Monitor - Printout Mismatch

Question

Hello:
My problem is a mismatch between the monitor display and the final print.  As detailed below, I've calibrated the monitor and the printer.  Further, I've run a number of tests, to isolate the problem.
1. My current computer system includes Windows XP (current updates), Photoshop CS4, an Asus 27" flat panel monitor (MT276HE), an EVGA GTX260 video card and an Epson Stylus Photo R1900 printer. The monitor and the video card are new upgrades.
2. Recently, I purchased the X-Rite i1XTreme to calibrate the monitor and the Epson R1900 printer.  Initial use of the new monitor/video card revealed that the monitor and print outs are quite different.
3. Via X-Rite, profiles of the monitor and the printer have been generated.
4. Using Photoshop CS4 - View - Proof Setup - Custom, the monitor and printer profiles have displayed virtually the same output (brightness and colors).
5. Printing a photo with Photoshop CS4 and having the printer manage the colors will result in a good print. This is with either the Epson default settings or the custom profile.
6. If I print a photo via Windows Picture and Fax viewer, with either the Epson default settings or the X-Rite custom profile, the result is a good print.
7. However, printing a photo with Photoshop CS4, disabling the printer color management and setting CS4 to manage the colors will result in a dark print. The dark print results whether I use an Epson default profile or the X-Rite custom profile.
I suspect that I am overlooking or incorrectly setting a configuration setting. Yes, it is most assuredly this operator error but I
have not found the error, yet.
I thank you for your time and consideration.
Scott

Answer 1

June 22, 2010
Dear Lou:
I thank you for your guidance, in this issue.  Yes, I've read your article on profiling.  In fact, it is printed and kept with my new books on color management.
I realize that the quality of the monitor presentation affects the edits, which I perform on the file.  As the file changes, then the prints should change.  I do not understand why the prints would be vastly different (please see the sample photos below) when I print from the same file, the same printer, the same paper and the same printer profile.  The difference, which I have identified is whether Photoshop CS4 or the printer provides the color management.
I realize that the problem is probably an incorrect setting, which I misunderstand or don't know about (i.e. operator error).  However, these discussions and my reading have not awakened me to the detail of the problem.
Because a new monitor (Asus MT276HE) and video card were very bright compared to the printouts, I purchased the XRite Eye-One XTreme.  Also, I wanted to calibrate the color.  The XRite system accommodates monitors, printers and other peripherals.  Currently, I have custom profiles for the monitor and for Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Glossy (S042182).  All of my test prints have been on this glossy paper.
The following picture shows the Photoshop CS4 and printer settings, which I have used.
The following specifies the settings that are shown in the picture.
Printer – Epson Stylus Photo R1900
Printer Set-up –
1.       Premium Photo Paper Glossy (Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Glossy; #S042182)
2.       Quality – Photo
3.       Color Management – ICM
4.       Color Management – Off (No Color Adjustment)
Photoshop CS4 Print –
1.       Color Management – Document sRGB
2.       Color Handling – Photoshop Manages Colors
3.       Printer Profile – Custom profile generated by XRite Eye-One Match 3 for Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper Glossy (#S042182)
4.       Rendering Intent – Perceptual
5.       Black Point Compensation – Selected
For clarificaton of what I am seeing, the following printout brightness and photo comparisons are provided.
Printouts – Darkest to Lightest
1.       Adobe Color Management – sRGB Profile
a.      
2.       Adobe Color Management – XRite Printer/Paper Profile
3.       Printer Manages Colors – Epson Printer Profile or XRite Printer/Paper Profile
a.      
4.       Original file; also, please see the Adobe/monitor display of this file, as shown above in the Photoshop/printer settings picture.
          a.
I hope that this clarifies my understanding of this problem.  There will most certainly be more questions concerning this and I appreciate them all, for I want to learn and each question is an education.
Scott