Epson R2400 - "Advanced B&W Photo" greyed out in dialog...?

[Dinarius]

Windows 10 x64
Epson R2400

I am having a problem with colour casts in B&W printing when using Photoshop CC to manage colour.

Some online tutorials advocate using Printer Manages Colours in combination with Advanced B&W Photo to achieve cast-free prints.

I'd like to try this, but in the Epson dialog (accessed via File > Print in PS CC) Print Settings > Main > Advanced, "Advanced B&W Photo" is greyed out. (Colour Controls, PhotoEnhance and ICM are all accessible.)

Can someone please tell me how I can make "Advanced B&W Photo" accessible?

Many thanks.

D.

[nirpat89]

Does it depend on paper selection? 

[Dinarius]

Does it depend on paper selection?

You're right. It does.

It is only activated if I select Premium Glossy Photo Paper.

No other paper choice activates it.

Thanks.

D.

[KeithR]

I don't use ABW but I believe that you can't have your printer manage color if you want your software (ABW) to. That would be a conflict.

[digitaldog]

So yes, the paper AND Black Ink type (like the standard Epson driver) must be correct. IOW, Luster paper with Matt ink; no.
You'll only be able to use those papers by Epson shown much like how if you use 3rd party papers with the standard print driver, you have to pick a paper that's 'close' to those supplied.
And yes, Printer (not Application) must manage color, like the standard print driver.

[Dinarius]

Thanks for the replies.

I think that soft-proofing and not printing via the Epson Advanced B&W Photo option, but allowing PS to manage the colours may be a more flexible way to go.

Must watch Andrew's soft-proofing video again! 

D.
 

[digitaldog]

You CAN soft proof using ABW with EPL (not the standard driver).
ABW is ideal for printing B&W or toned B&W. You use less inks. The print is more 'archival'. The issues of metameric errors is nearly nill. You can, with the ideal settings, get dead nuts B&W. Good luck getting that with PS manages color and an ICC profile.

[Dinarius]

What’s EPL?

And what’s you view on simply converting to grey scale in PS?

Thanks.

D.

[digitaldog]

Sorry: EPL = Epson Print Layout.
Convert to grayscale; pointless.

[Dinarius]

If I access the printer driver via PS CC, I can select ABW if (and only if) I choose Premium Glossy Photo Paper as my paper type.

In EPL, I cannot access ABW at all, regardless of the paper type I choose; only Printer Manages Color and Use ICC Profile.

D.

[digitaldog]

In EPL, I cannot access ABW at all, regardless of the paper type I choose; only Printer Manages Color and Use ICC Profile.

What version of EPL? You may need to reinstall it and the native driver because this absolutely isn't the way it should work.

[Dinarius]

I'm using EPL 1.5.5

No matter which paper type I choose, ABWPhoto is not an option in the EPL menus.

I suspect that it's an R2400 problem. This printer isn't supported.

I can access ABWPhoto if I go in via PS CC > Print and the Advanced printer driver settings. But, only if I choose Premium Semigloss Photo Paper. For all other paper types, ABW greys out.

Thanks.

D.

[digitaldog]

The 2400 probably isn't supported at all. I say probably because despite what you see below, my 3880 is supported, I use it all the time (P900 too).

[Dinarius]

Thanks.

I’ve been printing today via PS CC and the Epson driver, which allows access to Advanced B&W as long as you choose glossy.

After expending some paper and ink, I’m happy with the results.

When you set up a duplicate of the same image in PS and apply a printer/paper profile to it, even though the image changes, the RGB values remain the same as the master image. Is it possible to correctly read the (usually) darkened values? I’m thinking of colour printing now.

D.

[deanwork]

For 2400 use Quadtone Rip if it’s supported. Better than ABW on those earlier printers anyway. Try it for free.

Thanks.

I’ve been printing today via PS CC and the Epson driver, which allows access to Advanced B&W as long as you choose glossy.

After expending some paper and ink, I’m happy with the results.

When you set up a duplicate of the same image in PS and apply a printer/paper profile to it, even though the image changes, the RGB values remain the same as the master image. Is it possible to correctly read the (usually) darkened values? I’m thinking of colour printing now.

D.