Mike Chaney's Tech Corner

When printing this image http://ed-k-photo.smugmug.com/Other/HHPC-hall-prints/19733105_CpbQ8h#1552702480_GFJP3dt-A-LB (http://ed-k-photo.smugmug.com/Other/HHPC-hall-prints/19733105_CpbQ8h#1552702480_GFJP3dt-A-LB), the black sky prints mostly charcoal gray (with some areas of black - mostly outlining the bright fireworks). Qimage slide show & soft proof options show the image correctly (correctly as measured by what I see on my calibrated monitor during post). I get the same incorrect result using both the correct printer ICC as well as "Let printer manage...." and with several rendering intent options.

I suspect the answer is in the various rendering intent options. I've tried several and Relative + BP compensation get me closest with the black but then warm colors are off.

Epson 3800; never had any problems of any sort before.  ??

Ideas? Suggestions?

TIA

Hi Ed,
Looking at your image in Firefox with colour management on, the "black" at the top of the image varies from 2,2,2 on the LHS to around 28,28,28 on the RHS. I realise the image may have become altered in the process to post it but it may be worth clipping the dark end in Levels to obtain a more uniform black. Do this in the Qimage editor for easy changes.
Terry

Thanks, Terry.

I had noticed the areas of "almost" black and accepted them as being almost black - but a little lighter because of the nearby ambient fireworks light.

I was totally blown away when those blacks printed closer to middle gray.

Solved the problem by 1) doing a print head check (guess which one needed cleaned?) and 2) doubling down by making everything that was "almost" black 0,0,0. I'm sure that the clogged black (2 or 3 in fact) print heads were to blame.

Thanks again for your time & interest.

Ed

Hi Ed,
It's a common problem that "wrong colour" is caused by blocked jets. It's not usually a black though!
Glad to hear the problem is solved.
Terry