Help me please!

[braduardo]

I just picked up a Canon i9900 today, and can't seem to get my images to print decently at all. It seems like the colors are off, and the quality is BAD. I am using Ilford Classic Pearl, which has always worked nicely on every other printer I have tried.

Here's an example of what I'm up against...
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/6752/img1276mediumcv0.jpg

The picture I took of the print isn't great, but it shows fairly well what the issues I'm having are.

What can I do? :oops: I'm going crazy here!

[braduardo]

Here's another one where you can see the problem better... This is making me crazy. I want to get this thing working before I go to bed.

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/9026/img1278jm9.jpg

I just can't seem to get this right. I've set the ICC profile (from Ilford) in CS2 like the guide (with the ICC profile) described. I've tried to make sure that the printer isn't adjusting anything. I've tried messing with different settings that I thought might help, but when they didn't, I just put them back to defaults. I'm just not sure what I'm missing... Of course the manual doesn't cover this problem (or I'm just missing it completley).

[Boxer_kidd]

Hmmm. That's a tricky one. Seems like gaussion but thats just a guess. Are you saying it's the printer or the camera or CS2?

[braduardo]

It's coming out of the printer... the images are nice and crisp...

[dylix]

is the printer aligned? cleaned? primed?

ink cartidges new? is there new software available? driver?

[KittyKat1982]

wow that is pretty bad

[braduardo]

just installed the new driver... going to give it a try

[PacAce]

Are you using PS to do the print? If so, maybe I can help you out.

[braduardo]

Are you using PS to do the print? If so, maybe I can help you out.


I am...

I do a "print with preview", then under color management, I use the Ilford ICC profile for the paper with my printer.

I go in and make sure that I put all the settings 'neutral' (my term for nothing added in the printer settings, ie. enhancements and such).

Then I pull off the crappy print...

[philbyuk]

have you been to ilfords site they have printer profiles there maybe trying to use there profile may help..just got that paper too must say im not 100% happy with it but im still tinkering with the settings

oops just read your last reply please ignore this

[PacAce]

What is your color intent? Make sure it's on Relative Colorimetric and that "Use Black Point Compensation" is checked. And, of course, color management should be turned off on the printer itself. What paper did you specify on the printer? I think it's supposed to be set to PhotoPaper Plus Glossy, or at least that's what mine is set to when I print on the Ilford Classic Pearl paper.

[philbyuk]

try printing it out on glossy paper see what the result is for that..if thats good email ilford and ask em what settings you need?

[braduardo]

What is your color intent? Make sure it's on Relative Colorimetric and that "Use Black Point Compensation" is checked. And, of course, color management should be turned off on the printer itself. What paper did you specify on the printer? I think it's supposed to be set to PhotoPaper Plus Glossy, or at least that's what mine is set to when I print on the Ilford Classic Pearl paper.


I am using those settings. Any more ideas? This last one I printed wasn't AS crappy (I used the ICC profile, but in the printer thing also turned the yellow down -15)

[braduardo]

try printing it out on glossy paper see what the result is for that..if thats good email ilford and ask em what settings you need?


I'm actually doing a head allignment now... using good gloss paper (hoping that it will be a sharper for making the settings).

The one print I used HP premium plus glossy for didn't work all that nice.

[PacAce]

I am using those settings. Any more ideas? This last one I printed wasn't AS crappy (I used the ICC profile, but in the printer thing also turned the yellow down -15)

After you click "Print", click on "Properties" in the Print window. In the i9900 properties window, for "Color Adjustment", check "Manual" and then click the "Set" button. In the Color Adjustment window make sure ICM is NOT checked. Then select "NONE" for the Print Type.

[braduardo]

After you click "Print", click on "Properties" in the Print window. In the i9900 properties window, for "Color Adjustment", check "Manual" and then click the "Set" button. In the Color Adjustment window make sure ICM is NOT checked. Then select "NONE" for the Print Type.


Grrr... I was all over that too...

Do you have this model? Have you ever ran into this kinda trouble? I always figured that the profiles and all that good stuff were more 'fine-tuning' and that the print quality would already be really good.

[PacAce]

Grrr... I was all over that too...

Do you have this model? Have you ever ran into this kinda trouble? I always figured that the profiles and all that good stuff were more 'fine-tuning' and that the print quality would already be really good.

Yes, I do have the i9900 and, no, I've never had problems with it. If you've been doing that things that I already mentioned, then I'm not sure what's causing your problem. Have you tried soft-proofing the Ilford profile to see if it's going to give you the print you are expecting? It's not 100% accurate but it will show you what kind of color shift you will get with the ICC profile you are using.

BTW, I also use the Ilford Classic Pearl paper with the ICC profile downloaded from the Ilford website. The prints aren't as good as on the Canon papers but they're acceptable. But I've never had them look like what you're getting.

[webcrawlur]

How does the test page look when you print it? I got bad ink cartridges out of the box one time with a new printer.:confused: Hope you get it figured out.

[PacAce]

How does the test page look when you print it? I got bad ink cartridges out of the box one time with a new printer.:confused: Hope you get it figured out.

