I have been using photoshop for a long time now but I am not happy with the prints, CS seems to add black to the printed image, I have a calibrated screen and an Epson R2880. I have tried altering the settings but images still look like they have too much black in them, if I print the image from Epson easy photo print they are really close match to the screen image.

As a result of this I have been trying different editing software, the best results I have had are with Canon Digital Photo Professional, very basic but gives good results, I have also tried Lightroom 4 and this is the same as CS5 (as you would expect).

So my question to you is this;

What editing software do you use and do you check your printed images against your screen image, if so do they match?

J

Sounds to me like your problem is with the colour profiles. What ink and paper are you using? and Are you using the correct profiles? If you dont use the correct profile on that printer then you will struggle to get a true match for colours and tones. Also when using profiles and printing from CS, make sure you select: Photoshop manages colours.

That should solve your problems.

Personally I use both Photoshop and Lightroom. Lightroom now has the same soft proofing that CS has and again allows you to use colour profiles.

Hope this helps.

Dazz

Thanks Dazz, I use only Epson genuine inks and papers, I have tried the cheaper brands of ink and they are pants! (not in this printer) I have not installed or downloaded any profiles other than what came with the printer, I will have a look for the correct profile for the paper I use and try it.

J

im a lightroom fan myself

I'd spend your time calibrating PS rather than jumping ship to something that may, coincidentally, default to a closer match to your printer. That way if a software update changes the colour settings or if you get a new printer in the future you're not just hopping between software.

I like Photoshop, and have been using it for the past 15 years. I can't get on with Lightroom at all - though I do try now and again. Going to set it up with the camera for shooting tethered as I prefer the Lightroom UI for reviewing photos, but as an editor I'm much more productive with PS.

is your cam and photoshop set up to srgb or adobe rgb?

is your cam and photoshop set up to srgb or adobe rgb?

I am on sRGB, I am almost certain it is CS issue as I can print from other software and match the screen.

Try HERE as your first port of call for some paper profiles. I had similar issues When I first got my printer and after some research and playing with profiles in CS I got it spot on.

I use Lightroom these days because it's much better for subtle edits, rather than photoshop which is more for actually changing images. I get mine printed professionally if I bother, because I think home prints look awful anyway. I have always found the prints to be great,no problems at all!

+1 on LT. Much easier to do quick edits and file organisation.

CS for more detailed/focused edits.