Prints Still too dark after calibration

I'm using the Spyder3Pro to calibrate my HP 2311x computer monitor. I have done several calibrations over the last week and still cannot get my prints to match the screen - they are coming out too dark.

Gamma 2.2
5000k color temp
Brightness down to 31 - this gives a 90 cdm2
White Point - Native

These are the settings recommended by the Spyder under as dark conditions as I can get in the room, meaning there is no ambient light but I am sure there is a small amount of light being reflected off walls and what not. No other lights. I have accepted them as opposed to trying to calibrate using my own settings. PSE3 to print on an HP C6380 All-in-one printer using the printers ICC for color management on prints. As I understand it, this should be correct.

I'm using a recommended test image by Keith Cooper - basically a beach scene with some heavily dark clouds with white highlights. I believe this is a linked image off of Luminous Landscapes.

Any thoughts on what to do from here? Do I ignore the rec settings and adjust the brightness down further to get the screen darker? Am I just missing a step or important concept somewhere?

Why 5000k ?

I would think 90 cdm2 would get you pretty close to the prints. I have nothing to suggest other than how (light) are you viewing your prints ?

bohdank wrote in post #12362588
Why 5000k ?

I would think 90 cdm2 would get you pretty close to the prints. I have nothing to suggest other than how (light) are you viewing your prints ?

For lack of intelligent answer, when I ran the calibration, Spyder suggested going to 5000k from 6500k. When I left it 6500k, the cdm2 jumped up to like 120-150 and the prints were - you guessed it - too dark.

You are viewing your prints in good (day) light?

Refer to this for a tutorial http://www.luminous-landscape.com …_my_prints_too_​dark.shtml

Chauncey, I've read that tutorial until I am blue in the face, paying special attention to areas where I could make a mistake, but the prints are still off. I did try a different test print last night and the colors are reproducing vividly but they're still slightly off.

Bodank, I reran the calibration at 6500k and it is getting closer.

Rene, Since I printed them at night, I was viewing them under normal home viewing conditions (read "a desk lamp"). After the 6500k cal, they were closer, but they are still slightly off. And let's be honest, they are not off enough a normal person could tell a difference, but enough that I can see some tonal variations.

I downloaded the test sample from the article above and will try and see where it falls. Both DPP and PSE3 are set to viewing in my monitor profile coloring, with no additional setting for printing.

You have to keep in mind that your printer uses only 4 colors ( 3 colors + black). You are not going to get the tonal and color accuracy of a 6 + ink printer.

You should also be viewing them in "normal" lighting.... the type you will expect them to be viewed in.

The ink cartridge number has crossed my mind. The new test print is still darker across the entire print. For example, I immediately noticed it in her pink shirt. The picture reflects a lighter, airier pink while the the print renders it as a deep darker pink - almost an oversaturation.

Colors look great, printer is producing great tones but just not the right ones.

Might be out of gamut colors? Some colors simply cannot be printed, so will be shifted.

huntersdad wrote in post #12362323
Gamma 2.2
5000k color temp
Brightness down to 31 - this gives a 90 cdm2
White Point - Native

How is it possible to specify 5000k AND Native white point?

With a consumer level LCD it's usually best practice to calibrate to D65 (6500k) or native, since most of the monitors are natively close to 6500k anyway.

Then your viewing "station" should be close to 5000k. This could be as simple as a task lamp with a single Solux bulb or a 5000k low wattage CFL, positioned a few feet to the side of your monitor.

I'm assuming that you went back in and re-edited your images before printing them again?

http://www.retouchpro.​com/live/rodneyinkjet.​pdf

huntersdad wrote in post #12362323
I'm using a recommended test image by Keith Cooper - basically a beach scene with some heavily dark clouds with white highlights. I believe this is a linked image off of Luminous Landscapes.

Use this image, recommended by Andrew Rodney in his LL article. (I use it for color test prints.)

http://www.pixl.dk/dow​nload/

huntersdad wrote in post #12362323
Any thoughts on what to do from here? Do I ignore the rec settings and adjust the brightness down further to get the screen darker? Am I just missing a step or important concept somewhere?

Ignore any recommendations from the Spyder3 Pro software. It's totally useless. In any case, don't take your Brightens level lower than about 15%, because the backlight could start getting unstable. And don't run the monitor at lower than 110cd/m2 unless you're working in pitch black darkness and are willing to accept muddy colors and blocked shadows.

Chas, I mispoke on that one. Color temp is set at 6500k and not native. My apologies. I used that test print and am still getting some darker colors. I also have not redone any of my edits as I was trying to stick to a test image before moving back to mine.

Swung by the local camera store today and spoke with one of their owners. He said there are 2 options - (A) Leave as is and print as is since no one but me will know, or, (B) Leave as is but know to add some brightness or a small amount of exposure to get the monitor to match the print. He said this would be a last step option, meaning edit to your liking then add the brightness/exposure last. This would take a little trial and error to know what that added amount would be (I'm guessing around 1/3 - 1/2 a stop of exposure).

Thoughts on this suggestion?

Actually, I'll bet I just answered my question. I went in to recheck the printer settings and noticed that the only ICC profile it has is Abode RBG 1998. Since, I am viewing in sRGB, I'm going to guess this is affecting my outcomes.

Big time or no effect at all. The printer should not be managing the printing. PSE3 should be doing that and be using the profile for the paper you are using. Turn color management off on the printer.

When I go into "Print" in PSE8, "More Options", "Color Management", I have the following selected:

Color Handling: PS Elements manages color

Image Space: Adobe RGB 1998 (there is no other option)

Printer Profile: Working RGB - sRGBIEC61966-2.1

Rendering Intent: Relative Colorimetric

It then asks if I remembered to disable color management in the printer preference dialog. When I click printer preferences, I get the management window for the printer. I go to the color management tab, and under Color Management, I can choose ColorSmart/sRGB or Adobe. There is no off choice.

How do I turn it off completely?

Also, in PSE8, I can only select the paper size so I am not sure how it can possibly be reading a paper profile.