Epson Photo Stylus 1200.

[John Vanini]

Having had my Epson 810 printer problem solved (thanks to all and especially
Art) can anyone help with my Epson Stylus Photo 1200 problem, please? There
were no peas in this one!



It's about the quality (or lack of it!!!) when it prints. I can't get the
colours to be anything like what was scanned in and what is on the screen.
The image prints far too dark but if I lighten the original then the colours
come out nothing like the picture I either scanned in or pulled down from
the Internet. For instance, the greens are still green but not as bright or
as sharp but are very flat (the other colours are affected in the same way)
and the picture looks dead.



It's difficult to describe but I am always disappointed with the result.
Originally, when I bought the printer, it was fine - it has deteriorated
over the years and I don't know why.



I have two questions, which I think might be relevant. The first is that the
colour management (in 'Print' and then 'Properties') is set to 'Automatic'
and the 'colour profile' is given as EE053_ 1 - there's no other choice. I
assume that this profile is okay and that there aren't any other profiles I
could, or should, be using - or are there?



The second is that, under 'Image Color Management' I have three choices -:



ICM method - ICM handled by Host System

ICM Handled by printer

ICM Disabled



The first two don't seem to make any difference while the third is pretty
dreadful.



Can anyone suggest which one of the three would be best to select, please?
At the moment, I've selected 'Host System' but as I say, neither of the
first two seem any different.




I'm sorry about the length of this posting but I wanted to give as much
detail as I could and I hope this is enough.



This is the last printer I have, honest, so won't be asking about any other!



Regards,



John

 

[Roy G]

Having had my Epson 810 printer problem solved (thanks to all and
especially Art) can anyone help with my Epson Stylus Photo 1200 problem,
please? There were no peas in this one!



It's about the quality (or lack of it!!!) when it prints. I can't get the
colours to be anything like what was scanned in and what is on the screen.
The image prints far too dark but if I lighten the original then the
colours come out nothing like the picture I either scanned in or pulled
down from the Internet. For instance, the greens are still green but not
as bright or as sharp but are very flat (the other colours are affected in
the same way) and the picture looks dead.



It's difficult to describe but I am always disappointed with the result.
Originally, when I bought the printer, it was fine - it has deteriorated
over the years and I don't know why.



I have two questions, which I think might be relevant. The first is that
the colour management (in 'Print' and then 'Properties') is set to
'Automatic' and the 'colour profile' is given as EE053_ 1 - there's no
other choice. I assume that this profile is okay and that there aren't any
other profiles I could, or should, be using - or are there?



The second is that, under 'Image Color Management' I have three choices -:



ICM method - ICM handled by Host System

ICM Handled by printer

ICM Disabled



The first two don't seem to make any difference while the third is pretty
dreadful.



Can anyone suggest which one of the three would be best to select, please?
At the moment, I've selected 'Host System' but as I say, neither of the
first two seem any different.




I'm sorry about the length of this posting but I wanted to give as much
detail as I could and I hope this is enough.



This is the last printer I have, honest, so won't be asking about any
other!



Regards,



John

Hi.

The Epson 1200 is a fairly old printer.

When the driver was installed it only installed one ICC Profile, whereas
most of the newer printers will install around 6 Profiles, each of which is
specific to one kind of Epson Paper.

The Profile on your machine is designed for the old Epson Photo Paper,
194gm/sq M. The Paper packaging will specify that it is for use with Epson
Photo 700 & EX, which are the A4 version of the 1200 and the 1200 EX

It should give very reasonable results with that paper, provided you are
using Epson Inks. That paper is not highly glossy and the colours will be
slightly duller than the more modern printers, (1280 onwards), with the
newer papers, (like Epson Premium Glossy).

If you should want to use non Epson Inks and/or any other Paper, you would
need to get someone to write a Profile for your combination. But that will
only be worthwhile if you are using a Colour Management aware Program, like
Photoshop, and know how to set it up.

I do not know of any other ICC Profiles available for this machine,
anywhere.

