Matthew Roderick - W.C.C.


Photoshop/Mac X Printing


Photoshop Procedures for Epson Photo ink jet printers using Power Macintosh

Produce accurate photographic prints from the Epson Photo 780, 820, 870, 2200, R2400, Pro 4000 and other models using several types of Epson papers.  Follow these exact steps in order to alleviate any potential problems with color casts and restricted tonal ranges.

Epson papers are the best media to use due to several problems encountered with certain types of papers not accepting inks properly.  This leads to ink droplets that pool and dry on the surface rather than absorbing into the paper.  The image will also appear low quality due to a loss in sharpness and detail.  Kodak papers are notorious for this type of outcome.

Epson Photo Paper, Semi-Gloss, Archival Matte, Photo Luster, Velvet Fine Art and Watercolor are all high-grade papers.  The matte papers will preserve ultrachromel printer inks for a longer period of time (100 years), compared to the glossy papers (75 years).
 
* Finalize images in Adobe Photoshop using the advanced Unsharp Mask method. Check the highlight and shadow areas for adequate detail.  Any image area that registers at a value of 255 in the highlights will lack any printer detail. Detail is lost in shadow areas if the black point of the image registers at a value of 0. Always be sure to operate within the Adobe RGB (1998) color space as the Photoshop Color Preferences.

For Best Results Use Epson Papers:
(Instructor approval of varied print materials required)

Hard Proofing Method (No simulation)


1. Standardize the color space of the document by embedding an ICC profile to the image. First, navigate to the Edit>Assign Profile menu. In the Assign Profile window, select "Adobe RGB (1998)". This color profile is the widest gamut of color recognized in the industry.
 
* Toggle the Preview checkbox to determine if there is a significant color shift on the image due to any profile conversions. If so, it is possible that the image has been scanned and embedded with a pre-assigned profile that restricted its color space. In this case, it may be best to print from the already pre-assigned profile or attempt a rescan. To alleviate restriction of color space in the future, consult the scanner software preferences to ensure that the color space is set to Adobe RGB (1998).

Edit>Assign Profile
Assign Profile


2. Go to the File>Print with Preview menu.  In the Print area select the Document which should have the embedded profile Adobe RGB (1998). In the Options, set Color Handling to Let Photoshop Determine Colors. Select a specific Epson Printer Profile (eg. R2400 Enhanced Matte) and set Rendering Intent to Relative Colorimetric, Use Black Point Compensation. Click on Page Setup.

* The Document Source Space should read the ICC profile selected in Step 1.

File>Print with Preview
Print Preview


3. In the Page Setup window, select the Format for the desired printer. Choose the Paper Size (eg. US Letter = 8.5x11"). Set the proper paper Orientation. Select OK.

* Longer Width = Landscape, Longer Height = Portrait

Page Setup  


4. Ensure that the image is arranged properly in display. Center Image, click Print.

Print Preview


5. In the Print window, choose the desired Printer (#, Matte or Photo) and navigate to the Epson Print Settings to choose Media Type in the drop down menus (eg. Ultra Premium Presentation Matte). Choose Color ink and set the Mode to Advanced settings and Best Photo. High Speed for both color and b/w images.

* Advanced B&W Photo for printing B/W images is another option for enhancement.

Print Settings
Color Management


6. In the Color Management area, select No Color Adjustment. Lastly, go to the Extension Settings and Thick Paper. Load paper and Press Print.

Color Management
Thick Paper

Note-
Fresh ink jet prints will take about 15 minutes to dry, and may appear slightly dark immediately after printing. Ink jet prints dry up in density and will reveal crucial shadow detail once dry. This is the exact opposite of traditional photographic prints.

For Epson printer descriptions and comparisons:

http://www.tssphoto.com/sp/dg/news/13_recommend.html

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/printers/epson-4000.shtml


© 2007, Matthew Roderick