Printing on Epson's 4x6" Photo Paper with Photo 2200

Question

Level 1

9 points

Printing on Epson's 4x6" Photo Paper with Photo 2200

I have several packages of Epson's sheet-based 4x6" photo paper. It's the kind with the perforated edges that you tear off. It's meant to be used on printers that don't have a borderless option, but since I have a bunch of them left over from my "borderless-less" days, I continue to use them. Normally this works fine in other applications. I have to select the Gimp Epson 2200 driver so I have the paper size option of "Epson 4x6 Photo paper" in the "Page Setup" menu. I have posted a JPEG of the print preview of one of the photos as printed from Photoshop:

http://www.pbase.com/chrobb/image/53704964

In Aperture, there is no "Print Setup" menu, though I can change the printer driver in the Print dialog to the Gimp driver. This makes the "Epson 4x6 Photo Paper" available to me, but that's where the similarity stops. It sets the overall width and height of the paper correctly (remember that the actual print sheet is bigger than 4x6 and has perforations to tear away to get 4x6), but the margin stays set at 0.63 as a minimum. When i print, the image is centered, with uniform margins all around, and the image is somehow scaled down to 3.25"x5". You can see the Aperture-generated preview here:

http://www.pbase.com/chrobb/image/53704980

It doesn't look like Aperture is actually honoring the margin profile of the Epson Paper. It's doing something to circumnavigate the normal OS X print APIs

With regard to the scaling, for this particular image in Aperture, I have the "Scale to Fit Image" option set, but I've tried the option of scaling it to 4x6 and the image still comes out at 3.25x5.

I've also tried using the standard Epson driver, but the Epson 4x6 paper isn't available as an option. I've also tried the borderless driver, but as you would expect, it prints with no borders on the top left side of the paper and doesn't honor the perforations at all. At least that behaves as I would expect it to.

G5 1.8G SP, 1.5M RAM Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on Dec 18, 2005 4:54 PM

Reply

Answer 1

JWeinberg

Level 2

420 points

Dec 18, 2005 5:39 PM in response to Chris Robb

Chris, I can only speak to using my 4x6 in my Epson 2200. After doing some experimentation, I was able to get Aperture to print fully at 4x6.

I first made sure that the Epson Photo 2200 print driver was chosen. I know you're using the GIMP driver, but I found that the latest Epson 2200 drivers I downloaded for OS X from the Epson site work better. Once I chose the 2200 print driver (in this case the Firewire driver), I got a whole new set of size setting choices for my print job. Paper size can now be set directly to 4x6.

Additionally, under Layout Options, the 'scale to' choices also seem to work better. I printed the same photo with Photoshop and then with Aperture, and both photos were the same size, filling the same 4x6 print area. Printing worked the same for both border and borderless.

This might be worth a try for your situation too.

Good luck, and Happy Holidays.

Jeff Weinberg

Reply

Answer 2

Rikoshay

Level 1

5 points

Dec 18, 2005 6:07 PM in response to Chris Robb

I also have an Epson 2200 but was able to get past the paper size omissions by downloading all of the latest (v3.0, 2003), additional drivers from Epson. For example, in the PS page setup I'm offered 4" x 6" with or without borders. Many other paper sizes & options are also offered.

Just install the additional paper drivers (seven of them; most v3.0, one is v4.0), tear the perforated edges off the paper, & on the Page Setup choose to print on a 2200, 4" x 6" w/borderless printing.

Remember, if you really want to get adventurous, you can always create your own custom paper sizes (Page Setup>Paper Size>Manage Custom Sizes) & fool the printer.

G4 PPC, 2 x 1.2ghz Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Reply

Answer 3

Chris Robb Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 18, 2005 6:26 PM in response to Rikoshay

Thanks. Just so I'm clear, this works in Aperture?

I have the latest set of drivers from Epson's website for the 2200. The latest one I'm seeing on the 2200 support page is the old v1.8a drivers. Are there different drivers somewhere that I should be looking at? I can't find a version 3.0 or 4.0 driver anywhere.

