Problem Printing: things print out to faint

[MisterCreazil]

So I bought a new printer and decided I would start printing my covers myself instead of taking them to a store to have them printed.  I get the size and dimensions fine, the problem is my printer is printing things much to faintly.  I've tried toying with the printer settings, and found if I switched the paper type to photo paper and the quality setting to high, it prints them darker, but still noticeably faint.

Has anyone else had a similar type problem when printing their covers?  What was your solution?

I'm not at my printer right now so I don't have the model type, but I'll add that to the the thread when I get home.

[wiggy]

What program are you printing from?  Where are you adjusting the settings, using the OS directory or via the print preview menu?  You could always start with a driver reinstall. Good place to start since its easy and free.

[MisterCreazil]

It's a Canon MP280, it seems to happen with whichever program I'm printing from but I generally will use Photoshop CS5, I adjust the settings in print preview I click on Print Settings which pulls up "Canon MP280 series Printer Properties" 

I'll definitely try uninstalling and res-installing the drivers

[Staf]

Do you use Canon ink? On my HP printer, it prints blacks black when I use HP ink but it prints blacks gray when I use off brand ink.

[palmer6strings]

I actually have the same problem, which I stated in a new topic that noone seems to have saw.

I am using photoshop cs5 myself with an hp deskjet f4480 (which I would not suggest for it scans horribly)
And like you, I am using cs5. And truth be told, I believe it a setting in the program that causes it for I have used others and it prints black.

I really like cs5 though and would also like to know how I can fix this.

[MisterCreazil]

Yeah I'm using canon brand ink cartridges.  I've done google searches finding other people with the same problem but I've yet to find a solution.

[Dr.Agon]

try running the printers trouble shooter or the windows printer test program thingy (cant remember what its called exactly), that should solve 99% of printer problems

[palmer6strings]

Mine isn't the printer, my problem is photoshop.
I tested with another program and it printed black, it just didn't print to my standard as photoshop will. Plus I don't want to have to keep switching between programs. I have enough windows open already lol.

[Dr.Agon]

Mine isn't the printer, my problem is photoshop.
I tested with another program and it printed black, it just didn't print to my standard as photoshop will. Plus I don't want to have to keep switching between programs. I have enough windows open already lol.

thats odd, im using the same photoshop as you and all mine print out black, it should print black if the other program does...

[wiggy]

^^^ Printing is serious business.  You could literally go through a ream of paper getting the settings just right.  When I made the mistake of using aftermarket cartridges at one point it totally fucked my printer up.  My blacks and grays went from gray, to pink, to green, etc.  It took me a good 20 prints to recalibrate it after flushing the whole damned thing twice 

Click "print with preview" if an older version of Pshop, or just print with anything CS4-up.  There should be a pull down option for "let printer determine colors" or "let Photoshop determine colors" or, if you're feeling ballsy and wanna setup your own print profile, there's "no color management".

If it's on Pshop determining colors, then try letter the printer do so, and vice versa if the opposite is true.

[palmer6strings]

thats odd, im using the same photoshop as you and all mine print out black, it should print black if the other program does...

Lol it is odd but that's what it does.  

^^^ Printing is serious business.

I'll have to quote that.

There should be a pull down option for "let printer determine colors" or "let Photoshop determine colors" or, if you're feeling ballsy and wanna setup your own print profile, there's "no color management".

If it's on Pshop determining colors, then try letter the printer do so, and vice versa if the opposite is true.

Thanks Wiggy, I'll have to try that. That could be my problem.

[Dr.Agon]

^^^ Printing is serious business.  You could literally go through a ream of paper getting the settings just right.  When I made the mistake of using aftermarket cartridges at one point it totally fucked my printer up.  My blacks and grays went from gray, to pink, to green, etc.  It took me a good 20 prints to recalibrate it after flushing the whole damned thing twice 

 
sorry to hear that wiggy, ive never had any such problems, and i always use Non-OEM cartridges...

[palmer6strings]

Yes!  I finally got it to print correctly! (color wise)

Thanks guys!

Now... to fix my scaling problem...

(Update)

Ok... so I didn't, it looks exactly the same. The colors are all nice and pretty, just black is still a dark hazy gray. Could it be my paper?

I'm using Kodak gloss photopaper.

[wiggy]

^^^ Printing is serious business.  You could literally go through a ream of paper getting the settings just right.  When I made the mistake of using aftermarket cartridges at one point it totally fucked my printer up.  My blacks and grays went from gray, to pink, to green, etc.  It took me a good 20 prints to recalibrate it after flushing the whole damned thing twice 

 
sorry to hear that wiggy, ive never had any such problems, and i always use Non-OEM cartridges...

Well, you may just not be as picky as me too.  I'm REALLY particular about that sort of thing.  I can post some of my covers that have the "pink" grays versus the proper neutral grays to show what I mean.  It's not terribly noticeable, but it's one of those things that makes ME nuts :/

[zakurowrath]

^^^ Printing is serious business.  You could literally go through a ream of paper getting the settings just right.  When I made the mistake of using aftermarket cartridges at one point it totally fucked my printer up.  My blacks and grays went from gray, to pink, to green, etc.  It took me a good 20 prints to recalibrate it after flushing the whole damned thing twice 

 
sorry to hear that wiggy, ive never had any such problems, and i always use Non-OEM cartridges...

Well, you may just not be as picky as me too.  I'm REALLY particular about that sort of thing.  I can post some of my covers that have the "pink" grays versus the proper neutral grays to show what I mean.  It's not terribly noticeable, but it's one of those things that makes ME nuts :/

Hey least your printer doesn't have a magenta tone problem, no matter how many times I adjust my laserjet the pictures come out more "red" than usual especially on N64 covers, and the toner for that printer isn't cheap. Makes me really wanna go back to my trusty inkjet which would yield better results in the long run anyway.