In the meantime switch to "ICM handled by Printer" and use that old Paper.
It is still available, but not every outlet carries it.

I have recently been helping a friend who actually has 2 of these Printers
and a plentiful supply of the paper.

Hope this helps.

Roy G

 

[tomm42]

Having had my Epson 810 printer problem solved (thanks to all and especially
Art) can anyone help with my Epson Stylus Photo 1200 problem, please? There
were no peas in this one!

It's about the quality (or lack of it!!!) when it prints. I can't get the
colours to be anything like what was scanned in and what is on the screen.
The image prints far too dark but if I lighten the original then the colours
come out nothing like the picture I either scanned in or pulled down from
the Internet. For instance, the greens are still green but not as bright or
as sharp but are very flat (the other colours are affected in the same way)
and the picture looks dead.

It's difficult to describe but I am always disappointed with the result.
Originally, when I bought the printer, it was fine - it has deteriorated
over the years and I don't know why.

I have two questions, which I think might be relevant. The first is that the
colour management (in 'Print' and then 'Properties') is set to 'Automatic'
and the 'colour profile' is given as EE053_ 1 - there's no other choice. I
assume that this profile is okay and that there aren't any other profiles I
could, or should, be using - or are there?

The second is that, under 'Image Color Management' I have three choices -:

ICM method - ICM handled by Host System

ICM Handled by printer

ICM Disabled

The first two don't seem to make any difference while the third is pretty
dreadful.

Can anyone suggest which one of the three would be best to select, please?
At the moment, I've selected 'Host System' but as I say, neither of the
first two seem any different.

I'm sorry about the length of this posting but I wanted to give as much
detail as I could and I hope this is enough.

This is the last printer I have, honest, so won't be asking about any other!

Regards,

John

It is an 8+ year old printer, I have had 2, both broke down, carriage
problems, had each repaired twice. Could be a couple of things, 1 is
your print head has worn out, if this has gotten progressivly worse
over time I'd look there. The othe problem is the print head carriage
mechanism is worn out which would mean bad alignment of ink. Have you
done any diagnostics, dye printers of that era would clog, so a print
head check would be good, could be as simple as a clogged head. If the
ink is smearing then the head is worn out.
If you aren't printing from a program that is color management aware,
then the profile in the printer properties matters. But generally the
printer driver should allow you to set a profile. Better still is to
print from a color management aware progam like Photoshop Elements,
Photoshop, Paintshop Pro.
Do yourself a favor and get an Epson 1400, it will have profiles for
the more recent Epson papers. You have gotten a good life out of the
1200 BTW I bought my first one in 2000.

Tom

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I haven't checked, but it is possible Epson has issued/developed new
drivers with more profiles, and this is always worth checking. Check
the Epson website for updates.

Which OS are you using? The newest driver for XP is January 2005 at
least on the UK website, which is fairly new.

There are two profile files on the US website, but they do not mention
XP and are from year 2000.


[-] Inkjet Paper PANTONE Profiles v2.01
Windows 98, Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0
SP12201I.EXE - 869.5KB - posted on 01/03/00


This self-extracting file contains the Epson Stylus Photo 1200
PANTONE Color Calibrated profiles for Photo Quality Inkjet Paper. Please
view the included "HowToWin.pdf" document for additional information.
Download Now


[-] Glossy Paper PANTONE Profiles v2.01
Windows 98, Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0
SP12201G.EXE - 875KB - posted on 01/03/00


This self-extracting file contains the Epson Stylus Photo 1200
Pantone Color Calibrated profiles for Photo Quality Glossy Paper. Please
view the included "HowToWin.pdf" document for additional information.
Download Now


Art

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Make sure all 6 of the colors are working via a nozzle test. Often if
one of the Cyan heads (light or dark) and or one of the magenta heads
(light or dark) are clogged people don't notice it but the color will be
way off.

Art

 

[John Vanini]

Thanks to all for your replies, I will have to re-read them and think about
what has been said but I'll give a few answers to some of the questions,
now.



