My digital camera takes pictures with a greenish hue. How do I fix this?

Question

I've got a Kodak DX3700 digital camera that takes pictures fine, and, in fact, the pictures look great on the PC. But when printed at the printer, they seem to have a slightly greenish hue (slight, but still there.) Any idea how something like that can be corrected for future pictures taken with the camera?
Thanks.

Featured question!!! Yikes!

Answer 1

There are several possible reasons why the picture looks green It is either:
1) the lighting when you took the photo
2) the camera white balance was off
3) your monitor settings are slightly off
4) the printer calibration is off
5) the ink colors are low

If all of your prints from any source look greenish, then it is probably not 1 or 2. You might test your monitor by downloading an image from somewhere else and printing it. If the print looks like the monitor colors, then the monitor calibration is probably not at fault. If the print is still greenish then it might be the printer or ink. If it only happens when you print pictures you took with your camera then it may be related to the camera, software or printer. Check the print driver for information on tweaking the color profiles available to the printer. You might also want to print a few pictures on a Kodal Picture Maker kiosk to see if they are also green-tinted.

The newer kodak software, the Easyshare software (currently in version 6), has a special printing software plugin called "One Touch to Better Pictures" (OTTBP). It basically tweaks your printer to work with Kodak's color science and Kodak paper. If I remember correctly, your camera came with Kodak Picture Software (KPS), and I think this earlier software lacks the plugin. This software can also enhance images and may remove green-tinting if the color is in the image itself.

I recommend going to http://www.kodak.com and downloading the newest version of Kodak's EasyShare software and then installing the OTTBP profile for your printer. You should also download and install the newest printer driver for your printer. If that does not correct the problem then you may have an issue with the printer or camera.

Answer 2

The DX3700 is a simple digital camera which does not offer color correction settings internally. Most cameras allow you to adjust the white balance mode to compensate for different 'colored' lighting (daylight, clouds, flourescent, incandescent). However- your camera does not. On the flip side, color management is something that Kodak does exceptionally well - probably better than any company out there. And- the DX3700 has been lauded for generally excellent automatic color balancing.

So, where are we:
1. if you are taking photos under flourescent lighting conditions- that would explain it. Flourescent lights ARE greenish.
2. if not, the only other way, and probably best way, is to download your photos to your computer and do a bit of 'post processing' before you print them.

Photoshop (or the much less expensive Photoshop elements) is arguably the best and most feature filled tool for this, but it's also very complex and difficult to learn how to use. I suggest downloading Picasa from Google. It's FREE and it's very easy to use. You can easily adjust the color tint of the images, drag them back to your memory card, and then take them to the store for printing.

have fun,

Answer 3

Not necessarily your camera's fault. You have run into the baine of digital photography, Color Management! Welcome to the club! Try sending a single photo to a big box developer/printer like Walgreen's, Walmart, or other place where you can pick up the print instead of having to wait for snail mail. Pick a picture straight from your camera, untouched to send. If that comes back looking fine then you need to get the color calibration adjusted. Start downloading the ICM file from the maker if possible. Many don't supply an ICM for all models only the more expensive ones. Try searching the web for an ICM. If no luck, most drivers will let you adjust the color manually. Otherwise you need to get a system color calibrator. This will adjust your monitor & Printer.

Answer 4

Bondoman has a good suggestion about taking the photo and sending it someplace like Walmart, etc. In my local area they did a news story about digital photography and also about printers. They sent the pictures from the camera to several places like Walmart, Costco, etc. as well as printing them on a home computer and they also took it to a professional photographer and developer. Believe it or not, each picture came out differently colorwise.

So it may not be your camera at all but the photo processing/processor.

Good luck!

Answer 5

If they take fine, and look fine on your PC screen, then its probably your printer. What kind do you have? Is it a PHOTO printer or just a regular printer? How many ink cartridges does it have? Are any of them low or out? Photo printers many times have 4 or more carts., my Epson R200 has 6 cartidges, for better colors.

Also, price generally affects your image quality. Another thing could be what kind of media (photo paper; ie semi-gloss, glossy, matte, etc)

Most likely, its just an older or not very good printer, the epson r200 (they probably have a newer version out by now) was only 80 bucks when I got it, and I get offbrand ink off of eBay, so its not expensive for upkeep either

Answer 6

Here's how I would handle the situation:

1. I'd change the print cartridges

2. If it's not the cartridges than it is the printer, so I get a new printer.

3. If it's not the printer than it is the camera, so I'd either call customer service, have it fixed or get a new camera.

Answer 7

It sounds to me like something is wrong with the color setting of your camera. Check that and make sure you don't have it set on something funky like nighttime vision. Then, I would go to your printer. Maybe your printer has a feature with digital pictures - they don't come out so good. Either way, I'd call the store and get a new camera while you can.

I see you have Derail King ruining your question, too, like mine. He must be a featured question hater or something :P.

Answer 8

Sounds like a printer problem!

YOu need more Magenta.

Do a test print and see how the alignment of the print head is.

What kind of a printer.

Magenta is usually the brightest color.

Otherwise, you will need a program like Photoshop and you will have to color correct adding Magenta to the mix until the prints come out OK.

Answer 9

Friend,
There are three colors, green, blue, red of which make a picture. 55%, 29%, 19% respectively. The ink on your color printer sounds to be the problem or either the software being used that sends the picture from your PC to the printer. Focus on setting items back to default settings.
You will fix it.

Answer 10

It's probably the printer. Take some of your picture files down to walmart and have them printed. If they look normal, then it's your printer. Since it is so cheap to have the pictures professionally printed, consider tossing your printer in the trash.