HP Deskjet 6122: matching color in print with color on monitor

[Paul W.]

My first time here folks, so bear with me! I did a search on this issue but couldn't find anything. Apologies if it's already been covered.

I get my color carts from Carrot Ink, good prices, very decent people to deal with. But my prints are coming out way too "orange", as if I was shooting under tungsten illumination. The colors are fine on the monitor, it's an ACER LCD. I'm using PhotoShop Elements and am careful to get good color on the monitor. I may need to supply more information, but I'll leave it at this for starters. Even when I shoot RAW, and take pains to tweak the color temperature in ACR so the color on the monitor looks fine, the physical print is way too warm.

TIA everyone!

Paul

 

[turbguy]

When did the problem start? Right after switching from OEM carts to Carrot, or some time after switching?

IF you can print a nozzle test on that printer, does a nozzle test print look OK??

If you can't print a nozzle test, download the 4 color purge image from here and post a copy of it on the forum. NOTE, you have to be registered a least 24 hours to post an image.

http://www.inksupply.com/purging.cfm

Best approach, switch back to an OEM tri-color AND black cart and see if the issue is resolved. If it is, you have a problem with either the ink in the tri-color cart (wrong inks, incorrect ink color) or a mis-performing cart. Magenta or Cyan may be missing or printing too light.

But it could be a software issue, too.... but aren't Carrots Orange??

Wayne

 

[Paul W.]

Thank you!

I can't say for sure when this started. it's been this way for some time. So I really can't say it was when I started Carrot inks. Carrots are orange, you're right... I didn't think of that <G>.

Nozzle checks are fine.

Your idea to try an OEM cartridge is a good one, but I don't have any on hand. They're rather $$$ of course and I haven't used one for a long time. When my Carrot cart runs out, I may try an OEM. I do suspect it's a software issue, or maybe I should get my monitor calibrated.

Appreciated your suggestions!

Paul

 

[barfl2]

You could try printing a known test image from the internet from say Colour Collective or Native Digital (you may already have one) but print it through a different application. Say Windows Photo Gallery or Canon Zoom browser is very good. I have used these to manually calibrate my Asus Monitor with different media and whilst not perfect is pretty close. Have you tried different paper settings ? normally the printer driver should control the colour output.

But I am sure turboyguy is on the right track the likely culprit is the existing cart. Apart from the cost on another OEM you could try another make of compatible tri-colour cart.

 

[Paul W.]

Thank you! I'll try the test images, I didn't know about those websites.

I have tried printing through different applications but the results are pretty much the same. Since my last post I did discover a feature in the HP driver, as you mentioned. When I went to Properties in the driver, there were three tabs. One is marked "color" and I had never noticed it before... it has sliders for brightness, contrast - and - warmer/cooler! So I set the slider toward "cooler" a notch or two and that helped.

As for the color cart itself being an issue, both you and turbguy are in agreement on that solution... I'll have to try that also.

Thanks again,

Paul