1) The operating system is Windows XP and I don't think the Epson 1200 was
really designed for that. For some time they (Epson) hadn't got a Status
Monitor for the XP system.



2) I have searched the Internet for new drivers but am always told I have
the latest (in other words, probably, the only one)



3) I have to do a nozzle test very often as one colour or another gets
clogged - and this is happening more often. Even after printing a
satisfactory nozzle check pattern, the image will still be bad.



4) I do alignment checks but have not seen any problems.



5) I use non-Epson inks because of the great difference in price and
generally the colour-matching isn't important as the images are only to
illustrate the text - it's mainly photographs and such where it is important



6) I use Paintshop Pro V9.



7) The paper I use is A3 or A4 plain copier paper and Avery white inkjet
labels. I suppose these could be the problem or perhaps part of the problem?
However, I do need to use plain paper for the text - the images are to
illustrate the text.



I will re-read all your emails, in greater detail, tomorrow but in the
meantime I thank you all for your help and time.



Regards,



John

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I can provide you with a document on cleaning Epson printers and
specifically which can help with head clogs. It is available free of
charge. NO spam (from me) and your name is not traded or sold. Nothing
to sell you either.

Art

My email (just mention the model number of your printer)

e-printerhelp(at)mvps(dot)org

(at) = @
(dot) = .

 

[measekite]

I can provide you with a document on cleaning Epson printers and
specifically which can help with head clogs. It is available free of
charge. NO spam (from me) and your name is not traded or sold.
Nothing to sell you either.

If that is the case then one has to ask why this so called manual is not
posted online as some kind of a pdf document.

 

[John Vanini]

Just got your message, Art

Thanks, I'll certainlty do that!

Regards

John

 

[Rob.]

stupid to even answer that question?
Frank

Hey Frank

I am suprised that he didn't pick up point 5.

"5) I use non-Epson inks because of the great difference in price and
generally the colour-matching isn't important as the images are only to
illustrate the text - it's mainly photographs and such where it is
important"

 

[measekite]

Hey Frank

I am suprised that he didn't pick up point 5.

"5) I use non-Epson inks because of the great difference in price and
generally the colour-matching isn't important as the images are only to
illustrate the text - it's mainly photographs and such where it is
important"

Oh so you are telling ...LOL that photographers should use OEM to get
the best results. I agree.

 

[tomm42]

Hey Frank

I am suprised that he didn't pick up point 5.

"5) I use non-Epson inks because of the great difference in price and
generally the colour-matching isn't important as the images are only to
illustrate the text - it's mainly photographs and such where it is
important"

If you are printing with nonEpson inks then you have to get custom
profiles for every ink/paper combo you use. There are good 3rd paprty
ink vendors but some will just change the formulation of there ink or
change ink suppliers and then you suddenly baut results when you put
in a new cartridge. Look for 3rd party ink vendors who have profiles
on their site, I understand some do, but I use OEM inks and haven't
been looking. If you just buy the cheapest you can end up paying
later. Profiles from Epson will not work with your current setup,
chances are neither will canned profiles from paper manufacturers.

Tom

 

[John Vanini]

Thanks very much Tommy,

I was going to ask from where and how I could get custom profiles but you've
answered my question!

As a matter of interest, I know I may sound a cheapskate for buying a
compatible ink instead of the geniune article but the Epson ink costs
anything up to 10 times more per cartridge and yet I've had the printer for
eight years now, printing, on an average, a dozen or so sheets per day,
seven days a week, both in my work and my hobby - you can imagine the money
I've saved!

On top of that, for most of the time, the image quality has been quite
acceptable for what I have been using it. Okay, now it's not and I may have
to buy another printer!

No rudeness was intented, Tommy, honest! I just thought I'd like to explain
why I'm doing something that others may think stupid!

Thanks again, Tommy,

John

 

[tomm42]

Thanks very much Tommy,

I was going to ask from where and how I could get custom profiles but you've
answered my question!

