Scanning and printing photos

nilagin · 30-03-2006, 11:27

Why when scanning and printing photos does the print come out dark and discoloured. My mate tried this on his computer with no luck and asked if I could try and I got bad results too. What is going wrong, (the preview looks fine) is there anything I can do to get an exact colour match.

***Steve*** · 30-03-2006, 12:04

We need a lot more information than you have given, scanner, pc, software you are using, printer you are using, paper you are using, are you using custom paper profiles, what colours space you have your software set to, does the full size scan look fine on screen or is that dark as well as the print...you get the idea

nilagin · 30-03-2006, 23:52

Epson Perfection 2480 Photo Scanner
Epson Stylus Photo R200 printer. Printer set to Best quality photograph and premium glossy paper, doesn't matter whether I use Fuji paper or Epson paper still get the same result. I scanned the photo to my pc then printed from 'my pictures'. A couple of my ink cartidges are getting low but never caused this problem before on other photos I've scanned then printed.

My mate has a HP printer and HP scanner, not sure what paper he was using other than glossy but he got bad results too. Although his was not so much coming out dark as being red.
My mate scanned directly to his printer.

noah · 31-03-2006, 00:06

i get very bad results from printing just through windows, try printing them through photoshop or similar. as to the rest, well... there are many people that are knowledgeable about printing round here (sadly im not yet) that will help out im sure.

Fangman · 01-04-2006, 18:55

Sometimes you are better turning off all the scanner controls - giving no colour correction and work from Photoshop or the like and import image. Even the "auto levels" can do a better job than some scanning software.

nilagin · 01-04-2006, 19:35

Turned out a couple of cartridges were 'running on fumes' Still had to brighten the picture first to get a colour match though. Now I just need to wait for my mate to come back off holiday so I can sort out his other photos now. Thanks all for your help.

Chris_Mitton · 11-06-2006, 11:21

I had the same issues a while back. As previously mentioned you need to ensure that all the devices and software used are using the same colour profiles, I use sRGB.

Once this is was done, I bit the bullet and bought a Pantone Spyder 2 and calibrated my monitor. I have been told not use Plasma or LCD monitors stick with a CRT monitor as there are issues with colour balance with them. After this there was definite improvement but still not right.

I use a Canon I9950 printer with Canon ink. I decided to use Olmec paper. Olmec were at his time offering a free printer calibration service which I took advantage of. You can buy your own printer calibration kit, but these are a bit expensive.

Once this was done the improvement in the results were amazing.

Hope this helps.

30-03-2006, 11:27	#1 (permalink)
nilagin Quite Chatty Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Essex Posts: 86	Scanning and printing photos Why when scanning and printing photos does the print come out dark and discoloured. My mate tried this on his computer with no luck and asked if I could try and I got bad results too. What is going wrong, (the preview looks fine) is there anything I can do to get an exact colour match.

11-06-2006, 11:21	#7 (permalink)
Chris_Mitton New here Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 31	Re: Scanning and printing photos I had the same issues a while back. As previously mentioned you need to ensure that all the devices and software used are using the same colour profiles, I use sRGB. Once this is was done, I bit the bullet and bought a Pantone Spyder 2 and calibrated my monitor. I have been told not use Plasma or LCD monitors stick with a CRT monitor as there are issues with colour balance with them. After this there was definite improvement but still not right. I use a Canon I9950 printer with Canon ink. I decided to use Olmec paper. Olmec were at his time offering a free printer calibration service which I took advantage of. You can buy your own printer calibration kit, but these are a bit expensive. Once this was done the improvement in the results were amazing. Hope this helps.

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30-03-2006, 12:04	#2 (permalink)
*Steve* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: An Englishman living in Germany Posts: 16,282	We need a lot more information than you have given, scanner, pc, software you are using, printer you are using, paper you are using, are you using custom paper profiles, what colours space you have your software set to, does the full size scan look fine on screen or is that dark as well as the print...you get the idea

30-03-2006, 23:52	#3 (permalink)
nilagin Quite Chatty Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Essex Posts: 86	Epson Perfection 2480 Photo Scanner Epson Stylus Photo R200 printer. Printer set to Best quality photograph and premium glossy paper, doesn't matter whether I use Fuji paper or Epson paper still get the same result. I scanned the photo to my pc then printed from 'my pictures'. A couple of my ink cartidges are getting low but never caused this problem before on other photos I've scanned then printed. My mate has a HP printer and HP scanner, not sure what paper he was using other than glossy but he got bad results too. Although his was not so much coming out dark as being red. My mate scanned directly to his printer.

31-03-2006, 00:06	#4 (permalink)
noah Been here a while Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: cardiff and bristol Posts: 414	i get very bad results from printing just through windows, try printing them through photoshop or similar. as to the rest, well... there are many people that are knowledgeable about printing round here (sadly im not yet) that will help out im sure.

01-04-2006, 18:55	#5 (permalink)
Fangman Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ely Posts: 1,088	Sometimes you are better turning off all the scanner controls - giving no colour correction and work from Photoshop or the like and import image. Even the "auto levels" can do a better job than some scanning software.

01-04-2006, 19:35	#6 (permalink)
nilagin Quite Chatty Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Essex Posts: 86	Turned out a couple of cartridges were 'running on fumes' Still had to brighten the picture first to get a colour match though. Now I just need to wait for my mate to come back off holiday so I can sort out his other photos now. Thanks all for your help.