Need a good printer for Color Work

[Timmyjoe]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good printer in the USA to handle color work. I've got a series on Route 66 neon that I cannot print to my satisfaction with my Epson Stylus Photo R3000. The images look gorgeous on my monitor, but flat and lifeless with this printer. Here is a sample of what I am trying to print:

I need to make prints up to 16"x20". If anyone knows of a good printer, or knows how to make this R3000 print what I see on my monitor, I would really appreciate the help.

Thanks.

Best,
-Tim

 

[1750Shooter]

I would use Pro Photo Supply in Portland, OR. Everything they have done for me has been gorgeous & their prices are very reasonable.

 

[hanzo]

Try to calibrate your monitor AND printer. Not mentioning paper profiles.. etc.. printing is not an easy job to do 🙂

 

[Timmyjoe]

Yeah, I'm a shooter, not a printer. I only need a couple dozen color prints a year, all gallery stuff, and I don't have the time and patience right now to work on mastering this printer.

Thanks for the suggestion of Pro Photo Supply. I used to shop there quite often when I lived in Portland, but didn't even realize they did printing. I sent them a sample to see how they do with it. Should have test prints in about a week or so.

If anyone else has a shop that they've got good results from, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks.

Best,
-Tim

 

[tajart]

pro printing

pro printing

i've had access to an Epson 7900 and have been very pleased with the results. As others have noted, the correct profiles for the paper, are critical, as well as numerous other adjustments. Lots of trial proofing.

My images are from a variety of files, scans, M8 & M9, printed at approx 14.5" x 21" on 18" x 24" epson papers.

I would imagine you could track down a professional quality printer in the Chicago area.

My next jump in level is to Mac Holbert at:

http://www.theimagecollective.org/

 

[ruben_c]

Yeah, I'm a shooter, not a printer. I only need a couple dozen color prints a year, all gallery stuff, and I don't have the time and patience right now to work on mastering this printer.

Thanks for the suggestion of Pro Photo Supply. I used to shop there quite often when I lived in Portland, but didn't even realize they did printing. I sent them a sample to see how they do with it. Should have test prints in about a week or so.

If anyone else has a shop that they've got good results from, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks.

Best,
-Tim

Even if you don't print, once you print, you need the deliver the correct colors to the printers or to the printshop. The right colors are in the image files. And the only window to your files is your monitor. So in your case calibrating the monitor would be enough.

You will save time and money, the results are correct from the beginning, so you don't need to waste time with trial and error.

I started with trial and error spending a hole week paying wrong prints when printing my portfolios. Until I learnt about color management.

Since then I calibrate with Spyder4Pro. I do SoftProofs with the print profiles of my lab in Photoshop and it's pretty much the same that comes with my first print order.
When printing small prints with my own printer, I use the printer profiles that can be downloaded from the paper manufacturers site.

 

[Timmyjoe]

Thanks Ruben. I've done all that and I'm still not happy with the results I get from my Epson printer. I've got my monitor calibrated, use the printer profiles for the specific papers I have, and use Photoshop to manage colors, and they're still off.

Best,
-Tim

 

[ruben_c]

How do you exactly print? With which software and which settings?

Be sure you print like described on this tutorial:
http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/printing-color-management-photoshop.html

When comparing to the monitor, are you comparing to a SoftProof and under which light are you holding your prints?