As a matter of interest, I know I may sound a cheapskate for buying a
compatible ink instead of the geniune article but the Epson ink costs
anything up to 10 times more per cartridge and yet I've had the printer for
eight years now, printing, on an average, a dozen or so sheets per day,
seven days a week, both in my work and my hobby - you can imagine the money
I've saved!

On top of that, for most of the time, the image quality has been quite
acceptable for what I have been using it. Okay, now it's not and I may have
to buy another printer!

No rudeness was intented, Tommy, honest! I just thought I'd like to explain
why I'm doing something that others may think stupid!

Thanks again, Tommy,

John

Well Johnny,
I used 3rd party inks when that was the only way to get long lasting
ink that had a large gamut (say 1999 - 2004). To do this commercially
it was a lot of work, I couldn't say oh its close, my clients wanted
right on the money. So every paper had to be linearized, just
selecting a similar paper didn't work, and profiled. Profiles worked
slightly differently for scanned and photo from digital cameras. So
I'm not condeming you for using 3 rd party inks, I understand it saves
money, but there is a lot of work to get those inks to behave like OEM
inks, doesn't happen out of the box.
I am now doing my own work from a Canon iPF 5000, I'm really happy I
can just print and concentrate on the image rather than fiddling with
profiling etc. A printer that gives fine prints right out of the box
is a relief. I don't waste paper and ink getting off color results or
almost results, prints are right on. Nice thing to know is almost any
printer Canon Epson or HP will now do this, with OEM inks.

Tom

 

[tomm42]

Measekite.
Back in 1999 when I bought my Epson 9000, a 44 inch printer,
admittedly knowing not much about LF printing. The Epson OEM ink for
this printer at Wilhelm's most optomistic was 2 years, couldn't do
what I wanted to with that admittedly short lasting ink. So I switched
to an ink call Pinnacle Gold by American Ink Jet. There was a couple
of tests on it in Wilhelm, about 50 years with a FA paper. I quickly
learned how to linearize and profile papers. I also learned how to
test as this was a dye based ink with all the paper ink problems that
go with dye based inks. Luckily I had a south facing picture window
with at least 8 hrs of sun a day, not scientific at all but I knew if
a print lasted several weeks in the window no one would be coming
after me for faded images.
One bad experience I was using a canvas that was treating me well and
the manufacturer discontinued it. I was right in the middle of
printing some 40x60 canvases for an artist. A month after changing
canvases in that job the artist was back wondering why half his
canvases had faded, hadn't had a chance to test. The only canvas I
could find that the dealer would say would last with dye inks was
canvas for an IRIS printer at 3X what I paid for the original, but it
worked.
Other owners went to 3rd party pigment inks, by Media Street, MIS and
Bull Dog but they had more clogging problems. No one I knew ever used
Epson ink in the 9000.
Just useing 3rd party inks as a necessity.

Tom

 

[measekite]

Measekite.
Back in 1999 when I bought my Epson 9000, a 44 inch printer,
admittedly knowing not much about LF printing. The Epson OEM ink for
this printer at Wilhelm's most optomistic was 2 years, couldn't do
what I wanted to with that admittedly short lasting ink. So I switched
to an ink call Pinnacle Gold by American Ink Jet. There was a couple
of tests on it in Wilhelm, about 50 years with a FA paper. I quickly
learned how to linearize and profile papers. I also learned how to
test as this was a dye based ink with all the paper ink problems that
go with dye based inks. Luckily I had a south facing picture window
with at least 8 hrs of sun a day, not scientific at all but I knew if
a print lasted several weeks in the window no one would be coming
after me for faded images.
One bad experience I was using a canvas that was treating me well and
the manufacturer discontinued it. I was right in the middle of
printing some 40x60 canvases for an artist. A month after changing
canvases in that job the artist was back wondering why half his
canvases had faded, hadn't had a chance to test. The only canvas I
could find that the dealer would say would last with dye inks was
canvas for an IRIS printer at 3X what I paid for the original, but it
worked.
Other owners went to 3rd party pigment inks, by Media Street, MIS and
Bull Dog but they had more clogging problems. No one I knew ever used
Epson ink in the 9000.
Just useing 3rd party inks as a necessity.

