Epson 3880 printing photos poorly

<p>I have an Epson 3880 Stylus Pro. It's about 3 years old and I use it mostly for printing graphic posters and not photographs. However, occasionally I do print photos on it and have noticed the past couple of times that something is very off. The photos are printing with a "negative" effect, lost of haloing. I am not sure the best way to describe the effect so I'm attaching photos of printed pieces here. <br /> <img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13327627/IMG_5787.JPG" alt="" /><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13327627/IMG_5788.JPG" alt="" /><br /> I've tried a variety of print settings and paper stock. I've printed from Lightroom directly and from Acrobat.<br /> Here are the original files (sized for screen)<br /> <img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13327627/tumblr_luyejcQrez1r6k8k6o1_1280.jpg" alt="" /><br /> <img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13327627/IMG_8444.jpg" alt="" /><img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13327627/IMG_9723.jpg" alt="" /><br>

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13327627/tumblr_msprtir9XC1r6k8k6o1_1280.jpg" alt="" /><br>

<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13327627/IMG_9158.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!</p>

<p>This seems likely to be a driver setting issue. Is your photo editing/printing application allowing the Epson drivers to manage colors, or do you have the application set to think that IT is managing the color process when you print? Those two things can collide in rather spectacular fashion, sometimes. Try letting the printer driver handle it, and see if you get the expected results.</p>

<p>The epson is managing the colors. I made sure of this when I printed and even did a test where I turned that off and they looked identical.</p>

<p>Do a nozzle check. It looks like your black ink is clogged.</p>

<p>do a AUTO nozzle check, not the MANUAL one (from the printer control panel).</p>

<p>It is also possible that the driver software has somehow been corrupted.</p>

<p>Howard, how do I perform an Auto nozzle check?</p>

<p>Hi The color profile that the printer is using is incorrect, the only way to get great prints is to make sure the paper color profile is correct for the the printer.<br>

You have to turn off the printer color management and use the software management and match the manufacturers profile for the paper to print, through your printer dialogue box.</p>

<p>Photoshop and light-room have good systems for this, don't forget to calibrate your screen as well.<br>

There are video tutorials for this at luminous landscape, called from capture to printer or similar.</p>

<p>in the control panel, I think it's the second entry (dont remember offhand) but I think it's 'Nozzle check'. Advance 1-2 menus in that and select AUTO</p>