Why do I have to set my Epson driver settings twice using Adobe's print dialog?

[BJN3]

I've had the issue for years with Illustrator and Photoshop across many versions of the applications and of Windows. And it's been an issue with a variety of Epson printers. Why do I have to enter the printer setup and access the Epson driver's controls, set them, go back to the Adobe print dialog, see no change in page size (for example), go back to the Epson driver (which has lost the settings I just made) enter them a second time, and then see the Adobe driver agree with the Epson settings? 

I've tried searching for anyone discussing similar issues, but find nothing. The latest Adobe print dialog adds some bells and whistles, but I still have to do my printer settings twice to print correctly from Photoshop or Illustrator. For photo quality prints, I always have to set the speed, color management, quality, profile, paper type and size. Why do I always have to do that twice? If this is a bug, it's the longest-running bug imaginable.

[TheDigitalDog]

Can you post a screen capture of the issue? I have several Epsons, I don't have to set up anything twice. 

The setup within Photoshop is saved within the document too. You can open a document, simply configure the print settings and close, you'll be asked to save (since the settings are as outlined, saved in the document). 

[BJN3]

I'd have to do a video screen capture to show what's going on. The Photoshop print dialog thumbnail starts with a default printer page size crop (letter size, I assume). That dialog can't directly control the Epson page sizes for my 3880 printer. I always have to enter the Epson printer settings for photo printing. That's fine. But when I click Print in the Epson settings and return to the Adobe printer dialog, the obvious visual indication that the settings didn't "take" is the page preview doesn't change to the newly-selected page size. I have always had to make a return trip to the Epson printer setup, make the required settings again, click Print. After the second time, the Photoshop preview shows the settings updated and the page preview shows the correct page size. No single screenshot can show what's going on. I can do a video screencap of the interaction if that would be helpful.

[TheDigitalDog]

The "Size" you see in Photoshop's print dialog is taken directly from the image (document). You can alter this without resampling, save the document, open it, and again, that size is reported. That's to be expected. The print driver can alter that as well. You can have a document that Photoshop reports as 8x10/200ppi and will be seen in the dialog. You can open that in the Epson driver and pick 4x5 paper size; of course, that's what you will get. The paper size has no direct relationship to the image size seen in PS and can't. So yes, outside of making a preset for the Epson driver that records all settings, including paper size, you have to pick it after the PS print dialog is dismissed. 

[BJN3]

I understand the relationship between the document/image size vs. the printer page size. The Adobe dialog shows that in relationship to the printer page size it has either defaulted to or recalls from previous printing (if the document was resaved before closing after a previous print session). What I'm describing is that I have to make two trips to the Epson settings to make the new settings "stick". It really sounds like I should do a video capture of the process.

[TheDigitalDog]

IF you want the Epson driver to stick to anything, make a preset there. This isn't anything Photoshop can control.

[BJN3]

You're not grasping the issue. I have to make the round trip to set up the Epson setting TWICE to have the Adobe print dialog recognize the settings. 

[TheDigitalDog]

What ever I'm not grasping is due to an inability to show the issue.

Bottom line: Adobe has no control over the resulting print driver settings for size. It can only adjust the CMS settings for ColorSync radio button based on Photoshop Manages Color (on macOS).

Not an Adobe bug. 

“That dialog can't directly control the Epson page sizes for my 3880 printer.”

YES!

[BJN3]

I apologize for not being able to clearly describe the issue. I tried to do a screen recording of the print process and now clicking Print in PS 2023 crashes the application. I'll deal with that issue separately from this thread. I made a recording of the Illustrator print dialog, but I assume that's a kettle o' fish for the Illustrator area.

Thanks for trying to help. I learned how to use and manage print profiles from you. 

[BJN3]

I fixed the Photoshop crash when printing. I had two instances of an Epson office printer installed. That extra printer instance has been that way for years, but of course it would bite me when trying to document a separate issue. 

