Printing my covers

[bluesnow]

Next step . . . make a copy of a cover then reduce it to 1/4 size or even 1/8. When test printing, print it in one corner of the paper. This way you can use the same piece of photo paper 4 or 8 times and use 1/4 or 1/8 of the amount of ink.instead of wasting a whole sheet for each test along with a litre of ink. In Photoshop print dialog box you will remove the check mark from the box labeled Center and set X and Y to move the test cover to an empty spot on the paper. It doesn't matter if you choose RGB or CMYK. Your printer uses CMYK and if the document is RGB Photoshop will do the conversion during printing.

What brand and type of paper are you using, and are you using genuine Epson ink?

What color settings are you using in Photoshop? This is under Edit/Color Settings. Mine looks like this . . .

[attachment=28702:colour_settings.jpg]

I am in North America so that's how it's set. I don't know what country you're in. What's important here is the Working Space. Is yours set to sRGB IEC61966-2.1?
Next check your cover to see what profile it is. Under Edit/Convert to Profile what does it say under Source Space? Click on cancel.

Tell me the answers to these questions then we will decide on a next step.

[Spacebug]

Hi, first i must thank you very much for your help. My settings weren't like yours, things like monitor color scheme...but no sRGB IEC61966-2.1. I changed my color settings like yours and the last printed cover has this settings: U.S. web coated (swop) v2

[bluesnow]

So you printed another cover after changing the settings? Did it turn out better?

[Spacebug]

Just printed...but it's the same

[bluesnow]

OK next . . . open the same cover and under Edit/Convert to Profile select sRGB IEC61966-2.1 and click on OK. Does the color look any different on your monitor?

Did you reduce the size of the cover to save ink and paper? Print the cover but set Photoshop to Printer Manages Colors. Open your Print Settings dialog box and click on the Advanced tab. Under Color Management select Color Controls, then in the drop down box select Epson Standard. Then select Gamma 1.8.

See what you get this time.

[bluesnow]

Make sure too that you chose the right type of paper in the Printer Settings box.

[Spacebug]

Ok done this...
The last print is better but still darker than the screen.
Ok the result now is so, that i can live with it. It's better readable and with more contrast, perhaps it's possible to lighten it more up...

[Spacebug]

I just uploaded the cover from Walter Mitty and here is the grey background on the back bottom to dark when i printed it.

[bluesnow]

QUOTE (Spacebug @ Apr 22 2014, 10:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok done this...
The last print is better but still darker than the screen.
Ok the result now is so, that i can live with it. It's better readable and with more contrast, perhaps it's possible to lighten it more up...

In your Print Settings just below the Gamma 1.8 there's a box called Settings. You can further adjust contrast and brightness in there.

[bluesnow]

QUOTE (Spacebug @ Apr 22 2014, 10:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just uploaded the cover from Walter Mitty and here is the grey background on the back bottom to dark when i printed it.

I think we're back to Sauron's suggestion now about calibrating your monitor. Have you made all the covers that print too dark? Could you download a cover made by someone else and without making any adjustments at all try printing it. I'm now wondering if you're making contrast and levels adjustments based on what you see on the screen and that maybe your screen is set too bright. Does your monitor have built in color settings such as sRGB?