Print module OS X Sonoma and Epson 3880 Printer

[kearneyimages]

Lightroom Version Number

13.2

Operating System

1. macOS 12 Monterey

Hi,

I currently use a Mac Studio M1 Ultra running OS X Monterey.
I use an Epson 3880 printer and it is still working perfectly, so I don't want to upgrade unless it dies.
I am starting to run into issues with other software I use that requires Sonoma OS, but I am slow to upgrade as I don't want to lose compatibility with the Epson 3880.

I have seen some online posts that state the Epson will work fine with OS Sonoma if connected to the Mac Studio via ethernet cable.

Are there any users here, that have successfully upgraded to Sonoma on an Apple Silicon machine and can use their Epson 3880?

I know this could be a long shot.

Thanks.

 

[MalcolmRichardson]

Hi,

I currently use a Mac Studio M1 Ultra running OS X Monterey.
I use an Epson 3880 printer and it is still working perfectly, so I don't want to upgrade unless it dies.
I am starting to run into issues with other software I use that requires Sonoma OS, but I am slow to upgrade as I don't want to lose compatibility with the Epson 3880.

I have seen some online posts that state the Epson will work fine with OS Sonoma if connected to the Mac Studio via ethernet cable.

Are there any users here, that have successfully upgraded to Sonoma on an Apple Silicon machine and can use their Epson 3880?

I know this could be a long shot.

Thanks.

Hi, I have an Epson SP3800 ( older than yours) which has been running perfectly through a USB connection on my M1MBP on Sonoma. However since upgrading to the latest version of Sonoma 14.4.1 I have encounter a known issue with LrC in which the paper choices in the setup menu are now very limited. If I print through Epson Print Layout or Photoshop the problem does not occur. Hopefully Apple and/or Adobe with come up with a fix for this but until they do I can’t print from LrC.

So long as you use the Epson driver and not the Apple AirPrint driver and avoid printing from LrC until the above problem is fixed, you should be fine, even without an Ethernet connection.

Good luck,

Malcolm

 

[Paul McFarlane]

Limited print options is a bug in 14.4.1 - see this thread:

https://www.lightroomqueen.com/comm...in-lrc-13-2-after-sonoma-14-4-1-update.49908/

 

[MalcolmRichardson]

Hi Paul, Yes I realize that. I was simply pointing out to the OP that so long as he avoids printing from LrC until the bug is fixed, he should be able to use his Epson3880 with Sonoma. Cheers,
Malcolm

 

[Paul McFarlane]

Hi Malcolm

Agreed, but for the benefit of others it gives more of the story.

 

[edrudolph]

I have a 3880 connected to an M2 Mac Studio via USB cable. I use ImagePrint 12.x. On Mac OS 14.4.1 (and also previous versions of Sonoma) I've had no printing problems.

 

[andrew.j.crouch]

Spent all of Monday looking at this after upgrading to Mac OS 14.4.1 and wondering about why there was no A2 sizing or advanced settings in the Epson driver N.B. never use the pesky Adobe AirPrint driver as Malcolm has quoted above. After looking at the forums here I found the answer here, thank you Lightroom Queen and all. I have the Epson Print Layout software and its an incredibly easy and good quality software which produces great prints plus you can toggle between Perceptual & Relative Colormetric to see the differences, neat. So I've been exporting a print sized Tiff (sharpened) and using the Epson Print Layout for the time being, hopefully Adobe & Apple are working on an upgrade and testing it!

 

[kearneyimages]

Hi,
I borrowed a friend's Macbook Pro with the latest version of Sonoma.
I loaded the 3880 drivers, Epson Print Layout, PS and LrC.
No matter what I try, the prints are appalling. I have used USB and ethernet. The same image printed from any application is terrible. I downloaded the proper ICC profiles for the paper as well. I tried my own custom Permajet profiles, no good.

With the Permajet default profile, the image looks right and prints terribly. With my custom profile, the image looks terrible and prints beyond terrible.

Either a new P900 or don't upgrade and keep the 3880, but then I can't use the latest versions of Final Cut Pro, etc.

 

[MalcolmRichardson]

Hi, the fact that this occurs with multiple programs suggests to me that it is an OS or driver issue. Did you make sure to delete the Apple AirPrint driver from your friend’s MBP? I have found that simply installing the Epson driver with the AirPrint driver already installed often won’t work so after every OS update I first delete the AirPrint driver and then do a new install of the Epson driver.

Of course, this may get you printing from PS and EPL, but until the specifics bug with LrC and Sonoma is fixed, it won’t help with printing from LrC. I keep checking for LrC and Apple updates but so far there hasn’t been a fix that I can see. However if I save to a file and print from EPL my prints are fine.

Good luck

Malcolm

 

[kearneyimages]

Hi, the fact that this occurs with multiple programs suggests to me that it is an OS or driver issue. Did you make sure to delete the Apple AirPrint driver from your friend’s MBP? I have found that simply installing the Epson driver with the AirPrint driver already installed often won’t work so after every OS update I first delete the AirPrint driver and then do a new install of the Epson driver.

