Datacolor User to User Support Group.

Some hints for you:

> For some time on my Epson R800 my prints have been coming out too dark. This was using a Dell 21" CRT calibrated with a spyder2 and using updated profiles from Epson for the R800.

So you're using a new set of profile from Epson right ?

>However prints from a digital dump are okay.

What do you mean by digital dump?

> I don't think the printer is faulty as pictures are fine when printed using standard profiles and printing from something like ACDSee.

So you still have a set of profiles that work fine.

Conclusion the profiles are probably the problem. Small desktop printers are not pre-calibrated at the factory like the pro printer from Epson. A generic profile can works OK or not, depending on the print head and a few others parameters set at the factory when they install the head in the printers. I saw some R4200 in the past that printed far too dark with the generic Epson profiles. Epson updtaed profiles should not be so different that the previous one. It is strange to say the least but possible.

For these printers I always succeeded to produce a correct new profile with S3Print. But on some of these printers I was forced to reduce ink density in the driver to achieve a correct profile. For unknown (bad factory settings?) these printers layed down too much ink. Since I don't have an R800 I don't know if the ink density control is available in the driver. But it is worth to take a look.

First, you should print the quality check target with S3Print and look to see if your dark tones are not a little bit clogged. If it is the case, then reduce the ink density (assuming you can do it) and print the target again. Then compare both results.

If the printer lay  down too much ink, whenever the reason, S3Print will not produce an optimum profile. It would be the case for any profiling software anyway).

Assuming that everything is fine on the ink density side, I would suggest to increase the Brightness slider by +2 or +3. I always have to do it on the Premium Gloss Paper to get a correct profile. The reason is that the basic media setting for Premium Gloss lay down a lot of ink and the ink density is at the limit for this paper. When I print the quality check target, the dark tones are near clogged. I suspect that Epson programmed the hignest ink density possible in the driver to get the highest dmax possible with the black and look good in the reviewer's benchmark. 

So, to resume:

1. Be sure that the quality check target is OK. If you can, optimize the ink density.
2. Create your  profile and play with the brighness slider. Even a small value can make a serious difference.

I assume that you did everything else right with the profiling sequence. PS settings are ok for the document profile and printer's profile etc.

The spectro should not stick to the printed target at all. Wait a few hours (24 hours is ideal) to be sure that your printed target is fully dry. If the spectro stick to the printed target, then it could be an indication that your printer is laying down too much ink on the paper, whih will restrict you to make an optimum profile

Also be sure that the white tile of the spectro base is clean, a dirty white patch would give you an incorrect spectro calibration.

Daniel Vezina
Numart Inc.
QC, Canada