Epson 3800 and Harman MATT FB Mp

oreo5000

oreo5000

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Hi Guys,
I am doing some final prints for University using their Epson 3800 printer. I tried to use Ilford gallerie classic pearl but it laid down way too much ink, so I purchased some Harman MATT FB Mp in A3+ 15 sheets.

With the paper came a little leaflet suggesting I select 1440dpi and 'Watercolour - Fine Art' as a paper type on this specific printer. Which I have done no problem, but It also says ICC and im a little unsure as to where I select this? Im not entirely sure what that actually is, other than something to do with colour profiles?

The printer driver also has options like 'Epson Standard - sRGB' under the colour setting. Should I leave this as it is or turn it off? My original file was a RAW .nef, exported using the Adobe RGB colour space and its now a 16bit TIFF.

My prints so far seem to be of decent resolution but they are lacking contrast, the blacks are a little light.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated on how to get the most out of this printer ink combination

Thanks for your help,

Nick
 
I use a 3800 and had to do a similar thing to use Permajet paper.
I'd download the right ICC profile from the Harman site and use that. The downloaded zip file should contain instructions on how to install the profile. Under Windows, all you need to do is right-click on the driver file and select 'install'.
Once the profile is installed - do the following.
When you print the shot (assuming you're using photoshop),
go into <file> <print with preview> and select 'color management' from the drop down menu in the middle of the dialogue box.
Select the relevant icc profile from the drop-down menu next to the 'printer profile' prompt

Then, go into the printer setup menu. In the printer setup, under the "Main" tab:
Set the media type to whatever it needs to be for Matt Paper (probably "Matte Paper - photo quality matte paper")
Color to "color"
Print Quality to "speed"
And Mode: to "custom"
Then select "no color adjustment"

The printer will then use the correct printer profile for the paper. You can save the settings if you want, so next time you print something, all you need to do is select the saved settings from the drop-down menu at the top of the driver menu.

I'd buy some A4 paper and experiment with that first - if you make a mistake with A3+, then it won't be cheap...

Good luck!

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Mark
 
kiasdad said:
I use a 3800 and had to do a similar thing to use Permajet paper.
I'd download the right ICC ...
Click to expand...

Thanks Mark, that's a big help.
The only problem is its a University printer and we are locked out of the driver! Can I install the profile into Photoshop instead and tell the printer to use the PShop colour profile?

Is there any reason you set print quality to speed, as opposed to fine detail etc?

Thanks again
 
No problem Nick.

The ICC profile is picked up by Photoshop, not by the printer driver. What I've described basically devolves color management to Photoshop rather than the printer driver.

If you don't have access to the printer driver, then you will have to set photoshop to "let printer decide colors". Problem is, that if the printer has been set up for glossy paper, then you won't get good results with the matt paper you've bought. Have a word with whoever manages the printer - see if they can set up a setting for your matt paper. They may say no though as the change from gloss to matt (and back) consumes ink.

'Speed' sets the printer up with 1440 dpi resolution. FIne detail is 2880 dpi. From what I've read and seen, it doesn't make a huge difference - though 2880 uses more ink and the prints take longer to produce. Certainly, the prints I've made using the settings described are just fine. And I mean that in the sense of "fine" prints.

If you can get the driver /profile issue sorted, then you will get very acceptable results with the printer set to 'speed'.

Cheers


Mark
 
kiasdad said:
No problem Nick.

The ICC profile is picked up by Photoshop, not by the printer driver. What I've ...
Click to expand...
Sorry mark, I misread that. That shouldnt be a problem, as long as installing the profile isnt blocked out. I do actually have access to settings such as media and print options, its just the maintainence section of the printer driver we cant access.. I was worried that this is where the colour profile would be installed
 
kiasdad said:
Hi Nick,

it it is blocked, then I'm sure the IT guys will be able to help you.
Good luck!

Cheers


Mark
Click to expand...

Fingers crossed!
Just out of curiosity does the colour profile adjust the screen to match the print colour or vice versa?
 
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