Reply

Answer 4

Rikoshay

Level 1

5 points

Dec 19, 2005 10:34 AM in response to Chris Robb

My printer driver is 1.84 but there are 6 others from Epson that are called applications (user>Library>Printers) that are for sheet or roll paper, and with or without borders. These last items are v3.0 & v4.0. I'm not sure exactly which download provided these little apps but they had to be loaded manually. I remember also downloading the ICC paper profiles from Epson (the link is on the 2200 download page). I hope this helps a little, & no, I haven't tried printing from Aperture yet.

G4 PPC, 2 x 1.2ghz Mac OS X (10.4.3) 1.75 GB RAM, ATI 8500 video card

Reply

Answer 5

Chris Robb Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 19, 2005 11:12 AM in response to Rikoshay

My printer driver is 1.84 but there are 6 others from
Epson that are called applications
(user>Library>Printers) that are for sheet or roll
paper, and with or without borders. These last items
are v3.0 & v4.0. I'm not sure exactly which download
provided these little apps but they had to be loaded
manually. I remember also downloading the ICC paper
profiles from Epson (the link is on the 2200 download
page). I hope this helps a little, & no, I haven't
tried printing from Aperture yet.

Ah, OK. Yes, I have these and that's what I was referring to when I said I was using the borderless version of the driver.

The core issue that I was trying to get across was that, even though these drivers are available within Aperture, they don't behave the same way they do in other apps. The Epson 4x6 paper isn't listed as an option at all when selecting those drivers.

G5 1.8G SP, 1.5M RAM Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Reply

Answer 6

Dec 19, 2005 11:49 AM in response to Chris Robb

i had no trouble doing this.

the most current drivers are in 10.4.3, but you have to make them available to the print system.

this from epson

Your printer uses resident drivers which have been built into 10.4 itself.
These drivers are the most current available as of the release of OS 10.4
and support all the functions that they had in 10.2 and 10.3, however they
need to be added properly in order to work correctly for you. (No downloads
or "updates" are required as these drivers are now resident within the OS.)

1. Open Printer Setup Utility. The "Printer List" window appears. Highlight
and delete any existing references to your Epson printer. (If you want to
be thorough and do not have any other printers on the Mac, choose "Printer
Setup Utility" from the top of the screen and "Reset Printing System".
Confirm resetting the system. This clears any existing printer entries and
queues. If you have other printers on the Mac and use this reset, you will
need to readd them later.)
2. Click ADD. Printer Browser window appears. At this point your Epson
printer must be on and connected.
3. Highlight the desired Epson printer model and click the MORE PRINTERS
button at the bottom of the window. (Do not change any other fields.)
4. A window now opens which is identical to 10.2. and 10.3, where you can
select EPSON USB (for a USB cable connection) or EPSON FIREWIRE (for a
firewire connection) at the top of the screen. Highlight your printer's
name and select Page Setup "ALL" below, then hit ADD to return to the
Printer List with all available printer/layout options now showing. (If you
are unable to see the full description under "Kind" you may need to expand
the Printer Setup Utility window or extend the "Kind" column to make this
visible.)
5. Make the printer name/layout option you wish to use default in the
Printer Setup Utility before closing it. For example, if you plan to do a
borderless print, ensure the printer name showing "(Sheet feeder -
Borderless)" under "Kind" is set as the default printer here. Then, when
you have opened a photo and are ready to print, go to File > Page Setup and
File > Print in the program you are printing from and ensure that the
specific printer/layout option you want to use is also selected as
"Printer" or "Format for".

when you Print Image in Aperture, make sure you click on Printer Settings. when you get the print dialog, make sure you select Stylus Photo 2200(Sheet Feeder - Borderless) from the list. make sure you go to Print Settings and set your media type (Premium Glossy Photo Paper) and Advanced Settings.

When you click Done, you go back to the Aperture dialog box and you should see Stylus Photo 2200(Sheet Feeder - Borderless) as the Printer. Select 4x6 Paper Size and Scale to Fit Entire Image.

works for me.

Reply

Answer 7

Chris Robb Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 19, 2005 11:57 AM in response to Forrest Jerome1

What you're saying is correct, but I don't think you're fully understanding my question. I have these drivers installed. When they are selected, the Epson 4x6 photo paper isn't available as a paper size. The Borderless driver is designed for actual 4x6 paper, not the perforated paper that lets non-borderless printers "cheat". To get that paper profile for the Epson 4x6 paper, it has nothing to do with any of the extra drivers Epson or Apple has created.