Tom

Tom
I do not own an Epson printer. I prefer Canon. However, the Epson 3800
appears to be maybe a little bit better than the Canon 5100 but that is
based on Epson standing behind their printer a little better then Canon
as far as warranty.

However, with the Ultrachrome K3 ink there is not aftermarket crap that
can come close. But Pantone may be an alternative but it too is expensive.

Luminous Landscape recently tested the large format 17" and wider
printers (HP, Epson, and Canon) and while they saw differences in
results they were based on taste and not quality. Basically they
determined that the quality from all were about equal. However the
specifically mentioned the BW quality of the Epson.

You will hear from many idiots that buy the garbage stuff and have all
sorts of problems on this ng. I enjoy reading about their troubles.
They do deserve it.

 

[Arthur Entlich]

This gives a great bit of background to consider in regard to 3rd party
inks. Certainly, for many the use of non-OEM is an economic one
exclusively, but what your experience proves is that 3rd party inks
provide way of forwarding the technology, providing alternatives when
OEM may not do the trick, a way to potentially save money, and in many
cases a form of competition which "encourages" the OEM companies to get
back to the drawingboard and improve or create better consumables.

This is exactly how the the economic system should work, and it has done
a great deal to move this technology further. Assuming that only the
major inkjet manufacturers would have all the expertise, creative ideas
and research would have been a great error of judgment, and would have
dramatically slowed the progress in this technology.

And, BTW< there are some amazing things coming down the tubes in inkjet
technologies from 3rd party suppliers. Just wait.

Art

 

[tomm42]

Tom
I do not own an Epson printer. I prefer Canon. However, the Epson 3800
appears to be maybe a little bit better than the Canon 5100 but that is
based on Epson standing behind their printer a little better then Canon
as far as warranty.

However, with the Ultrachrome K3 ink there is not aftermarket crap that
can come close. But Pantone may be an alternative but it too is expensive.

Luminous Landscape recently tested the large format 17" and wider
printers (HP, Epson, and Canon) and while they saw differences in
results they were based on taste and not quality. Basically they
determined that the quality from all were about equal. However the
specifically mentioned the BW quality of the Epson.

You will hear from many idiots that buy the garbage stuff and have all
sorts of problems on this ng. I enjoy reading about their troubles.
They do deserve it.

Hey as I said in my earlier post I really like my iPF5000, always nice
prints, very little fuss. I'd do Canon over Epson again, though I
didn't buy a Canon for work, I should have. Canon now covers their
head and ink tanks with the first years warranty, a major overlook on
their initial warranty. But they don't cover heads in their extended
warranties, I have had wide format printers as I said since 1999, the
extended warranties are almost a necessity if someting goes wrong with
the printer. If a head goes down on an Epson it would be more
expensive to replace than the $900 for the two Canon heads. Based on
fees the repair services charge, including travel charges. Though with
a 3800 you may be able to ship it to a service center.
After having gone through trying to get the best prints possible with
3rd party inks I do have to admit enjoying "well the prints aren't as
good but I'm saving money".
Happy printing

Tom

 

[measekite]

This gives a great bit of background to consider in regard to 3rd
party inks. Certainly, for many the use of non-OEM is an economic one
exclusively, but what your experience proves is that 3rd party inks
provide way of forwarding the technology, providing alternatives when
OEM may not do the trick, a way to potentially save money, and in many
cases a form of competition which "encourages" the OEM companies to
get back to the drawingboard and improve or create better consumables. That is ridiculuous

This is exactly how the the economic system should work, it does not
and it has done a great deal to move this technology further.
Assuming that only the major inkjet manufacturers would have all the
expertise, creative ideas and research would have been a great error
of judgment,

not really. Pantone is one of the very few ink mfg that does not make
their own printer. I think the ink costs more than OEM.

and would have dramatically slowed the progress in this technology.

And, BTW< there are some amazing things coming down the tubes in
inkjet technologies from 3rd party suppliers.

They are just web resellers. And most do not have full disclosure of
what they are selling.