eddieobryan

<p>Thank you everyone for the insights. Thats exactly the information I was hoping for. Also, Patrick, my monitor is properly calibrated; that picture was just created for this thread alone; white balance wasn't really touched at all. It was just for an example.</p>

<p>Ellis: Awesome link. I read it from top to bottom. </p>

<p>Mike Wilson: Very well said!</p>

<p>Heya! I have recently delved into digital photography (about 4 hours ago, actually!), after having been a medium format enthusiast for the past seven years or so. I've been reading alot regarding digital photography lately, particularly via these forums.</p>

<p>The question I have is probably (admittedly) an ignorant one, but I am going to ask it anyway. I know that the histogram is an exceedingly important resource. I'm constantly checking it on my new camera to ensure that my picture is being properly exposed. I'm also constantly checking it in Lightroom to ensure that nothing is being clipped or damaged.</p>

<p>So, I just spent a few minutes photographing a few apples. Not really my stye of photography, but hey, it works for learning!</p>

<p><img src="http://www.eddieobryan.com/apple1.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Heres the shot just exported out of the camera. The histogram isn't bad, nothing is really being clipped. But, what I'm wondering is, what if my previsualization is something a bit less literal? Like darker, for example? Here is the same shot, after some editing in Lightroom:</p>

<p><img src="http://www.eddieobryan.com/apple2.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Now, the histogram is clipped. While editing towards what the picture looked like in my head, the histogram is no longer looking very good. Information is being clipped.</p>

<p>From what I've deduced, it seem as though all edits or aesthetical decisions are fine as long as the histogram remains healthy and no information is lost. So, I guess my question is, am I doing something wrong? Is there another way to do this that won't have a destructive affect on the histogram? Or is it okay to continue editing this way and not worry?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance and I apologize for such a long-winded question!</p>

<p>Cheers,<br>

Eddie<br /> http://www.eddieobryan.com</p>

William, I am beginning to think you're probably right. I haven't spoken to Epson yet, as I'd imagine theres probably a better chance of me getting a professional educated opinion through these boards than through Epson's generic technical support. I just can't imagine what they'd suggest for me to try that I haven't tried already.

 

I'll burn some sage tonight. I've been trying to contact my printer via ouija board, no response yet. I did talk to my dead grandmother though, that was a surprise! (just kidding)

 

Jan, while I have all the equipment needed in order to make custom ICC profiles for myself, it still really bothers me that a printer could go from perfect to awful for no reason whatsoever. No changes in any hardware or software. Since I'm not solving the problem, just working around it, theres no guarantee that it wouldn't just happen again after I've spent all the time to make custom profiles.

Charles Monday,

 

I thought to try the same thing. Because I'm absolutely positive that my workflow isn't the problem, I figured Photoshop must be the culprit, perhaps something went corrupt or was replaced. So I did a clean uninstall, rebooted, and reinstalled from scratch (both Photoshop and the Epson printer driver), still no luck.

 

After that didn't work, I tried using Quadtone RIP, because it prints outside of Photoshop and doesn't rely on the program. Still the same results.

Morning Doug,

 

After checking the date of all the cartridges, they all fall within the six month mark. None of them are too old.

Eric,

 

Thanks for the reply. Interesting article. I read it top to bottom, then reversed everything like suggested, letting the printer dictate the profile instead of Photoshop. The results were the same.

 

I just tried printing using Quadtone RIP, with the same results. Muddy tones, dark, just overall poor looking.

 

I'm beginning to think that either my printer has 'gone bad', or has become possessed by demons. Perhaps burning some sage is in order!

William,

 

Thanks for the response! I went down the list of the things you helpfully presented, assuring each one was what it was supposed to be. After doing that, I also tried uninstalling the printer completely, and reinstalling it from scratch. The print problem still remains.

 

You assume correct -- I've done all the head cleaning and alignment routines. And no third party inks; I'm still using the standard inks for a R2400.

 

I'm not sure if this particular bit of information might be relevant, but upon closer examination of the bad prints, under very bright light, I've noticed strange discolorations in the shadows. On some prints, they look practically neon green. In other prints, the darkest part of the shadows looks pure blue. The effect is almost psychedelic, albeit very subtle.

 

Thanks again for the response!

I've had this printer for a couple years now, and I've had much success printing

with it in the past. Now, for whatever reason, the prints I'm producing are

consistently dark, and I cannot figure out why this could possibly be happening.

 

I've searched extensively throughout the photo.net forums, and there are many

posts from people with this exact problem. I've gone through every single one

of them, trying all the suggested remedies, and I still can't get past this problem.

 

My monitor is regularly calibrated (Eye-One Display 2), my working space is

Adobe RGB (1998). When printing with "Print with Preview", I let Photoshop

determine colors, I choose the appropriate printer profile (downloaded from

Epson's site) for the paper that I'm using. I'm always very careful not to

apply two profiles, by going into the printer's advanced settings and checking

ICM/No color adjustment.

 

By going through the various posts from people with the same problem, I

consistently check all the common variables that are repeatedly mentioned, and

still, no success.

 

Is there something that I'm unaware of? Some unforeseen variable?

 

In the past I've used Hahnemuhle paper, but until this problem is solved, I've

switched to testing with Epson's Premium Presentation Paper (Matte). I know

that one should test on the paper thats going to be used in the end, but in this

case, regardless of the paper I use, the results are consistently the same:

muddled. The shadows and highlights are entirely too dark.

 

My uneducated opinion, from looking at the consistently bad results from these

prints, is that perhaps two profiles are still being applied, despite my making

sure that that isn't the case.

 

Any help would be tremendously appreciated!

Eddie O'Bryan

http://www.eddieobryan.com

Initially, it was strange - having a portion of the lens shade sticking into the viewfinder, being able to see outside of the frame, et cetera. Now that I've gotten adjusted to it though, there is no going back to SLRs, I'd imagine I'd feel blind not having the ability to see outside of the frame. Also, I've fallen in love with the sound of the shutter! It's a very satisfying sound.

I purchased a Leica M6 and 50mm Summicron a couple weeks ago, and

finally had an opportunity to try it out. Kodak Tri-X 400 was used

(rated at 200), developed in D76 1:1. What do you guys think?

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<center> <img src="http://www.eddieobryan.com/5finished.jpg"> </center>

A portrait of my girlfriend, Amanda. Shot in lower Manhattan, a

couple blocks away from our apartment.

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<center> <img src="http://www.eddieobryan.com/3finished.jpg"> </center>

Another picture of Amanda. The snow was really coming down, but it's

always difficult to portray that on film.

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<center> <img src="http://www.eddieobryan.com/15finished.jpg"> </center>

A view of downtown Manhattan from our window. See the Brooklyn Bridge?

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<center> <img src="http://www.eddieobryan.com/2finished.jpg"> </center>

A variation of the portrait above.

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<center> <img src="http://www.eddieobryan.com/9finished.jpg"> </center>

Another variation.

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