Printring gurus,
I just received my new Epson SC-P800 17" printer. Both hardware installation and installing the drivers on macbook went super smooth. Jobs are transferred from macbook to printer via wifi. All very easy. My macbook is old but the screen is calibrated with an i1Display.
I believe I got the hang on b&w printing so far, the results on different matte and glossy papers are stunning in terms of resolution, detail and tones. Color prints are challenging for me though. Particularly the red tones and thus the skin tones are just not right yet. I am using a Leica M9 with Summilux 50 Asph and Elmarit 28 Asph.
I have three sets of different A4 Hahnemühle papers, glossy fine art, matte fine art textured and matte fine art smooth. Hahnemühle sends the equivalent paper type settings for the SC-P800 with its icc profiles. I downloaded all the necessary profiles for the different papers. So, here is what I do:
1. Process the image in LR5
2. Enable soft proofing and choose the paper profile for the paper I intend to use, e.g. HFA_EpsSC-P800_PK_FABaryta.icc
3. Click "simulate paper and ink"
4. Using the compare functionality "Y" I adjust the soft proof copy so that it looks close to the initial processed image (unbelievable how much contrast and pop is lost when looking at the soft proof...)
5. Once the soft proof copy looks OK, I move to the Print module in LR5 setting the following:
a) position the image on the paper size
b) print resolution = unchecked
c) print sharpening = standard
d) media type = glossy
e) profile = e.g. HFA_EpsSC-P800_PK_FABaryta.icc
f) intend = perceptual
g) print adjustment = unchecked
6. On the printer I insert the paper and set the paper type = Epson Premium Luster, which is recommended by Hahnemühle for PK type papers.
7. In LR5 print module I click "Printer" and set "Paper type" = Photo Glossy Paper and "Quality" = Best
8. Hitting "Print" actions the printer
So, what's the problem? On the printed paper skin tones are far too red and/or magenta, reds in general are very difficult to handle. I adjusted the red saturations down on the soft proof but that resulted only in kind of different hues, etc... Otherwise the prints are tack sharp, resolutions are perfect, contrast is good, etc. Skins, especially people's faces, though turn the print to trash.
I suspect the colour managements of LR and the printer are fighting against each other and I guess the printer is winning. The problem might be that my driver is not properly installed. I tried to install it various times. I can see the printer under system preferences (fig 1) and also can send jobs via my wifi network. However, I cannot see the advanced setting in the print menu (fig 2). I also don't see the Epson Printer Utility (fig 3).
Is there any way other than the online wizard installer for the Epson?
Btw, I watched all your videos from luminous-landscape, "From Camera to Print and Screen" and the previous ones.
What do I do wrong? Any ideas?
Thanks a lot in advance,
Peter