Pictures print darker than they appear on screen?

Question

My printer is an HP Photosmart 3210. I've calibrated, cleaned the ink heads, and made every possible maintenance to the printer. Ran the tests and they come out good.

When I try to print a picture, the picture prints out much darker than it appears on the screen.

Any ideas?

I should also say that this problem started 3 weeks ago. I never had a problem before. My pictures used to print perfectly.

Answer 1

your monitor needs to be calibrated with your printer. you can buy a calibrator at you local computer store.
http://www.compusa.com/products/products.asp?ref=cj&Pn=Spyder2PRO&N=0&Ntt=spyder&Ntk=All&Nty=1&D=spyder&Dx=mode%20matchall
they spyder is a good one and unless your a pro photographer you can just get the basic spyder 2 express.

Answer 2

Remember there is a difference between additive and subtractive color mixing. Additive is how a printer works the more you add the darker it gets. Where as the more coros of light you add it gets lighter. In most art programs you can change a setting called Gamma Correction... Use that verses brightening if you have the option. Gamma changes all color levels up or down, brightening only affects certain colors even though it appears that it affects all.

Answer 3

darken the assessment on your show screen maximum folk have a tendency to run the assessment too severe, reducing it will make it less complicated on your eyes and supply a extra lifelike view of what your printer will actual print until----- Your printer set to delivere extra ink than it needs to print your optimium image, which would be calibrated via working the dianostics on your printer and working the top cleaners and few attempt prints or calibrations prints, dependant on the printr style

Answer 4

Work the other way around.

1)Make the picture match your screen.
2)Then adjust the 'lightness to match your liking.

It should come out just fine.

Answer 5

maybe dumb question, but are they in rgb mode or cmyk? as always, images appear brighter on screen and just plain different, you can try to adjust the brightness of the pictures and see if that works.