How do you create beautiful, accurate prints from an Epson printer?  This is one of the most common questions asked about printing with an Epson.  There are so many options and it becomes a frustrating experience to figure out how to get your photographs looking like the images on your computer screen.  So, after spending literally days on the internet and banging my head against the wall, I figured out the key steps necessary to print stunning, award winning prints through my Epson Pro 3800.

1. Monitor Calibration.  Calibration is so important and often an ignored issue.  If your monitor is not calibrated, then you are working blind and your prints will not be accurate.  Some monitor calibration software includes “Huey”, “Spyder Pro 3″ and “Eye One”.  I use Spyder Pro 2 and have been very happy with the quick results.  Upcoming posts will give you beginning calibration information without the need to purchase software.

2. In Adobe Photoshop CS4, under “Edit”, “Colour Settings” and then “Settings” choose “North American General Purpose 2″ .  In the working spaces box choose “sRGB IEC61966-2.1″. Click Okay.

3.  File Print.  Under “Printer”, choose your Epson printer you wish to print from.  Click on “Page Set-Up”.

4. Under “Page Set-up”, select your printer (again).  Then, Select your paper size.  Click Okay.

5.  On the right hand column of the Print Window under the “Printer Profile”, choose your paper profile.  (You must download the profile from the internet.  Here is a link for Epson’s paper profiles for Mac and Windows http://bit.ly/bYBtGV).

6. Under “Colour Management” choose “Document” (you have already selected the document to be in the working space of sRGB IEC61966-2.1 in the colour settings.)   Under “Colour Handling” choose “Photoshop Manages Colors”.  

7.  Under “Rendering Intent” select “Relative Colourimetric” and also click the Black Point Compensation box.  Click ” Print”.

8. Make sure your printer is set correctly and the paper size under “Presets” is correct (it often changes).  

9. Under “Layout” Choose “Paper Settings”.  Under “Media Type” find the paper you are using (the instructions in the paper box will tell you which settings to select).   Under “Print Mode”, choose “AccuPhoto”.   Under “Colour Management”, choose “Off (no colour management)”.  This is really important!

10. Under “OutPut Resolution” choose “SuperPhoto – 2880dpi” or “SuperPhoto – 1440dpi”.  Then click the Finest Detail and High Speed boxes.   Now try and Print!

Please feel free to email if you have any problems.  Good Luck!