Epson 3800 prints are too dark?

[JohnnyV]

This is a known issue with Epson printers...

I've seen this problem - dark prints with a calibrated LCD - with a client's Mac/Epson 3800 and could not resolve it. As it turns out there is bad bug in OS X. Bad enough that Adobe has posted a TechNote with a screwy work around:

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowled...fm?id=kb400878

Strange thing is the issue affects some users and not others. For instance my Mac/Epson 4800 prints dead on.

[JavaDuke]

This is a known issue with Epson printers...

I've seen this problem - dark prints with a calibrated LCD - with a client's Mac/Epson 3800 and could not resolve it. As it turns out there is bad bug in OS X. Bad enough that Adobe has posted a TechNote with a screwy work around:

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowled...fm?id=kb400878

Strange thing is the issue affects some users and not others. For instance my Mac/Epson 4800 prints dead on.

Yes, this is exactly what happens to me but I'm running Windows XP (yuck!) So I just use "Let the printer manage the colors" option. I get the pretty accurate color reproduction though so I really don't know if Photoshop color management would make it any better.

[JohnnyV]

Yep a buddy of mine has same problem with XP and the Epson 2400. I think he went into the system to change the default color work space and that fixed everything.

[pherold]

Here are a few more obscure steps to try:
- Make sure the printer you are using is listed as the default printer.
- This problem is sometimes solved by listing "Generic RGB.icc" as the default printer in the Epson driver. I know, I know - it shouldn't matter what profile is listed in the driver if you've already turned color management off - but this has to do with the "bug" listed above.

Finally, if you haven't tried this yet - uninstall the Epson driver, reboot, and install it again. I have heard from many others who have fixed the problem with this.