Expert: LizaL - 9/28/2004

Question
You've been a great help!  As soon as I saw your comment about selecting the proper type of paper, I knew that had to be it, and it was.  I had no idea I could choose a paper type, but I guess it makes sense.  As soon as I chose the photo grade paper, the prints came out great!

As for my printer, its a Japanese model.  Now to figure out how to make borderless prints with photoshop . . .

Again, thanks for your help.  I'll check out the tutorial sites you sent me and order a good book on Elements.  I'll eventually upgrade to CS, but I first want to get my feet wet and get to know the basics of playing in a "digital darkroom."

Thanks!
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Followup To
Question -
The pictures I'm trying to print I got on a CD when I developed my photographs.  They are in jpeg format.

As I mentioned, I can print them using any other application I have, and the photos come out fine (3x5 print).  Its only when I try to print using photoshop that I have this problem.

Imaging painting a picture (or a wall).  Now, while the paint is still wet, pass a toothbrush across the print, in straight lines, and you'll have an idea of what my prints look like.  The lines are all equally spaced. and the bands repeat.

Kind of like this, but the lines are white.

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I have an Epson printer (PM-930), and am printing to Epson paper.  (I've never experienced this issue before with any application.)  The only variable is Photoshop, which for some reason is not printing my photos correctly.  I use the same file, no alteration, same printer, same paper.

My monitor is calibrated correctly.  The files are sRGB.  Everything I see leads me to believe there is some issue I am having with Photoshop.  I can edit a photo in photoshop and print it fine using other software, but not photoshop.  Its frustrating.

Thanks for your help!
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Followup To
Question -
I'm running Photoshop Elements 2.0 on Mac 10.1.5, with an Epson printer.  

When I print a photo using software that came with my printer, or other applications, the photo comes out fine.  When I print with Elements, the photos come out striped with repeating bands of white lines.

Any idea how I can fix this and get a good print?

Thank you.
Answer -
Hi Waldo,

There are several things that could be causing your banding. You probably see banding with Photoshop Elements rather than your other applications because Elements is geared toward fine-tuning images, and is more likely to show imperfections.  

Check these things the next time you see banding when you print:

1. What Color Mode is your image in? Sometimes an RGB image that you've converted to CMYK will cause banding when printed.

2. I think Photoshop Elements only lets you use 8-bit editing. FYI, working in 16-bit will help you avoid banding, so check to see if Elements lets you do this; I use Photoshop 7, which allows for image editing in 16-bit, but I'm honestly not sure about Elements.

3. You might want to re-calibrate your monitor so that you can better and more accurately see your colors as you work, which will result in less banding problems. You can use the ColorSync feature, which is located in the Displays preference pane of OS X (System Preferences>Displays>Color).

Here's some info about ColorSync: http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/colorsync//

4. Also make sure you have the right profiles installed before you print. Here's a link for downloading ICC profiles from Adobe:
http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=2347

5. And make sure your Epson printer drivers are up to date. You don't say which Epson printer you have but here's the link for the Epson driver download site:
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/SupportIndex.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes


Those are the first things that come to mind. Now let me ask you a couple of questions:

1. Are you scanning your image before you edit and print it? If so, what resolution are you scanning at?

2. How have you saved your images? That is, in what file format? And what color mode?

3. Which Epson printer do you have? And if you are scanning images first, what scanner are you using?

4. What kind of paper are you printing on?


If you do some tinkering and my tips don't help, please post back with the answers to the questions I asked, and we'll go from there. I'll be happy to take a look at some of your images you get banding from if you'd like to email them to me or post them online.

Hope this helps!

Lisa

Answer -
Hi again!

Thanks for answering my questions. I did some research based on the printer model number you gave me, and I couldn't find that model listed anywhere! I'm wondering if perhaps you meant to say the Epson Stylus Photo R9300. That was the closest name I could find to PM-930.

Anyway, here are some things to consider, regarding the printer itself:

1. Epson suggests that if your print has lines running through it, you should clean the print head nozzles. Personally, I don't think that's your problem, but I'd definitely give it a try, according to the cleaning instructions in your printer's user guide.

2. Be sure, in the Print dialog box that comes up when you're ready to send the image to the printer, that you've got your printer selected, and not a "general" printer, or other printer you have connected to your Mac, selected.

3. Also in the Print dialog box, you'll see Copies and Paper. Click on this pop-up menu and select Paper Type/Quality. You might try changing the settings there to reflect High Resolution, and photo paper.

4. Under Page Setup (File>Page Setup), make sure the attributes selected are for your printer, in that second line where it says "Format for."

5. Go to the Epson support section and find your printer. Here's the link:
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/SupportIndex.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&o

Like I said, I didn't find a PM-930 listed, but check for yourself. And check the FAQs there, too. They have some interactive walk-through-type questions that might help.


However, I think the issue is with Photoshop Elements. I think specifically the problem is that Elements doesn't have the print options capacity of Photoshop 7, or Photoshop CS. Printing from 16-bit-edited images would probably help, or maybe even solve your problem, but that's not possible with Elements.

I've searched many forums looking for an answer for you, and although it doesn't fix your problem, that's the general consensus I keep coming up with.

I've listed some links here, though, that might be of help to you. And also, Photoshop Elements 3 is coming out next month, if you decide to stay with Elements. This version will support 16-bit. If, however, you're very interested in digital imaging and printing, I'd recommend Photoshop CS.

Here's a link to some good tips and techniques in Elements:
http://imaging-resource.com/SOFT/PSE/PSE.HTM

Here is the link to the Adobe Color Management Forums, where you can browse, or join, in order to post:
http://www.adobeforums.com/cgi-bin/webx?14@@.eea5b31

Another good Photoshop Elements Tips site:
http://www.arraich.com/elements/psE_intro.htm


I'm sorry I haven't been much help. Please post back if there's anything else I can do! And let me know if you find an answer that works for you.

Lisa

Answer
Hey again Waldo,

Thank you so much for your positive feedback! I'm really glad I was able to help you, and even more glad that your pictures are coming out OK now. There are so many variables with problems like this, and I'm happy we hit on the right one.

I think you're doing the right thing by using Elements before you get a full-blown version of Photoshop. Very good idea to "get your feet wet" first!

Take care and post back if you have any questions in the future.

Lisa