HEADS UP: COLOR OFF ISSUES With CS3 and Epson Pro Printers

[Tom Swaman]

Have any of you recently switched from CS2 to CS3 and experienced problems with color management in your prints? I will not divulge my sources of this information, but I can tell you with nearly 100% accuracy that there has been noted an issue between CS3 and Epson Stylus Pro Printers where color management has been a problem approximately 50% of the time. The reported information is that CS3 users either do have a problem or do not. Furthermore, I also know that the two companies are both aware of this and are currently working on the problem to find out its source and offer a solution.

I hope this is helpful information,
Tom

[tomrock]

Is this across platforms? I use OS X and an Epson 4000 and haven't noticed any issues since updating the CS3.

[Tom Swaman]

Tom,

No, as far as I know it is on the 2400, 3800. 4800 and up in this series with Windows. I also, am very curious as I have difficulty understanding how this occurs 50% of the time and not the other 50% of the time, but as I stated, I do know this to be true. I am a bit concerned as I just loaded CS3 on a new computer with Windows XP. I will know more soon.

Tom

[Tom Swaman]

I realize from the little response to this thread that this issue is not of concern to many. However, I am totally saddened to tell you that what is posted is accurate and I know this first hand as I am a victim.

Last weekend I installed CS3 on a Windows XP dual processing current computer. I could not get a decent print on Premium Lustre Paper with CS3 doing the color management and my EPSON Stylus Pro 3800 properly adjusted and profiled.

To make a long, ugly story very short, there is an incompatibility between at Least the Epson 3800 and possibly the 48oo and CS3. I have now confirmed this with both Epson and Adobe. Both organizations said the solution for now is CS2. Suffice it to say, I am in the process of retrograde progress, whatever that means.

This is a major color management issue. I have 4 full days invested pulling my long gone hair out and a professional photographer friend has three full days of his time plus we combined have printed between 50 and 100 8!/2 X 11 images and 8sets of color targets scanned with a Gretag Macbeth Professional spectrophotometer. The contrast is too high, the mid tones are missing, the blacks are detailless, the whites are overly sensitive to blowing out, the gamut is screwy, at best. The profiles could not reasonably be corrected in either ACR4.2 or in the Editor. Now, would you like to know what is right? So would I.

I suggest to all you seriously look into this before making a software/printer switch with CS3 on a Windows-based machine. I have a friend using an Epson 2400, same inks as the 3800, who is not experiencing a problem with CS3. Neither Epson or Adobe would even suggest when the color managemnet issue would be fixed by software upgrades. Epson said they were hoping by the year end and Adobe said, "soon". I forgot to ask Epson which year end they meant.

Ugly issue to avoid,
Tom

[jfrancho]

Isn't this really an Epson Issue?

[Tom Swaman]

John,

First, I do not think so since Epson used to giveaway free Adobe color management software with their printers and the Epson printers work with Adobe PSE 2,3,4,5,and 6 and CS2.

Second, clearly there is a need for a compatible printer driver from Epson.

Third, there is some miscommunications between Adobe CS3 and Epson with respect to color management. Both Adobe and Epson seemed to be individually and jointly addressing the issues. Neither stated that the responsibilities lie with the other so I really cannot be sure and I can see this both ways.

My long term concern is to be able to stay with CS3 so that I can use the newer ACR versions that do not work with CS2. I hate to buy CS2 now for around $200 and Adobe will credit my purchase of CS3, but it will cost me potentially over twice as much as I paid to buy it again since I bought this as a now non-existing upgrade.

Tom

[happusa]

Check Epson downloads. I think I saw an update for Adobe CS3 color profiles for The Epson Printers

[Tom Swaman]

Brian,

I did and no luck yet, but thank you for the thought.

Tom

[tomrock]

Tom -- You might want to consider using Qimage to print right now Qimage Professional Quality Photo Printing Software

It's cheaper than buying CS2 and you won't have to give up CS3 features.

[Tom Swaman]

Tom,

I looked up Qimage on the Internet. While this looks interesting, I am at a stage in my photography where I have stopped dealing with organizations that do not enable people to people communications. Qimage claims to be so busy that they will answer your e-mail in 2 or so business days. I understand and accept the time delay, but I will not forgo being able to talk to a fellow human being.

With that said, do you use Qimage or what do you use to edit, to print and with what printer(s)?

With all of that said, please know that I sincerely appreciate your assistance and I can use all of the assistance I can get. Thank you very much.

Regards,
Tom

[jfrancho]

Let me get this straight. Of all the hundreds of printers that work with CS3, only three have issues, and they are all Epsons? It's an Epson issue. The fact that Adobe is involved is a case of "How can we help you?" from Adobe to Epson. You should be pressuring Epson for a solution.

[Tom Swaman]

John,

Believe me when I tell you that I am pressuring Epson. However, have you ever tried to pressure a large corporation for any kind of responsive short term solution?

Tom

[littlome]

I use Qimage strictly for printing (although it does have the ability to do some global tweaks to the image, i.e., saturation, contrast, etc.). It works great for ganging multiple prints onto a single sheet. As previously mentioned, you could continue to use CS3. Qimage understands the PSD format so you don't have to save as JPG or TIFF to print.

Qimage also does soft-proofing. Excellent piece of software.

[jfrancho]

However, have you ever tried to pressure a large corporation for any kind of responsive short term solution?

Everyday. Ironically, I am employed by a large digital imaging corporation

[tomrock]

Originally Posted by Tom Swaman

Tom,

...With that said, do you use Qimage or what do you use to edit, to print and with what printer(s)?

I've used Qimage in the past. It's really a great piece of software and personally I've never needed any support, once I got used to the interface. That took a while.

I use a Mac with a 3800 and don't have any issues with CS3.

[Tom Swaman]

Tom,

Thanks for the follow-up. My friend who spent the three days with the spectrophotometer on my system also uses a Mac and CS3 and he has no trouble. I do realize this is a PC-based issue with Epson. The really sad part of this is that I dearly love my 3800 and I switched away from Epson for several years until the 3800 hit the market. I find this to be a first class, professional quality printer that delivers consistency and continually. It also prints relatively large sheets, as you know while taking up relatively small space compared with the next best printer or anything else out there today.

Tom