Are there any good tutorials on printing your 3D art so it doesn't look all washed out?

Are you printing them on a home printer?

Epson CX7000F yeah.

Quote - Epson CX7000F yeah.

I'm not as familiar with Epson as I am with HP, but my last HP printer came with a color matching utility that's supposed to improve the match between what you see on the monitor and what comes out of the printer. You should have a utility called EasyPrint that Epson sent with your printer (if not, you should be able to download it at their web site). I don't know everything that the utility does, but it may have some options worth exploring.

Depending on where you live, you may actually be able to get your images printed for you, for cheaper than what you're doing at home (as long as they're not nudes).  I go to our local Meijer (like a superstore type store that's local to Michigan), go to their photo department, and print mine, from wallet-photos sized all the way up to 24x36 posters for WAY cheaper than I could do at home.  And it looks REALLY nice.  I just take an SD card with my stuff to the store, sign a copyright form, and I'm good to go.

Kinko's here will print stuff out and I hear it's not as expensive as doing your own if you do bulk. But for one or two pieces, Idon't think it would be. I did read some advice on printing and the advice was render at 300 DPI if you want quality prints. My machine would probably expire before the rneder finished...sigh.

Part of my problem is I'm trying to print on 8 1/2 x11 Art Canvas sheet's and they tend to choke in the feeder. The other part is trying to get them to no look so washed out. I've discovered they look better when I print on the glossy side of the canvas and not as washed out. Now if I could just get them to feed properly.

Canvas? check your manual to see what sort of weight of paper your printer supports...I kinda think canvas is going to be a problem; it's not rigid enough, and probably way over spec for most printers

Also, we have a printer forum here, with people very knowledgeable on art printing (kinda specialized for me, I fix commercial network printers...;)

For canvas paper, you'll need a printer that is specific to that weight of paper.  From looking at the specs of your printer, the heaviest paper I'd use is photopaper.

Quote - Also, we have a printer forum here, with people very knowledgeable on art printing (kinda specialized for me, I fix commercial network printers...;)

Yeah I forgot I don't have all the forum's set to be visible. I just glanced through the ones I had set looking for a printer specific forum to ask the original question but forgot to look at the ones I didn't have turned on before I posted. Guess I should reset that forum in my forum options.

The flat canvas sheet's feed through ok. The problem with the canvas is so many of the sheet's curl up at the edges and I have to spend a bunch of time reflatening them before I use them.

I'm probably making more work for myself by not just goiong through a print shop somewhere.

LOL! I just turned on the Printer forum in my list and there was all of one thread there by someone who asked for advice and then answered themselves saying they'd go to a busier forum to ask! Hehehe....

I do my own printing for my shows all the time.

I have an epson 1280, and the paper I use is the Ilford Gallarie Classic Pearl.

Your printer isn't  set up for canvas, either is mine....however, I can tell you that canvas will soak up the ink like there is no tomorrow and will dull the colors out.

What dpi are you printing at?

I actually wasn't paying attention to my DPI when I was rendering so it's probably the default. The matte side of the canvas definately soaks up the ink and washes out the image more than the glossy side does that's for sure. Sometimes I like the painted look it gives and sometimes it just washes the image out to unrecognisability. It depends on how detailed the image is.

Hmmm...well mine has never washed out that badly, but it does soak up the ink.

I don't do the canvas anymore simply because I don't want to end up wrecking my printer right now :)

Check the dpi in your set up.  I set mine every time I print.  I don't know why you are printing them out (ie your own use, to sell  etc.) but that will make a difference in what materials you use for archival quality etc.

My dpi is at 1440 or better when I print out and the paper I use is archival.

Thanks for the tips. I'm trying to print out more of my stuff for showing in local galleries so I definately need to start paying attention to the details of DPI and stuff.

Yes, dpi and your choice of papers and ink are essential.

In order for it to be archival you will need to make sure you use epson inks and not the imitations.

Quote - Yes, dpi and your choice of papers and ink are essential.

In order for it to be archival you will need to make sure you use epson inks and not the imitations.

That too could be part of my problem. I've been buying cheap ink online. Guess I'll have to get the good stuff for my digital prints.

Be sure your images are in the right colour format. It may be your printer is using CMYK? If so, you'll need to convert from RGB. (This can be done in Photoshop.)

 That should be done for him automatically by his printer.  I'm thinking he needs good paper, good ink, a setting of no less then 1440dpi on his printer software and he'll see a world of difference.