Of course, this may get you printing from PS and EPL, but until the specifics bug with LrC and Sonoma is fixed, it won’t help with printing from LrC. I keep checking for LrC and Apple updates but so far there hasn’t been a fix that I can see. However if I save to a file and print from EPL my prints are fine.

Good luck

Malcolm

Hi
I installed the Epson driver and checked to ensure that it was correctly selected and not using one of Apples own drivers.
Are you saying, I should have searched for and then deleted a specific Apple driver prior to installing the Epson driver ?

 

[MalcolmRichardson]

Yes. By default, when Apple does an OS update, even minor, it tends to replace the printer drivers with its own AirPrint driver. Have a look at these links.

https://imagescience.com.au/knowledge/airprint-must-die
https://www.colourphil.co.uk/printing-mac_colour_problems.shtml

Under System Settings select Printers and Scanners and then click on your chosen printer (eg Epson Stylus Pro 3880). This should bring up a dialogue box and near the bottom of the page you should see Kind: eg Epson SPro 3880 and under this will be Driver Version. If the installed driver says AirPrint then you need to delete it by selecting remove printer at the bottom left of the page. Then download the latest driver from the Epson site and follow the instructions to install Epson’s driver, not Apple’s. I think the latest version is 12.62 and at the end of the installation the printer dialogue panel should show 12.62 against the Driver version and NOT AirPrint. I have found that if I don’t delete the AirPrint driver first, the Epson driver might not install correctly. The sites I have linked have more detail on why and how to do this. Cheers, Malcolm

 

[kearneyimages]

Hi Malcolm,
That's exactly what I did multiple times. Rebooted multiple times and tore my hair out even more times.

Based on all this, I won't think I'll take the chance on updating to Sonoma and may start negotiations with my wife regarding a new printer.

 

[MalcolmRichardson]

Oh. That’s a pity. I too wish I hadn't upgraded to Sonoma. It’s been no end of trouble for my printing. There is a lot written on various sites and forums about the problems with printing from later versions of the Mac OS.

The only other suggestion I have came to me from ColourPhil on the DPReview printer forum. “… get yourself a slightly older S/H Mac with Catalina or Monterey to use for printing” Fortunately I still have an older Mac that won’t upgrade past Catalina. I can copy a final edited version of my images from LrC on my new MBP and then print them on the old one. It’s a bit inconvenient but it works. It might be a solution until you upgrade your printer.

However, I fear that a new printer won’t automatically fix things until Apple and/or Adobe fix the bug with LrC and Sonoma.

Good luck, M

 

[MalcolmRichardson]

Sorry, I just realized from your original post that you are already running Monterey.

 

[kearneyimages]

Sorry, I just realized from your original post that you are already running Monterey.

I have my last Mac Pro tower running Catalina sitting under the desk doing nothing.
It's a pity to have such problems printing. The idea of a new printer appeals for several reasons eg no black ink swap with Epson P900.
My 3880 is printing perfectly and is also worthless on the used market, especially if one can't print with the new Max OS.

 

[Gnits]

I need to get a new printer… my 3800 has lasted well.

But, I am really scared that Epson will launch the P900 Gti version with the go faster stripes the minute I order a replacement. Not printing much now…. so will wait as long as I can.

 

[kearneyimages]

I need to get a new printer… my 3800 has lasted well.

But, I am really scared that Epson will launch the P900 Gti version with the go faster stripes the minute I order a replacement. Not printing much now…. so will wait as long as I can.

I know how you feel. I refer to it as Kearney's Law due to the number of times I have been a victim of buying at the wrong time.
"After I buy something, it will be twice as good next week or else, half the price."

 

[happycranker]

There was a discussion in another printer discussion recently, which I suggested using a RIP to bypass the MAC driver issues. Maybe that is a consideration, but the MAC OS could still be a deal breaker?

 

[Gnits]

There is a version of Qimage Ultimate which works on Mac, which is is not a RIP but has a lot of RIP features and is a lot less expensive than a RIP.

Epson Print Layout (EPL, mentioned above) is a good tool to use if trouble shooting, as the app is written by Epson and so should avoid Lr/Adobe specific use of driver issues. Also... it is very simple to use and the screen follows a very logical sequence.

 

[kearneyimages]

There is a version of Qimage Ultimate which works on Mac, which is is not a RIP but has a lot of RIP features and is a lot less expensive than a RIP.

Epson Print Layout (EPL, mentioned above) is a good tool to use if trouble shooting, as the app is written by Epson and so should avoid Lr/Adobe specific use of driver issues. Also... it is very simple to use and the screen follows a very logical sequence.

Hi,
I had no success with EPL. No matter what profile I used with Permajet paper, the paper makers' default paper profile or the personal profile they created for me.