RYoder
Newbie to Printing
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2019
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 4
- Printer Model
- HP PageWide 377dw MFP
Hey guys. This is my first post on the site. It's great to be here.
As I try to become an expert with this printer of mine, I'm noticing that print quality, specifically color accuracy is poor depending on the stock I'm using.
While the 377dw is only rated to do cardstock up to 220gsm, I'm easily running 110lb 300gsm coverstock and auto duplexing. I'm trying to print some personal business cards with a black background and a mid-light gray box on the front.
One issue is that while the accuracy is okay (not quite perfect) on this thick matte stock, the colors seem a bit too washed out. This is to be investigated further as I'll be experimenting with Red River Polar Matte soon.
The next issue I'm confused about. When I print on glossy stock using this printer and the same business card file, the gray box is very very light, much lighter then on my screen. I'm not messing with the color profiles or anything, it's still sRGB.
I'm printing a full bleed 10 up file I designed in Publisher and exported to Acrobat using press quality settings. I'm a bit low on ink now from a lot of testing, but I'm wondering in the meantime if the paper setting matters in terms of print quality and not just platen gap.
I'd have to run another set of tests to check, but if I tell the printer the paper is cardstock (when it's just thick glossy stock) I might be getting this color inaccuracy. I know I did something right one time because I have one sheet that looks halfway decent.
But does choosing the correct paper type affect print quality like that? This printer has limited paper choice options in the properties/preferences, so I can't tell it thick AND glossy, just one or the other basically.
These printers do give you control of ink saturation, black ink spread, and dry time. I understand that saturation is good for glossy stock to make colors pop more, but what is the purpose of the black ink spread?
Has anyone here gotten a bit more knowledge over the last 4 years than I have about these machines? They seem really great I just want to get the result I'm expecting haha.
It's a tad late now, but I'll see about posting some pictures of my business card tests tomorrow if I can.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide me!
As I try to become an expert with this printer of mine, I'm noticing that print quality, specifically color accuracy is poor depending on the stock I'm using.
While the 377dw is only rated to do cardstock up to 220gsm, I'm easily running 110lb 300gsm coverstock and auto duplexing. I'm trying to print some personal business cards with a black background and a mid-light gray box on the front.
One issue is that while the accuracy is okay (not quite perfect) on this thick matte stock, the colors seem a bit too washed out. This is to be investigated further as I'll be experimenting with Red River Polar Matte soon.
The next issue I'm confused about. When I print on glossy stock using this printer and the same business card file, the gray box is very very light, much lighter then on my screen. I'm not messing with the color profiles or anything, it's still sRGB.
I'm printing a full bleed 10 up file I designed in Publisher and exported to Acrobat using press quality settings. I'm a bit low on ink now from a lot of testing, but I'm wondering in the meantime if the paper setting matters in terms of print quality and not just platen gap.
I'd have to run another set of tests to check, but if I tell the printer the paper is cardstock (when it's just thick glossy stock) I might be getting this color inaccuracy. I know I did something right one time because I have one sheet that looks halfway decent.
But does choosing the correct paper type affect print quality like that? This printer has limited paper choice options in the properties/preferences, so I can't tell it thick AND glossy, just one or the other basically.
These printers do give you control of ink saturation, black ink spread, and dry time. I understand that saturation is good for glossy stock to make colors pop more, but what is the purpose of the black ink spread?
Has anyone here gotten a bit more knowledge over the last 4 years than I have about these machines? They seem really great I just want to get the result I'm expecting haha.
It's a tad late now, but I'll see about posting some pictures of my business card tests tomorrow if I can.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide me!