When you press the Print button (i.e. top right hand corner of Print with Preview dialog) the "System" Print dialog as shown in Figure 7 should appear.

 

Figure 7 - "System" Print dialog

 

Now press the Properties button. Once the Printer driver window (figure 8) appears choose the type of Media (1) that you will be using. Next select "Custom" mode (2). The last setting to choose in this dialog is the Advanced button (3).

 

Figure 8 - Epson Printer dialog - Main Window

 

Chose the highest Print Quality (4) option compatible with the printer/media combination that you require. Halftoning should be set for High Quality. High Speed (5) should be disabled.

For basic printing Color Management (6) should be set-up for either Color Controls, PhotoEnhance or ICM. When you choose Color Controls, PhotoEnhance or ICM mode  the Photoshop Print Preview dialog is configured as shown in figure 5 on the previous page. Unless you have good reason to choose differently I recommend leaving the Gamma at 1.8.

No Color Adjustment mode should only be chosen when you are using media type profiles and have already selected the appropriate profile in the Photoshop Print with Preview dialog (figure 6 on previous page).

Note:

• Don't be tempted to use the Epson Print Preview screen since the results will look terrible and cause you no end of confusion and frustration. The Epson Print Preview is NOT compatible with the use of ICC media profile.
• The Epson GreyBalancer software is NOT compatible with the use of No Colour Adjustment mode - ENSURE that it has been completely disabled before attempting to use media profiles.

Figure 9 - Epson Print Driver - Advanced Settings

 

In the absence of good quality media profiles my personal preference would be ICM mode since it disables the adjustment sliders and removes most of Epson's internal colour/contrast processing. Lastly, press the OK button (twice)  and return to the Photoshop 7/CS Print dialog.

The media profiles listed below were obtained from various sources including Epson UK, USA and Australia. You can download the profiles by mouse clicking the printer name :

Downloadable Epson ICC Media Profiles

Epson Stylus Photo 1290 - (compatible with the 1280)

Epson Stylus Photo 890

Epson Stylus Photo 895

Epson Stylus Photo 810 - (compatible with the 820)

Epson Stylus Photo 1270 (install cd-rom)

Epson Stylus Photo 2000P

Epson Stylus Photo 2100

The profiles are compressed using WinZip and upon download should be decompressed and copied into the windows/system/color folder (Windows 98,98SE and Me) or the system32/spool/drivers/color folder (Windows 2000 and XP).