I love the snaps because the terminology is where I get lost if it doesn't match exactly what I see on the screen.
So ok, I will set print ICM inside the R1800 box to ICM / Off.  I will put the paper type profile in the Qimage job properties box.

Now I need to go find mike's profile, I'm sure I don't have it.
Then I'll have to figure out why my prints look poor when I do the above.   

off to do a test print.. thank you

Ok, I have read it forward and backward but I'm still unsure.
Epson printer (R1800 mostly).

On the main page where we set Printer ICC. We have a choice of OFF, Choosing a specific profile like red river or epson from our custom list, OR we can choose OFF.

So.. first question is:  what is the difference between 'letting printer driver manage' and choosing OFF and then selecting an icm profile inside?  I'm unsure of the relationship between this main page setting and my epson windows that come up in the print setup. I don't want to double profile so I have to understand my choices.

If I select OFF .. then I go inside and the epson window comes up and I choose my paper type and go to Advanced. NOW if I use ICM in there.. IS THAT where the profiling is going to happen? (unless I choose off/no management in there).. If I choose Basic it's using the input profile right?  does that depend on what I put on that front page?
If I choose Advanced ICM mode and go to settings I have the input profile (srgb iecxxxxx) then the paper type grayed out below it, so it looks the same as basic to me exactly.

IF I am going to set ICM OFF inside, would I want to set the profile on the main page then, to the paper type?  makes sense if so.

I usually go with Color Controls inside the epson driver box and that's why I don't know what to pick on the main page.. with color management selected I pick a gamma and color mode and can adjust brightness etc.. but then what is happening regarding the main page where I set printer ICC

guess it's like the relationship between  iso, aperature and shutter speed.. I need to know if I do what on the main choices setup, what will it do and how would the choices inside fight or work with it.  help?

Ray makes a good point.. something I've never really realized I was dealing with, so now I know.  Get new carts, print more often and for now, just adjust since nothing I do is that critical.  Funny thing is everything looks good except gray isn't really gray, in some prints. I only discovered this problem as what I was trying to print had a funny over processed cast to it that must have just hit the touchy color right.  I just now got the file.. will check it out. 

thanks everyone!

I used to have a little file like that, back in the continous feed days.. a couple computers ago.  Is there a file you could send me, I don't know how to setup the pure colors to print.

Just to clarify.. I don't use the printer enough to have 'new' or fresh ink carts in it, and the ones that are there have likely gone past their expiration date.  I do print maybe once a month at the least as I print an 8x10 each month for my club.  The nozzle check print is perfect as far as detail goes and I can see the yellow clearly, that being said is that last far right color supposed to print purple?? because thinking about color shifts, a light bulb went off in my head that said.. umm  purple?

I really can't afford to throw out half full carts but I'm anxious to replace these and see .. especially the blue at this point 

THANK YOU so much for helping me Fred and Ray I'll check out the software you referenced if that will help.

thank you so much.. I'll go look for new profiles.  I hope that helps, if not, maybe I'll just have to always do a tiny test print and adjust somehow. At least I know what settings I should be using.
thank you again!

ok.. makes sense to stay on track.. thank you, will email it

Good Morning and thanks for being here Fred.

Yes, selected the matching epson paper type.  Yes, Epson inks.  Yes, I already did a couple cleaning cycles to be sure the print nozzles were all printing perfectly.
Ok.. good.. yes ICM checked and No Color Adj is checked OFF.

The image appears perfectly on my monitor, if I hold up the print it matches exactly. There are areas that should be neutral gray and then an area like a backdrop that has a pattern and it registers a tiny bit blue but at first glance you would think it was a much more neutral area. So that slightly colored area on the print and monitor both don't look like they have hardly any tint at all.. but the prints are showing that area definately blue tinted.  So my print is more blue and green than it should be (shows up very well in areas that shouldn't be so saturated)

I have lcd Samsung monitors and have calibrated them with the Huey Pro calibrator.  When I view online sites that show the management charts, I have very good results, can see both ends (it's a struggle to see the darkest block) and colors look great.  What really gets me is since the test print matches my monitor so perfectly I feel like the monitor isn't the problem.  YET when I printed straight from CS5 I get the same hue shifts.

I had just updated the video driver by the way.. wonder if there is a better/new print driver for the R1800 that might help?

Since I'm not happy with the results right now anyway, maybe it would be a good time to try and learn how to use and setup ProPhoto as my color space? I have seen a few statements lately about it being great (kelby training video even talked about it).  I'd really need someone to handhold all the questions that would bring up though.  Just so frustrated!

I'm really struggling understanding what each of the setting places is doing. Very much appreciate the reply so quickly but can you/someone tell me exactly what to change where?
 
In the printer properties setup box I have ICM set to OFF.. is that not where you mean for where to set the printer driver?  Not sure where to go.

I have never mastered profile settings, however have use qimage successfully for years with only an occasional color problem. Usually people, where it matters but I don't do a lot of that.  Tonight I HAD to get it right and can't.  I've printed 19 test prints with every setting I can think of. I've even printed from CS5 with the same result so now I'm suspecting it's not a qimage setting but a monitor thing.. but how can that be?

I have a file from a lab that is used to match the 8x10 I got from them. So I should be able to print that file and get a matching print pretty much right?  It has a macbeth color block, people ..a variety of stuff. Ok, Everything looks good EXCEPT the neutral gray areas have a slight green tint and what should be a very very slight blue hue gray is much more blue.  I have printed it using both adobe and srgb color spaces (I converted one so I could try both)

So.. windows xp. Epson R1800 printer.
In Qimage on the front page I have monitor ICC: OFF  and Prtr ICC with the selected Epson profile, tried premium luster and semigloss both.
INSIDE settings for the printer setup I have the ICM chosen, and the ICC set to OFF.   and in the color settings I am using the Perceptual .

Should I be able to ever get a perfect match for that print? The image I'm trying to print is greenish too.  Should I just give up and somehow try to add magenta or something?  Am I doing something wrong somewhere and just not getting it?  I'm about ready to scream, turn this print into a b/w and go stuff myself with junk food.  help appreciated!! 

Laryl