Printed page image don't equal PC monitor's image?

[bryankendall]

I have an HP Business Inkjet 1200. I have used a variety of printers. I am very happy with it. But one thing.

Why don't the printed pages look like what is on my PC's digital monitor? I have scanned various images (digital photos, newspaper photos, analog images from the 1920s, etc) with a high end HP Scanner at a high resolution 1200 or better. When I look at my digital monitor the colors are clear and bright. But, when I print out on various papers (from ultra expensive Presetation glossy paper to inexpensive paper - tested on many different Printer paper settings) the colors are good but different. The colors are muted and details are lost. It doesn't have that razor sharp clarity of the original. There is not the range of whites to greys to blacks.

Why?

I am puzzled.......what printer would I use to get the output the same as the input? Is there a printer I can buy that is capable of this? What is better for color accuracy Inkjet or Laser? Can a Commercial Printhouse get this accuracy?

Thanks

[tinker]

Your printer has 3 colours and black, so it is really only a basic as far as colour interpretation.
If you have something like 7 colour printer, you will get better result.
Laser printer is best, it is sharpest, but to get good quality photo you will need one with more than 3 basic colours.
Each printer will have its own colour interpretation, some can be calibrated.
If you want something really good, it would be best to give it to a pro printing shop.

Something like this:

http://www.epson.ca/cgi-bin/ceStore/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&infoTyp...egory=Products

[bryankendall]

wow! Thanks ...that looks like a very fine printer.

What is the difference between a laser printer and the so called photo printers?

[edDV]

You need to calibrate the computer monitor to match the printer. The pro version of Photoshop offers tools to achieve this calibration but the subject is complex. People have been struggling with this since the beginnings of computer prepress and digital photography.

WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WYSIWYG

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_management
http://www.colorwiki.com/wiki/Vista%27s_New_Color_Management_System_-_WCS

Also read the printer documentation for computer monitor calibration strategies.

[tinker]

Do what edDV suggest, but with your printer you will never get the best.

What I showed you is an ink jet, but has more colour cartridges to interpret shades.

Laser printer work on a different principle to apply print to the paper.

[handyguy]

Some printers calibrate themselves to your PC.

[bryankendall]

What is the difference between a laser printer and a Ink Jet Printer? (Good and Bad)

[bryankendall]

What is a PHOTO PRINTER? Is it more resolution or more accurate?

[tinker]

To your first question.
Ink jet printer use actual dye to deposit on paper as liquid.
Laser uses static charge to attract powder, which is than baked onto a paper.
Photo Printer is usualy ink jet type and use more than three basic colours to reproduce colour spectrum.
Sharpness depend on bubble size, finer head is also more expensive.
I do not know what you consider "more accurate", if it is sharpness or colour interpretation, but it all has to do with number of cartridges and printing head design.

[greymalkin]

Another thing to consider is uploading your photos to an online service such as snapfish..etc. The quality of the photos they produce have the color and sharpness that mine and other specialty photo printers I've seen can't come close to matching.

Also, I've found that it is cheaper to have them print the photos as I can get them for something like 10 cents a photo, whereas the photo printers end up costing you something like 25 cents a photo for an inferior product.

Of course this is for standard 3x5 photo's and I'm not sure what your application will be, but it's definitely worth looking into as you may find you can get a better product for cheaper and with a lot less hassle.