I am currently using an epson Perfection 4870 Photo scanner with Silverfast Aii 6.4 (latest update). I profiled it with Monaco EZ Color 2.5 and their target.

Recently I switched to a Mac Pro (Intel) and am still using the latest version of Tiger.
My printer is an Epson Photo 2200.
Monitors are NEC MultiSync 20WMGX and Samsuncg LCD for palettes, calibrated with the Optix XR.
Photoshop CS3 (just upgraded from CS so I could cross grade to the Mac).

I have been spending days trying to get my prints to match what I see onscreen. To the point where I am thinking of getting a new printer and scanner just to save my sanity. But I don't know if that will help.

First, from all my research the past few days, I think Silverfast is overkill. I don't want to upgrade in case my aging scanner dies (and I have to buy Silverfast again). I only scan prints, no transparencies, and I have boxes of prints to finish. It seems that scanning prints requires less sophisticated equipment?

One question then, finally :<) is: would another scanner, printer, scanner software, or even a rip (which I know nothing about) help?

(I get a better match letting my printer do the color management, but it still comes out pink.)

Another question: Should I embed my scanner profile into the scanned photo?

Wish I could break this up into separate posts, but at this point I'm so brain frazzled I can't think how.

Anyone?

You've got the basics covered. A few suggestions:

Keep SilverFast, it has one of the best scan processing engines around.

In SilverFast, check the Advanced options to make sure all your Color management settings (profiles etc.) are correct.

When setting up a scan job, use 48-bit HDR. This will effectively disable all the automatic color adjustments (which is good).

Check to make sure that no adjustments of any kind are being done to the scan by SilverFast. What you want is "raw" data (not the technically correct term) straight from the scanner, at it's highest bit depth and dynamic range.

I'd recommend using ProPhoto RGB as your default internal profile and the color space that gets embedded into the scan output files

In Photoshop, edit your 16-bit ProPhoto files to your liking. If all your color management system is configured properly (displays, OS options, Color Settings in Photoshop) you can trust what you see on the screen in Photoshop.

When you've worked the file to perfection, you still have one more important step: Soft-Proofing.

In Photoshop, make a duplicate of your Master work file and put the windows next to each other so you can see them both.

On your Master file (not the duplicate) enable Soft-Proofing under the View > Proof Setup menu. In the Custom... menu, enter your printer/paper profile as the condition to proof to.

Make sure you have Simulate Paper Color and Black ink boxes checked. Try both Perceptual and Relative Colorimetric Rendering Intents to see what provides the best results.

Now, make another round of adjustments to get your Master file (soft-proofed) to visually match your Reference file (not soft-proofed). You will usually need to add Hue/Saturation and Curves adjustments to get a good match.

When you're done with adjustments you are ready to print.

In the Photoshop Print dialog, choose "Photoshop Manages Colors", pick the same profile and Rendering Intent you used in your soft-proof.

In your printer driver, make sure you have the correct paper and color settings and that Color Management is OFF. Otherwise you will be doubling up on the color management. THe idea is to let Photoshop handle the output, not the print driver.

I realize this is a simplified/condensed sequence of steps; I've posted a bunch of articles on color management and printing on my site at

http://www.coalsoneditions.com/kc/

Hmmm. I have an Epson 4870. It comes with Silverfast, yet I never use it for being too lazy. I made a profile for both Rx and Tx scans with GMB i1 Match I think. When you use the plug in you just use the profiles for what media you are scanning and it comes into Photoshop converted to the work space , or you choose ncm and tag the image with the profile later. You can scan in 8 or 16 bit with no problems.
For the printer maybe something has changed. If you do a test of a ref image like Photodisc are the colours right? Try a canned profile too to see if there is a similar print.
Monitors are a lot more finicky to judge if something is wrong. IF you have a ref print and the same digital ref file for that print is the best way.
If you want I can send you my Rx profile for the 4870.
But check the printer first as sometimes a few nozzles out on an Epson 2200 will shift all the colours making you think everything upstream is wrong.

Nat, sorry for taking so long to see this. I just got back online. Thank you so much for the in depth advice!

Neil, I found my problem. I hadn't been able to use the printer for awhile. Changed to all new cartridges and it solved the problem.

I just ordered the Epson 3800 and need too learn how too use that now :-)

Peggy

Good to hear. I kinda thought it was a inking problem before other calibration items. Good luck with the 3800. It is a good printer and the supplied profiles also good.