iMac printing too dark.

Question

Level 1

8 points

iMac printing too dark.

I've just switch from PC to Mac and having problems with printing using Epson Stylus Photo 1290. When printing photos from the PC they come out fine, however when doing the same print on the iMac it comes out way too dark.
I took the same picture and printed it on both (so the image hasn't been change at all). The drivers are up to date on the mac, and have the correct ICC profiles for the paper and ink used. All printing settings in Photoshop are the same on both machine (I've checked) and have the same problem with it being too dark when I print using preview or other software.

I've tried calibrating my screen/dimming the screen, but surely if the image hasn't changed then from one to the other then it shouldn't be dark.

I really need some help because I'm a professional photographer and need to print photos off all the time.

Thanks for any help!

iMac (2009), Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on Jul 27, 2009 10:18 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 27, 2009 11:59 AM in response to Sam Wrigley

Hey. It sounds like your printer and screen are out of sync. May I ask what program you're printing your images from? The article http://www.tekserve.com/service/mac-faq/printing/color-doesnt-match.php describes a couple high-level solutions for correcting the problem. If you don't want to try either of those solutions you might try changing the ColorSync profile you use when printing.

To fix ColorSync issues, you can try selecting a different ColorSync profile in your Print dialog box. To do this, open up the program you’re having difficulty with and select Print from the File menu. Make sure the Print window is expanded by clicking the arrow to the right of the Printer drop down menu (you want the triangle to point up). Then go to the drop down menu over the thin horizontal line and select Color Matching. Click the ColorSync radio button and in the Profile drop-down menu select a ColorSync profile. You may have to select Other Profile... and choose from the long list of available profiles to find the one you want. Try looking for a profile with the model name of your printer or the color scheme you are using in your document.

Photoshop users may find that they have to do something different to change their ColorSync settings. In the Photoshop Print dialog (the first box that appears when you select Print from the File menu), select Color Management from the drop down box at the top right of the window. Now you can change the color settings in the box on the right hand side of the Print window. You may have to change the Color Handling drop down menu to Photoshop Manages Colors to access the Printer Profile drop down box.

Additionally, you can use the ColorSync Utility in Macintosh HD/Applications/Utilities/ to manage your ColorSync profiles. If you click the Profiles icon at the top of the utility window you can view your installed ColorSync profiles and decide which one is suitable for the image you are trying to print. If you can’t find a suitable profile, you may have to make one or have one made for you. The article I linked to above suggests two professional-level options for fixing your issue.
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Jeremy A.
Tekserve Intern

As an intern at Tekserve, I may receive financial compensation for my recommendations and links.

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Answer 2

Sam Wrigley Author

Level 1

8 points

Jul 27, 2009 12:29 PM in response to TekserveNYC

Hi,

Im using Photoshop CS4. My iMac screen is correctly calibrated so I know thats fine. The thing im confused about is that everything is the same print settings wise on the Mac as it is on the PC. So its not like i'm doing things differently. Thats why I can work out why its so much darker.

I let Photoshop manage the colour and turn colour management off at the printer stage so only PS is doing it. I have all the correct profiles etc.

Thanks for the help though, just still not sure yet.

Message was edited by: Sam Wrigley

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Answer 3

Jul 29, 2009 9:12 AM in response to Sam Wrigley

Hello again. Are you sure you're using the same color profile for printing on both the Mac and the PC? I'm sorry but I can't think of anything else that would affect the print color. There may be some setting in Photoshop on the Mac that is different from the PC. Have you tried opening one of the images in Preview or another program and printing it from there?
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Jeremy A.
Tekserve Intern

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Answer 4

Aug 17, 2009 3:01 PM in response to Sam Wrigley

Sam, did you ever resolve your issue with the epson printer? I too am having prints occur darker on my Imac compared to my PC.

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