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Author Topic: Epson 7900 printing too much orange... suggestions?  (Read 6397 times)

Yvan Bedard

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Epson 7900 printing too much orange... suggestions?
« on: April 28, 2014, 04:57:27 pm »

Hi,

I calibrate my high-quality displays. I use color-managed software and proper ICC. I had no problem in the past with my Epson 2880 with my color-managed workflow.

Since I acquired the Epson 7900, my prints have too much orange in them. Looks like only the orange color prints too dark.

Any idea ?

Display = wide-gamut NEC MultiSync 3090 WQXi
Calibration tool = NEC-customized x-rite Eye-One Display 2
Software = Nikon Capture NX2
ICC = Epson-provided installed and used, no double usage of color management (printer vs software)
Paper used = Epson Exhibition Fiber Paper (I would say there is no such problem with Breathing Color Vibrance Metallic and Lyve Canvas and BC-provided ICCs)

Could it be that the Epson-provided ICC profile for their own combo printer-paper is faulty?

Thanks,
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Yvan
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digitaldog

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Re: Epson 7900 printing too much orange... suggestions?
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2014, 05:43:13 pm »

If you print using a reference image*, do you see the orange cast and do you see it under all illuminant's?

* http://www.digitaldog.net/files/2014PrinterTestFileFlat.tif.zip
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Yvan Bedard

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Re: Epson 7900 printing too much orange... suggestions?
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2014, 06:53:03 pm »

Thanks for the file.

I printed it using the same parameters and paper. Results are the followings:

- Looks pretty good in general (i.e. no strong dominant orange cast)
- In general, it printed slightly darker than on my display (just recalibrated at 80), no problem there
- all grey patterns are OK except the largest one, in the middle right-hand side which displays some right-to-left patterns (horizontal). This grey pattern looks a bit more orange-red than the other (which all seem to have a very slight orange pattern, or maybe it is only because they are little darker)
- In the center left-hand side large colored square, I almost don't see the difference of colors between:
  (a) upper-right hand top corner small salmon polygon vs adjacent larger orange polygon
  (b) middle-top left-hand side red narrow band polygon vs adjacent larger pink band polygon
  (c) top left salmon corner looks more orange
  (d) lower right violet corner looks more red and is more difficult to differentiate from the adjacent red polygon

I used a OttLite Lamp for natural lighting when looking the print. I also used Softproof On (right paper target profile + Perceptual intent + Black Point Compensation).

Any hint?

Great web site by the way !
« Last Edit: April 28, 2014, 06:55:37 pm by Yvan Bedard »
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Yvan
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digitaldog

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Re: Epson 7900 printing too much orange... suggestions?
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2014, 06:58:44 pm »

Thanks for the file.
I printed it using the same parameters and paper. Results are the followings:
- Looks pretty good in general (i.e. no strong dominant orange cast)
OK then it sounds like orange case may be in the other files. IOW, it's not your color management, it's the RGB values in whatever you're looking at. I think <g>
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I used a OttLite Lamp for natural lighting when looking the print.
How about say outdoors in good sunlight? Fluorescent lights are not ideal due to their spiky spectrum and with some papers, especially those with high OBA brighteners, that can cause a color shift. Take this output from the test file and other's you've printed outdoors and examine if you see this orange cast. If so, it's the OttLite which despite their marketing, isn't so great.
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Yvan Bedard

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Re: Epson 7900 printing too much orange... suggestions?
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2014, 08:32:09 pm »

Will do it tomorrow!

I verified the color space of the original file: adobe RGB, 12 bits.

Colors on my display don't show this orange cast. It happens only when printing on the Exhibition Fiber Paper.  The same file when printed on the same paper with my Epson 2880 didn't show that much orange cast as it does now with my 7900.
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Yvan
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digitaldog

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Re: Epson 7900 printing too much orange... suggestions?
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2014, 09:13:53 pm »

It happens only when printing on the Exhibition Fiber Paper. 
Could be the profile for that paper or the OBA's. We'll know more after you look at the output under differing illuminant.
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jtunney

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Re: Epson 7900 printing too much orange... suggestions?
« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2014, 10:54:40 pm »

This may be too obvious, but have you run a nozzle check and/ or cleaning, and have you checked the ink levels? The 7900 may print with a color cast if a cartridge is low or a nozzle clogged.

John
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John

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Re: Epson 7900 printing too much orange... suggestions?
« Reply #7 on: April 30, 2014, 05:15:38 pm »

A low cartridge should have no impact, but a nozzle blockage certainly can.
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Yvan Bedard

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Re: Epson 7900 printing too much orange... suggestions?
« Reply #8 on: May 03, 2014, 11:40:44 am »

Hi everyone,

I did chech under sun light and the orange cast was less strong, but still there.

Yes I did nozzle check and clean before.

Next step I'll do will be to use the printer built-in color management instead of NX2 color management. If the result is better (not necessarily perfect, but better), this would mean that Epson's standard paper profile is off for my printer and that I need a profile tailored to my printer.

Will keep you informed.

Thanks for the input !
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Yvan
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JRSmit

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Re: Epson 7900 printing too much orange... suggestions?
« Reply #9 on: May 04, 2014, 03:56:01 am »

I had a similar problem a year ago with my 4900 but then the colorcast was magenta-ish.
This turned out to be caused by the room temp that went to about 50' centigrade for 3 days in a row.
After replacing the yellow and cyan cartridves and some printing to flush the lines, is was gone.
Is the room temp too high is your case? Significantly higher than 25 degrees cengigrade ?
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Yvan Bedard

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Re: Epson 7900 printing too much orange... suggestions?
« Reply #10 on: May 04, 2014, 07:49:25 pm »

Well, there is no such temperature at home. However, I don't know what happened to the cartridges before arriving at home. Could be cold weather though.
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Yvan
Fine-art landscape photographer in Quebec City, Canada
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