Epson 3800 problem??

[ignatiusjk]

I have an Epson 3800 printer and it works excellent. But I've noticed a problem when making b&w prints. If I make a color print it comes out fine if I take a color photo and convert it to b&w it comes out dark and very contrasty.Why does a color print come out fine but a b&w print come out 2 stops dark and contrasty? I've had the printer for over 2.5 years and it's never done anything like this before.The only thing that's different is the monitor. i was told that I do not have to recalibrate the monitor.Again why are color prints fine but b&w prints dark and contrasty.

[Light Guru]

if I take a color photo and convert it to b&w it comes out dark and very contrasty

How are you converting the image to B&W?

The only thing that's different is the monitor. i was told that I do not have to recalibrate the monitor.

Whoever told you that you never have to recalibrate a monitor does not know what they were talking about. the software that came with my calibrator reminds me to recalibrate every month.

[ignatiusjk]

I have CS3 and go Image,Adjustments,B&W. A color chart comes up so that I'm able to adjust the B&W image as far as darkenning the sky etc.

[ignatiusjk]

Why do color prints come out fine then??

[Kirk Gittings]

Monitors need to be recalibrated at least once a month. They all "drift" and age. BUT I don't think that is your problem here. Are you sending layered files to the printer? That can do some wanky things to a print IME. Are sending the b&w file as an RGB file?