Photoshop 2023 is not requiring me to visit the Epson print setup twice. I could swear that it has had the same problem as Illustrator in the past, but sadly it's possible that's in my mind and not in fact. Illustrator, however, is still making me visit the Epson setup twice to have settings stick. I've been putting up with that for many years, but perhaps since I have a video that I can share as a single image sequence I'll try again in that forum.

Thanks again for kindly helping.

[NB, colourmanagement]

When printing to an Epson machine from an Adobe application and clicking "print settings" that’s now accessing an Epson print driver - so anything the user does now is dome in "Epson" rather than Adobe software - if, in that section, you make the required settings and select "save current settings as preset" - then if that doesn't stick it's an Epson printer driver software issue.

It seems that the only aspect of the Epson driver SW that Adobe can communicate with is to set printer colour management to off (by greying out the driver's options) 

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour management

[BJN3]

Yes, I understand that relationship between the Adobe print panel and the Epson driver. Photoshop 2023 is picking up the settings I make in the Epson control panel for page size after I close the Epson panel (clicking print). Illustrator fails to pick up page size the first time I visit the Epson panel. If I return to the Epson panel a second time, Illustrator then picks up the new settings. I've had to do this for years. I could swear that I had the same issue printing from Photoshop, but I'm not experiencing the same need to do the Epson setup twice with the current version. Video capture attached.

[TheDigitalDog]

Any and everything you show in your video is Epson's domain. It is their bug. 

https://epson.com/contact-us

[blackcatcreative]

I, too, use an Epson printer and have the exact same issue. It occured with our old one and I thought a new printer would fix it but it doesn't. I saw your thread and thought Yes! I'm not crazy! Someone else experiences this too. I just got in touch with Epson customer support so we'll see what happens.

[BJN3]

It's been this way forever, and there's no logic to it. Perhaps it's Epson's bug, but it only happens using Adobe's print dialogues. I'm sure that many thousands of Epson printer users make the round trip to settings twice out of habit. I suppose that's easier than mentioning it and getting gaslit and blame-bounced ad infinitum.

[Dolvex31057421y9ca]

The need to set Epson driver settings twice using Adobe's print dialog can arise due to compatibility issues or differences in the printing systems between Adobe and Epson. Adobe's print dialog serves as an intermediary interface between the software and the printer driver, allowing for specific print settings adjustments. However, in certain cases, Adobe's print dialog may not communicate directly with the Epson driver, necessitating separate configurations. This redundancy can be attributed to the variations in how different software applications interact with printer drivers. It is important to note that while this behavior may be inconvenient, it is not uncommon across various printer and software combinations. It is recommended to verify the print settings in both Adobe's print dialog and the Epson driver to ensure accurate and consistent printing results. This scenario can be likened to a delivery service where different stages of the process require separate actions to ensure a successful outcome, such as arranging the package pickup and confirming the delivery address separately to guarantee accurate and timely delivery.

[raznarbe]

Sorry to revamp an old thread, but I've been having this issue with my Canon TS9521C as well, and I stumbled upon this thread just now when looking for a solution.  I too have to go in twice in order for my settings to "stick" when changing them in the "More Settings" Canon printer preferences.  

[KK812]

Did you find and answer for this. I'm using an Epson from illustrator and I have the same problem and I'm starting to think it is a Windows 11 thing. I didnt have this problem before.

[davescm]

@KK812  I would recommend you raise a new thread in the Illustrator forum.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/ct-p/ct-illustrator

Dave

[Natalie371974418but]

I hadn't thought of that - I'm having the same issue out of the Creative Suite on 2 computers.  

BUT, the issue isn't there on word or excel.  I only have to set things up once for them to print with changed printer preferences.

[景子29345926p7oh]

I have the same issue with an Oki printer-- go to the print dialog, set everything up, hit ok, go back once more and do the exact same thing once more, hit ok, then it's good. It really irritates me, but it's been that way forever.