayed causing white banding stripes. The solution was to increase the Ink Drying time to maximum to get the printer spray more ink!

To adjust the quantity of the ink and the waiting time for drying the ink, click Ink Config in the Advanced dialog box. The Ink Configuration dialog box appears.

Adjusting the quantity of the ink

You can adjust the strength of Color Density. Use a value in the range of -50% to +20%. The default is 0. Drag the scroll bar with your mouse to the plus (+) direction to deepen the color of your printout or the minus (-) direction to lighten its color. You can also type a number (-50 to +20) in the box next to the slide bar. Use this function when you print the paper that is not EPSON special media.

Let me know if this solves the problem!