The Epson CX6400 - is it me, or is it cack?

[Ian Osborne]

The Epson Stylus CX6400 got good reviews in the computing press, but I'm finding it a real pain to print with. It's okay for light graphics and letters, but if I try to print photos or Quark docs, the colours are all wrong. All the vibrancy is lost from the picture, with greens and yellows especially being very subdued, giving the pic as a whole a blue tinge.

I've tried adjusting the colours in the pic itself, I've cleaned the nozzles and I've tried different (ie. photo quality) settings on the software I'm printing from, but to no avail. Is anyone having similar problems, or did I just buy a dud printer?

[KarlQuigley]

Obvious (or impossible) things first.

1) Always use Epson inks. I assume you are as this is a new printer. Is it?

2) Daft as it sounds. I had a customer who put the wrong colour ink in the wrong slot. This may not be possible with this printer.

3) Paper type. try different types or makes.

4) Software. Make sure that you uninstall any other Epson software/drivers if previously installed.

5) Check that the inks are FIRMLY located in their slots and that any "tear off" strips are removed correctly. Also have a a look for any restrictions inside the slots - any debris?

6) Can you hook it up to another computer to eliminate software problems.

7) Contact Epson. they guarantee a 1 day Email reply. Probably faster they waiting for answer here.

Regards Karl Quigley

[Vitnir]

One possibility is also that your monitor doesnt show the colors correctly and when you adjust the photo so it looks good on the monitor it will look like goo on any printer.

[Mongrel]

Also check with Epson - often there's a set of inks for everday use and a different (more expensive set) for quality photo work.

[rustypouch]

Is your monitor calibrated? Are you using an ICC profile for your printer and the paper/ink combination you are using? Which colour space are the photos you are tring to print in, and can the printer support the gamut?

[Ian Osborne]

Is your monitor calibrated? Are you using an ICC profile for your printer and the paper/ink combination you are using? Which colour space are the photos you are tring to print in, and can the printer support the gamut?
Dang, I'm printing snaps here, not publishing art magazines! :jaw-dropp

[rustypouch]

Dang, I'm printing snaps here, not publishing art magazines! :jaw-dropp

Hey, you described the symptoms, I described what to need to do to remedy them.

If you are even half way serious, you need to calibrate your monitor, even something cheap like the Pantone Huey is miles beyond anything you can do by eye. If someone says it is not worth the effort, they are telling me they do not care about their photos. You obviously do, or you would not be asking these questions.

[asthmatic camel]

This (http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/colorcalibration/a/cal_printer.htm) might help.

[ZiprHead]

I recommend you use the brand of paper the printer manufacturer specifies. I had the same trouble with an H.P. printer, poor color quality in photos. I read an article in a computer mag that said to use the proper paper. Tried it and the difference was amazing, the photos looked great.

[Pythra]

Throw it in the bin. Make sure you smash it up first so it won't blight the life of an innocent scavenger.

I have never had anything but a terrible headache using Epson stylus printers. Gunked print nozzles, paper jams, temperamental calibration, feed problems, basically everything that can go wrong with a printer.