Optimum settings for bright true colours from Illustrator and Acrobat.

[patternhillstudio]

Hiya. I've been having real problems getting nice bright colours on my printer on a variety of media. I have an Epson Surecolour p600 and have been onto tech support with Epson who have demonstrated that when printing from their own software, the colours are lovely. Then printing the same file from illustrator, the colours are just so dull. I need help with the settings in my print dialogue box to get the best out of my prints. Is anyone able to help? I've attached a screenshot if this helps.

[Mylenium]

All home printers are based around the assumption that RGB images will be processed based on the settings in the driver itself. You are shooting yoursellf in the foot by using a CMYK document and meddling around with color profiles. Simply turn that stuff off and rely on the driver's own conversion.

Mylenium

[mikeg_kale]

What operating system?

Try letting the printer determine the color

What does your advanced look like? Are you using a glossy paper, then coating will make color shine more.

[patternhillstudio]

Hiya. Im using Mac OS X 10.10.5

It wont let me tick 'let postscript printer determine colours' it's greyed out. See screenshot.

[Mike_Gondek]

Hmmm... The only reason I know that would be greyed out is if you were not in composite mode.

Maybe lets try to find find where your Print Mode settings are so we can confirm you have AccuPhoto HD, as that might help with using the 9 colors in that HD printer of yours. I got that screenshot for the pdf manual for you printer, and that should be on Mac.

For my printer the special settings are after you click setup then switch layout to printer features

[patternhillstudio]

Hiya Mike. Thanks so much for helping.

I dont have that 'printer features' option in my dialogue box.

[Mike_Gondek]

Try the .pdf to locate where that might be on page 118.

https://files.support.epson.com/docid/cpd4/cpd41370.pdf

[patternhillstudio]

I have just looked everywhere and cannot find that dialogue box.

[patternhillstudio]

I've found it but dont have the Accu photo hd option

[Mike_Gondek · Accepted solution]

I would  delete your printer in Apple >> System Prefs >. Print & Scanners.

Then install the drivers from here.

Epson SureColor P600 | SureColor Series | Single Function Inkjet Printers | Printers | Support | Eps...

[patternhillstudio]

also, If I tick Postscript in the printer box rather than selecting my actual printer name, it allows me to then check printer determine colours. Is that right?

[jdanek]

The reason Postscript is grayed out is because you do not have a RIP installed.  That means you have the Epson driver.  Let me be clear, you will never be able to match the video "transmissive" color in a "reflective" print unless it is back lit.  Many people invest a huge amount of time trying to achieve the impossible.  That said, you can come pretty close.  I have found that your color settings in your applications will affect output color.  Those settings should be emulated as much as possible in the Epson "driver" control panel.  The choices you make in both of those environments has a lot to do with what type of work you are doing, mainly is it photographic or is it graphic arts, or is it office documents?  I see you have chosen "Relative Colorimetric" in your Rendering Intent ( driver window above ).  Epson offers you "sRGB" or "Adobe RGB" in their Printer Profile setting.  What you choose should match what you choose in your application's color settings.  Another important choice is "Let printer determine color" instead of "Let Illustrator determine color".  That will allow the printer to make its own color conversion, which Epson engineers have done a pretty good job creating.  Here's another important factor.  Color management only works when you have all of your hardware calibrated.  For instance, your monitor's color temperature ( White Point ) has a lot to do with how color is created on-screen, but it is only one of many factors when calibrating.  Epson has done their own calibrating and gives you a series of .icm profiles to load in their driver control panel.  You can hire someone to calibrate your system ( if you have not done it already ) or do it yourself.  Believe it or not, things like atmospheric temperature and humidity play a factor as well.  I always recommend people be somewhat realistic in their expectations.  There is a way to achieve consistency using color management.  I know because I have implemented it and I am very satisfied with what I am able to achieve using something as simple as Adobe Reader and the Epson driver ( I have an Epson 3880 ).  I send RGB photographs through it, as well as CMYK proofs.  Very happy with the results which come very close to monitor.

[patternhillstudio]

Where do I find the Epson Driver control panel?

[Mike_Gondek]

What operating system?

Try letting the printer determine the color

What does your advanced look like? Are you using a glossy paper, then coating will make color shine more.