Photoshop and CS6 Epson Page Settings do not stick

[Ed Foster, Jr.]

I am using Photoshop Extended CS6 on a Mac with OS 10.7.4 and the latest driver for an Epson 7800 which I just downloaded from the Epson site. I also uninstalled the CUPS drivers prior to installing the Epson driver to eliminate any interference.

In the Print Settings dialogue, "Page Setup" defaults to "Roll Paper - Banner" and any other selection such as sheet does not stick when saving a printing preset. Once "sheet" is selected, it appears to stay for one print, but returns to roll paper so that it needs to be reset with every print.

 Has anyone else experienced this problem and if so, have you found a solution?

Thanks,
Ed

(Note: I posted this on the Adobe Forum over one week ago, but have not received any replies.)

[Bob Smith]

Yes.

This started with 10.7.  I've reproduced it on four very different Mac models using any of several new generation Epson Wide Format printers.  I've tested with a completely clean system install with nothing additional added except the Epson driver.  Still see the same thing printing from various Apple apps.

I've yet to see a properly working 10.7 system with a late model Epson.  I've had several people swear that it does but I've yet to actually see such a system.

Certain apps will work correctly.  At first I thought this was a 32bit versus 64 bit thing.  It's not that simple.  Photoshop CS4 will work as expected.  CS5 and 6 will not.  Most current Apple supplied apps don't work correctly.  Lightroom 3 and 4 work correctly.  My ancient bookkeeping app can print to a new wide format Epson on Lion just fine (GIANT checks!). 

Once you understand what's happening it's easy (but incredibly frustrating) to deal with.  The settings WILL stick.  You can print something several times out of Photoshop and get the correct settings... until you click on Print Settings to confirm what the settings are.  Then they'll revert to the roll defaults.

I don't know that I've every even tried sheet settings.  I only print to rolls on these printers.  The issue is the roll setting always falls back to its default... Roll Borderless Auto Expand.  That's the one setting that would NEVER use.  And since roll choice affects cutter settings, those fall back to default too.  You have to re-enter the roll settings and cutter settings every time you look at a print dialog.

I've tried manually editing the ppd files within CUPS for different defaults.  I've successfully done this many time before with other printers.  Still can't get what I want to "stick" on these.

This is likely another one of those Apple/Adobe/Epson things that will go round and round for ages before a solution is reached.

Bob Smith

[Bob Smith]

Ed,  I just noticed you were talking about a 7800.  I haven't tested anything of that vintage.  Your results sound very similar but possibly not identical to what I've seen.  I sold my 9800 right before moving to 10.7.  Everything I've tested is on later model Epsons.  I've seen the behavior I describe on a 4900, 7890, 9890, and 9900.

Bob Smith

[Ed Foster, Jr.]

Bob,

Thanks for the detailed information. In my case, it does not appear that Photoshop is the culprit here. I get the same results with CS5 as with CS6. When I installed the 10.7 update and then updated the Epson driver, the problem appeared using both versions. With OS 10.6 and the Epson driver, compatible with that OS, there was no problem.

I don't have the option of modifying the CUPS file, as I totally uninstalled the CUPS drivers to avoid potential for conflict with the Epson drivers. I will try making two in a row without accessing the Print Settings and see what happens.

Ed

[Bob Smith]

Yes, its a 10.7 issue but its not a problem for every program out of 10.7 (just most in my experience).  All of the software and printers that are problematic now were just fine on a variety of systems running 10.6.

If you uninstalled CUPS you wouldn't be able to print to anything.  Mac printing is CUPS.  I think you probably mean you uninstalled the generic or open source Gutenprint drivers.  That shouldn't matter one way or the other.

When you install any printer on a Mac it creates some preference files within the Mac printing system (CUPS).  Those files define the characteristics, features, and defaults for the particular printer you are installing.  It's possible to edit those so that certain settings come up as the default.  Loads of info at http://cups.org

Bob Smith

[Ed Foster, Jr.]

Bob,

Typically, this printer is only used with Photoshop or InDesign, so I've not tried printing from other programs to this printer. And no, I did not uninstall CUPS, of course, but what I referred to as the CUPS drivers, are indeed the Gutenprint drivers.

Thanks for the reference info. I will see if the preference file can be modified to better suit my needs.

Ed

[Ed Foster, Jr.]

After three conversations this week with Epson's technical support, I have been informed this is a known issue. It is on their list to be addressed for their next update. In the meantime...

Ed

[Bob Smith]

Very good to hear... thank you for posting that.

Bob Smith

[jharrisonphoto]

Just stumbled on this after upgrading to 10.7.5   Epson tech support seemed to blame Photoshop and the MacOS :-)   Any updates from anyone?  The worst issue I am having is it seems to resort to automatically use the cutter and since I am printing on Canvas this isn't a good thing!!!  Argh!! 
John

[Ed Foster, Jr.]

John,

Nada, zip, zilch and no! I just made another check and noticed it is still 8.64 for Mac which was posted in September, 2011. However, perhaps as good news for our Windows' friends and colleagues, there seemed to be a much newer driver for Windows 8 posted last month.

I guess we'll just have to keep wishing and wishing and wish.....

Ed

[jharrisonphoto]

Hmmm.... Thanks Epson 

Still waiting for a native Intel version of the Epson Printer Watcher as well.  Supposedly that is coming.  How hard can it be?!   Give the source to the community and I am sure someone can recompile it.
Epson - time to step up.  Those Canon IPF8300 and 8400s are pretty inexpensive.
John