You just gave me an idea.

Braduardo, double check your ink cartridges and make sure you have them in the correct locations.

[braduardo]

What exactly is a 'soft-proof'? I tried that, and printed it out. It just looks like it used a bit less ink.

I'm also having trouble with lines across the page. Here's some more examples. The area of the hands seems to be a bit better (how I don't know). I shot Jpegs, so the WB is way off.
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/29/img1280mediumdc7.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8043/img1279mediumbf1.jpg

I'm about ready to give up for the night, unless I can get it working. I think I've wasted at least $20 worth of paper already. :(

[braduardo]

You just gave me an idea.

Braduardo, double check your ink cartridges and make sure you have them in the correct locations.

Already checked... Just triple checked... I bought a full set of extras. Maybe I'll try those. If they don't make a difference I can just put them in my grandma's printer. ;)

[webcrawlur]

If you have extra cartridges that can also be used elsewhere (in case these are good), you should most definitely try. I went through the same problem with a different brand printer and had same issues of lines and yellow color. Sounds like old ink.:(

[braduardo]

I put all new cartridges in, and no better... If anything, it is worse. It looks pretty good from about 5' away though. *rolls eyes* I'm printing one now NOT letting PS do the color, and just put the yellow at -25, and the intensity at +10...

It's done now, and also looks like crap. I'm about ready to give up on this. I don't know why I would have these lines going across it, and why the print quality is WORSE than the FREE hp printer that came with my 3mp P&S.

[braduardo]

I'm going to go to bed before this stupid thing keeps me up all night. If anyone comes up with any ideas, please post them. If I don't get this fixed by tomorrow night, I think I'll take it back and buy the Epson one I was looking at.

I should have just bought the 100mm Macro or the new flash I want... GRRRR!

[codex0]

I'm assuming you've been checking that the heads aren't clogged at all / cleaning the heads? Remember that on this printer the heads are separate from the cartridges (changing the cartridges doesn't change the heads, unlike most cheaper printers). Just asking because this is what it usually looks like when one of my color heads becomes clogged.

[webcrawlur]

If I don't get this fixed by tomorrow night, I think I'll take it back and buy the Epson one I was looking at.

Sorry to here that Brad, Epsons not bad either though. Good luck.;)

[Fade2]

Have you tried Canon glossy or Epson premium glossy paper yet?
I find those work good with my I9900.

[codex0]

Also, have you tried without the yellow turned to -15? Just checking to make sure we covered that aspect. I have all set to "0", black point compensation checked, etc. and am printing on the same paper with an i9900 and am getting good prints.

[braduardo]

Isn't there a utility for the printer that will print test color patterns? With all these problems, I'd start to suspect that the printer was defective. As a test, you should be able to hook your camera directly to the printer and output a print without a computer. If your camera is Canon and the printer is Canon, it should work great.

If you still get a crappy print, take it back and get a replacement.


Before I left for work today I took a quick JPEG picture, hooked up my camera to the printer, and told it to print. The printer did the first inch or so of the image, then started flashing the yellow light 5 times, which I guess is meant to indicate that there is a problem with the print head.

I'm going to work on it a bit when I get home, and if it doesn't work I will pack it right back into it's box and return it. It's really frustrating. Maybe I'll just pick up the Epson 1280 Silver, since my gf has loads of ink for that model. That or maybe I'll just put the $$ towards my next lens instead. ;)

[zuza]

Troubleshooting steps: try to use another application - if same, perform 2 cleanings and 1 deep cleaning using the printer drive, perform a nozzle check after. If colours on nozzle check are wrong and/or the grid has missing parts even after maintenance, then the printhead is faulty and i will advice you to replace it.
If from other application the pics are printed right, try to uninstall and reinstall application.
Also try to print the pics on normal paper and see if it is same. If not change the photo paper that u are using. Doublecheck if in the printer driver is selected photo paper.

[KittyKat1982]

I think you should try and fix the one I gave you to borrow and take the other one back. If you can't get either one, pic up the other epson printer or save the money for another lens or something else. If you get mine working, you will save yourself a pile of money. Hehe. Let me know what happens. Looks like canons have similar problems as the epson, so might as well use the epson. Just had to put my two cents in. LOL

[braduardo]

Alrighty... So here is what happened...

I took it back to Micro Center, fully expecting a refund (took the print head off and saw that it was shot) and got refunded not only for the printer, but also for the $96 in ink I bought for it and put into it, even though they were all opened.

I went there pretty ticked off, and left pretty happy, so it was time for 'new toy' shopping. I stopped at National Camera Exchange and started looking at FD gear. I picked up a Canon A-1 w/ 50mm f1.8 lens. I'll skip on the large printing and play with film some to work on my technique.

[webcrawlur]

So glad it all worked out. :D

[creambun]

sorry a cant seam to start thread off i am new to this
any how i have a canon i9100 using easy print i can only get a good print if i use the plain paper setting what ever paper i use
if i set to glossy or anything else i get washed out rubbish prints
tried different drivers etc
any one help please