Troubleshooting Dark and Contrasty Prints with Gutenprint Dec 1800 Driver

As a photographer, there's nothing more frustrating than receiving prints that don't meet your expectations. If you're experiencing dark and contrasty prints using the Gutenprint Dec 1800 driver, you're not alone. I recently went through a similar issue and found myself at a loss for solutions.

I started by talking to Epson support, who recommended returning my printer, stating that it would never be able to produce the results I wanted. However, this wasn't an option for me as I was happy with the printer's performance in other respects. The problem seemed to persist even when using different papers, including Epson Matte Paper Heavyweight.

After some research and experimentation, I discovered that the issue lay with the Gutenprint Dec 1800 driver. Specifically, it appeared to be producing prints with too much contrast and fine lines (posterization) in gradients. To troubleshoot this, I tried using different color management settings, including letting Photoshop determine colors and downloading a paper profile from Hahnemuhle for their Photo Rag paper.

Unfortunately, the results were still disappointing. It wasn't until I turned off the printer controls and allowed Gutenprint to take control that I started to see improvements. This suggested that there was an issue with the driver's settings, rather than the printer itself.

If you're experiencing similar issues with your prints, it may be worth trying this approach. By adjusting your color management settings and allowing the Gutenprint Dec 1800 driver to take control, you may find that your prints are more in line with your expectations. As an amateur photographer myself, I know how important it is to get the results we want from our printing.

In conclusion, while working with the Gutenprint Dec 1800 driver can be challenging, there are steps you can take to troubleshoot common issues like dark and contrasty prints. By experimenting with different settings and approaches, you may find that your prints improve significantly.

Gutenprint dec 1800 driver