Color Problems with scanned images

[Verleen]

Hi. I hope someone can help me. I had to buy a new scanner that was compatible with Windows Vista on my new computer. I had no problems scanning images into Elements with the old scanner. I got an Epson Perfection Photo V500 scanner which has rave reviews. I think the scanning quality in general really sucks. The biggest problem right now involves reds. I can an image that has an orange-red in it. It appears in Elements on the monitor as red. However, when I print the photo on my Epson R800, the red color is yellow. I used the R800 printer with my old scanner and Elements without any problems. In fact the photos looked almost like they were professionally developed. This is really driving me nuts. I've tried different settings (dpi, color corrections, etc) but can't get the red to print out red. HELP!

[landorasue]

Verleen, I will try to help you with this. I do not use Elements, I use CS2, so I'm not totally familiar with the Elements print settings. But, in CS2, when I go to File>Print with Preview, I get a dialog where I can choose some settings to help with the color.

I've placed an image of the Print with Preview (http://www.scrappersguide.com/forums/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=18694&cat=500&ppuser=4001) dialog box in my gallery. Notice my settings under Print and Options. Next to Printer Profile, you will need to locate your Epson R800 printer. There may be several options. Choose the Epson option that best describes what inks and paper you will be using.

Now, in addition to these settings, I also make sure that my printer options (in your case Epson R800) show that color is "Managed by Application." I don't have an Epson printer, so can't tell you where this option will be located. I have a "Color" tab on my HP printer dialog where I choose this option. To get to your printer from the "Print with Preview" dialog box, click Page Setup>Printer>Properties (for my HP printer). Maybe yours will be similar.

NOTE: There are also some Color Management settings under Edit, but I would not suggest messing with those unless you've been using Photoshop for a while and understand Color Management.

I know how frustrating this color thing can be. I've struggled with it too. Hope this will help you in some way.

[Verleen]

Lana, thanks for trying to help. I went throught the Elements Print commands. I don't have the same settings that you do. There is no option to have the color managed by the application. When I hit the print command, I get right to the Epson printer. Print Preview does not have much in it, other than setting the size. In the Epson print box, there is an advanced setting, which I have never used. It advises you not to do these unless you are an expert. Under Color Management, there are three choices: Color Controls (with no further nested commands), Photo Enhancer which adjusts the gamma setting and ICM. As for the usual printer settings, I have been doing that for awhile as to type of paper, type of image, orientation, size, etc.

Downloaded photos from a camera are printed correctly. Its the scanned images that I am having a problem with. Its strange that they scan in and are shown in Elements with the right color but don't print out. I've been reading the manual on the scanner, which said to make sure the Embed ICC Profile setting is enabled in the Configuration window. I haven't been able to find this yet. I don't even know what the Embed ICC is. :confused: Verleen

[GoodGram]

I was curious, too, as I also have an Epson scanner and Elements. I found, I think, some really good articles on color management. See links below. I have never printed directly from the scanner, though. May scanner is set up to scan to a folder, then I open the scanned jpeg.

http://www.shooflydesign.org/buzz/past/color_management_with_save_for_web_in_photoshop_el ements.html

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/elements-color-management.html

http://photo.net/digital-darkroom-forum/00HIgQ

ICC has to do with a color profile when saving for the web, so don't use that for printing.

[troush]

Verleen,

Color management can be a real pain. Sounds like it is possible that the perfection is embedding a color profile that you may or may not want...

When you open a scanned image, and go to Edit->Color Settings, what does it say? You might try playing with those options, that's one place to start. You might need to choose the "No Color Management" option when dealing with your new scanner.

The other thing to check... Go to File->Info and then choose "Camera Data 2" and see what "Color Space" is set to.

-Trish

[Verleen]

First, thank you everyone. I will read those links tomorrow and see what I can glean from them.

Trish, under Edit--Color Settings, it is set to Full Color Management-Optimized for Print.

Under File Info, there is no menu option that you described. I use Elements 2.0. I bought 5.0 and tried to use it, but hated it. So I removed it from my computer and there it sits in its case......lol. I just hated the file structure that much and the fact that I had to set the monitor resolution so high. I really couldn't read the tiny print. The file structure is truly beyond what I can comprehend......its seems so unwieldly and convoluted. Downloading pictures was a nightmare for me.

If the digital pictures that I download would have the same print problems with color, that would make me think there is an issue between software and hardware. But the photos from the camera print out as they should. Its just the scanned photos where the red gets converted to yellow when they print. However, Elements presents them correctly on the monitor. Yes, this is driving me nuts. Tomorrow I will try changing the color setting to No Color Management and see what happens. If I print out one more picture that has yellow pom poms in it instead of red ones, I just won't sleep tonight. :p

Another thought---could the Epson R800 printer (developed under the older Windows) have a compatibility issue with the new Epson scanner, developed for Vista? Tomorrow, I will also print the picture using my Epson R380 printer and see what happens. Thanks for the help and keep any new ideas and suggestions coming. :) Bless you, Verleen P.S. Yes, I hate Vista too.

[Verleen]

Good morning. Back again. I haven't tried anything yet.....will do that later after a trip to the lab. I read the posted links.

I continue to think that Windows Vista is playing a role here. When I got my new computer with Vista on it, my older Epson Perfection scanner was not compatible at all with no driver downloads to make it compatible. So I got a new scanner. My R800 printer was not compatible, but there was a driver download. So it prints, but I no longer have all the menu items I use to have, including those in the Print Preview menu. So obviously there is still a compatibility issue. Oh, how I hate Vista! I hate its convoluted file structure. Of course, I'm having issues with it. Doesn't everyone? Okay, back on track....I will try some of the suggestions later. Fingers crossed. I'm such an unhappy camper with these technology changes. All done to create sales when we are forced to buy more equipment, software, etc. to make things work when they worked fine before. Hoping to see red printed later, Verleen

[landorasue]

If the digital pictures that I download would have the same print problems with color, that would make me think there is an issue between software and hardware. But the photos from the camera print out as they should. Its just the scanned photos where the red gets converted to yellow when they print. However, Elements presents them correctly on the monitor. Yes, this is driving me nuts. Tomorrow I will try changing the color setting to No Color Management and see what happens. If I print out one more picture that has yellow pom poms in it instead of red ones, I just won't sleep tonight. :p

Verleen, another thought. When you scan your photos, are you scanning them at 300 ppi. Perhaps the resolution is not high enough to print a good picture. Just another thought. I'm sure as people share their thoughts, someone will hit on the way to solve your issue.

You may want to give PSE 5.0 another try if it's compatible with Vista. You could also get Linda's CD. It may help with learning a newer version more quickly.

Also, when you go to File>Print with Preview, do you have a button that says More Options? If so, click that button to see what other options you have. I have that button in CS2.

[troush]

Verleen,

It could be that you need to check Epson's site again for a driver for your printer. It should give you many more options than that.

-Trish