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