Better blacks please

[Theorist]

I am an absolute beginer in the digital stakes (moving over from transparencies). I have a 300D (two weeks now) on which I am shooting in Tiff. I have photoshop elements. i have defined my blacks. When I print, the pictures are flat, I suspect becaust the blacks are not 'black' they are v. dark grey. I only have a conventional domestic printer with photo cartridge and colour cartridge (so 6 inks), but only ordinary quality I guess. Also I am using supermarket quality glossy photo paper (it doesnt look as glossy as it might either). Is my problem likely to be the paper, the ink, or is it more likely to be the printer. Clearly I don't want to go replacing a printer if its ink, or ink if its paper. Please Help

[Hellashot]

Are you using the proper print space profiles for your printer? Do a search on here for color and print space profiles.

[PacAce]

I am an absolute beginer in the digital stakes (moving over from transparencies). I have a 300D (two weeks now) on which I am shooting in Tiff. I have photoshop elements. i have defined my blacks. When I print, the pictures are flat, I suspect becaust the blacks are not 'black' they are v. dark grey. I only have a conventional domestic printer with photo cartridge and colour cartridge (so 6 inks), but only ordinary quality I guess. Also I am using supermarket quality glossy photo paper (it doesnt look as glossy as it might either). Is my problem likely to be the paper, the ink, or is it more likely to be the printer. Clearly I don't want to go replacing a printer if its ink, or ink if its paper. Please Help
Are the blacks black when you view the picture on the monitor? Or are they dark gray on the screen, too? If they are, then you need to adjust your black point (and maybe your white point, too) with your favorite photo editor program before you print the picture. You might want to adjust your contrast, too, so that the picture doesn't look too flat.

[rfreschner]

When I print, the pictures are flat, I suspect becaust the blacks are not 'black' they are v. dark grey. I only have a conventional domestic printer with photo cartridge and colour cartridge (so 6 inks), but only ordinary quality I guess.

How do the blacks look if you keep the black cartridge in instead of replacing it with the photo cartridge?

[Theorist]

Many thanks for your replies.
1. I don't know what print space profile is, could you enlighten me please.
2. Yes I have set my black point.
3. My printer dialogue box tells me that I need the colour cartridge in , in order to print with the photo cartridge.
Does any one have any further ideas please?

[rfreschner]

3. My printer dialogue box tells me that I need the colour cartridge in , in order to print with the photo cartridge.


I was asking how they look when you replace the photo cartridge with the black, not replace the color cartridge. I don't know what printer you have, but some may not do a good job of getting a true black when mixing colors to get it.

[Theorist]

Thanks Rick, I'll try it:)