Datacolor User to User Support Group.

I am new to this list and I've been reading the posts for the last 
several days before asking my question. I was also waiting in hopes 
that Tech Support at Colorvision would contact me. I have been 
trying since Wednesday to have my questions answered, but to no 
avail. I got ticket numbers and one email that didn't even ask what 
my problem was, but they sent a reply of some hints to try. The 
second time I asked for support I was sent an email that stated they 
would call me. I have not received a phone call as of 5:19 today. 
Before deciding if I should return the Spyder Print3 Studio I 
thought I would seek help here.

First let me say that I know very little about color management. 
Ever since getting my Epson R2400, I have gotten unacceptable 
prints. I had hoped that the Spyder software would resolve that and 
I expected there to be a bit of a learning curve but I just don't 
know how to proceed at this point.

I calibrated my monitor and that part went very well. Then I 
proceeded to follow both the online help and some instructions that 
were sent to me after I ordered the software. I printed a 225 
target, let it dry and then made a print. The paper for this target 
was Epson WC paper. I did one more target (225) and made it for 
Hahnemuhle Photo Rag. When these were dry I read the squares and 
saved the profiles. Both prints from each of the profiles were not 
acceptable. They lacked in color matches, and were flat and muddy 
looking. I read the help files a zillion more times and thought 
maybe the problem was I needed to do the 729 target. I did this 
target same as above and printed on Hahnemuhle with even worse 
results than before.

Am I to assume that one will always need to open the created profile 
and mess with the sliders until getting an acceptable print? I have 
not done that yet.

Sorry this is so long, but I need to explain what settings I used so 
that I can make changes when I next try this.
One question I have is this. Before I enter Spyder3 print to make a 
target. Do I turn off color management? Or, does that take place in 
the software itself when you get to the Select Spyder3 Print Target 
page? On that page there is a button that says page setup. I 
selected that and set my printer to landscape, paper size and 
margins. Then I clicked printer and selected the paper type, went on 
to Advanced and clicked ICM and then No Color Management.

After reading the target, I saved it under the paper name and then 
in Photoshop I did print with preview. Selected "color Management", 
color handling was set to "Let Photoshop determine colors", selected 
the  profile I had made, then rendering Intent was set to "Relative 
Colorimetric", with black compensation turned off. These were the 
setting that were sent to me via email from Colorvision. 

Thanks in advance to anyone that can help me out!!!
Bobbi
http://www.rabbittwilight.com