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Introduction
The driver settings are not printer specific, they should be
compatible with just about any Epson Inkjet printer currently
available and also with some from quite a few years back. The screen
captures are all based on the Epson Photo Stylus 1200, so be aware
that newer models will differ very slightly.
The ColorSync profiles supplied with the Mac OS driver
can be separated into media specific profiles and one called Epson
Standard. This last profile simply defines the
optimum colour space for the Epson printer and is associated with the
Color Settings, PhotoEnhance and ColorSync modes; it's actually pretty
close to ColorMatch/sRGB in colour space terms. When the driver is set for any of
the 3 operating modes listed above it needs no additional media
profiles. The media profiles are all named such that the user can
easily recognise the specific paper with which they are associated.
For best results when using an Epson Printer with Photoshop we
should really have it correctly configured and the monitor properly
calibrated. Adobe provides Adobe Gamma for the purpose of calibration
and I have produced a comprehensive essay describing how Photoshop 6
can be configured along with guidance on calibrating the monitor. See Photoshop
6 Colour Setup.
You can download a printer friendly version of this tutorial here 
Getting an acceptable Print
The typical user of an Epson printer and Photoshop 6 has two BASIC
print workflows (methods). Neither is complex, in fact many of the
driver settings are common to both methods. The results from both may
be similar. I suggest that you try both and decide which of the
two suites your workflow best.
Method 1 - Let ColorSync colour engine do
the colour space conversions
In Photoshop 6 Print dialog "File > Print",
choose the Media Type (1)
and make sure
that the Source Space radio button is selected (2). We then choose the
"Printer Space" Profile pop-up (3) and from it select
"Printer Color Management (PCM)". Intent cannot be changed,
nor does it need to be since no conversions take place inside
Photoshop when using this method.
Photoshop 6/Epson 1200 - Print Dialog
Choosing PCM embeds the "source colour space profile"
within the image and so tells ColorSync and the Epson driver that it has
some conversion work still to do before printing the image. The
conversion process is automatic and the user has no role, so long as
the Epson driver is set-up for ColorSync mode.
Epson Print Driver 1200 - Advanced
Settings
Chose the highest Print Quality (5) option compatible with the
printer/media combination that you require. Color Management (6) should be set-up for
ColorSync, Make sure the Profile selected is Epson
Standard and the Rendering Intent Perceptual (7).
Lastly, press the OK button and return to
the Photoshop 6 Print dialog.
Method 2 - Let PS6 colour engine
do the colour space conversions
In PS6 Print dialog "File > Print", choose the Media
Type (1) and make sure that the
Source Space (2) radio button is selected. We then choose the
"Printer Space" Profile pop-up (3) and from it select the
ColorSync profile for our media choice, e.g.; "Epson Stylus Photo
1200 Photo Paper". Intent should be set at Perceptual.
Note that you should avoid choosing Epson Standard in this popup. Next select
"Custom" mode and then choose the Advanced button (4).
Photoshop 6/Epson 1200 - Print Dialog
Chose the highest Print Quality (5) option compatible with the
printer/media combination that you require. Color Management (6) should be set-up for
Color Adjustment/Controls (different drivers have different
labels), No Color Adjustment mode (7).
Note that this mode disables the adjustment sliders and removes most of Epson's
internal colour processing. Lastly, press the OK button and return to
the Photoshop 6 Print dialog.
Epson 1200 Print Driver - Advanced
Settings
Final Thoughts
Both methods are equally valid; depending upon whether the image is
photographic or graphical in nature they will produce very similar, if
not identical results. In theory, Method 2
should produce
a marginally better
result since it utilises the Adobe colour conversion engine, which is
reckoned to be superior to the ColorSync engine.
There are other printer workflows available to Mac OS users, but
these are generally aimed at the more advanced user. For the novice user the methods described above will ensure
good quality prints with minimal scope for destroying an image because
of a silly keystroke.
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