In any application, other than Aperture, I can get to the Epson 4x6 perforated paper "profile" by choosing the paper type in the "Page Setup" menu. Since there is no "Page Setup Menu", I have to select this in the main Print dialog box when selecting the normal Epson print driver. (Again, this is the only driver that has the Epson 4x6 perforated Photo Paper profile with the correct margins set up for that particular paper stock) Aperture just doesn't appear to honor whatever margins are set up when other applications have this paper set in the "Page Setup" menu.

Is that more clear? I only mentioned the borderless stuff to point out that I had tried other options. I wouldn't expect any of the additional "above-and-beyond" print drivers to be of use for this particular paper stock that I'm trying to print on.

Reply

Answer 8

Dec 19, 2005 1:15 PM in response to Chris Robb

oops.

sorry. i think i understood that when i started reading the thread and lost the point when i got to the end.

i don't know how to do what you want to do. i am impressed that you had success doing it with other apps, because i was unable to after i upgraded from a 1280 to the 2200 and had all those perforated 4x6 paper packs (that are now just sitting in a drawer).

Reply

Answer 9

JWeinberg

Level 2

420 points

Dec 19, 2005 5:46 PM in response to Chris Robb

Chris, if I click on 'Print Image' in the Aperture, I get the Print dialogue box. Then, if I click on Printer Settings, I can choose what printer (and driver) I want in the Printer box. The printer & driver you're looking for should be available in the Printer field of the Printer Settings box. Then when I select the printer I want and click on 'Done', I get all of the available paper sizes available for that printer under Paper Size in the Aperture print box.

I changed my printer selection several times and it worked fine each time.

All of the printer and paper selections I use in Photoshop are there. They are just arranged differently.

Jeff Weinberg

Reply

Answer 10

Chris Robb Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 19, 2005 6:22 PM in response to JWeinberg

Again, the problem isn't that I'm not seeing the print drivers. I only mentioned the drivers to point out that even though they were in a different place, I have them all and I tried some of them. When printing to a special paper size in any other Mac app, there are two steps: select the printer and paper in Page Setup, and select the printer and print settings in the print dialogue. Aperture has no Page Setup menu. They instead put that functionality in the Print dialogue box. It's important to mention where they deviate since it might have something to do with the core question I've been trying to get answered.....

It's that the paper selection isn't being properly handled in Aperture. When I select the Epson 4x6 photo paper, the margins are all wrong and the image scales down (have a look at the two images I poste for an illustration of what I'm saying)

Reply

Answer 11

JWeinberg

Level 2

420 points

Dec 20, 2005 12:18 PM in response to Chris Robb

Ok, Chris. One more time. On my system, Aperture is printing things properly. When I choose my printer and the 4x6 paper size, I am getting the correct margins and no scaling. (Granted I'm not trying to print to the perf paper.) I printed a half dozen pictures last night with Aperture to 4x6 photo paper, made no changes to the default settings, and I got a properly printed picture each time.

The problem is either with your system or the driver you're using.

Sorry I can't contribute any further.

Jeff Weinberg

Reply

Answer 12

Chris Robb Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 20, 2005 1:26 PM in response to JWeinberg

When I choose my printer
and the 4x6 paper size, I am getting the correct
margins and no scaling. (Granted I'm not trying to
print to the perf paper.) I printed a half dozen
pictures last night with Aperture to 4x6 photo paper,
made no changes to the default settings, and I got a
properly printed picture each time.

The problem is either with your system or the driver
you're using.

Well, the problem could very well be my system, but what you point out has nothing to do with that determination. As you mention, you are not printing to the perforated 4x6 paper, which is, indeed, completely different than printing to 4x6 paper. I can print to standard 4x6 just fine- always have been. The specifics of my problem have everything to do with the Epson 4x6 Photo Paper (with perforations) paper size and the fact that Aperture ignores the margin settings on that paper "profile". Your printing fine on 4x6 says nothing about the capability of Aperture for non-standard paper profiles- like the Epson perforated 4x6 paper.

G5 1.8G SP, 1.5M RAM Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Reply