Epson ColorWorks Colors Printing Wrong? Fix It with ICM + AdobeRGB1998

Epson ColorWorks printers — CW-C6000, CW-C6500, CW-C7500, and similar models — are professional color label printers chosen for vibrant, accurate prints. Yet many users run into the same frustrating problem right out of the box: colors print washed out, muddy, or completely off from what they see on screen.

We found the cause. And the fix is simpler than you'd expect: in the Media Definition settings, set the color management mode to ICM and select AdobeRGB1998 as the input profile. This resolves the color problem in most cases dramatically.

This guide shows you exactly how to make this setting — both via the Windows driver and inside LabelInn.

Why Does Epson ColorWorks Print Colors Incorrectly?

Epson ColorWorks printers default to the sRGB color space. This setting misinterprets colors in designs with rich, saturated tones. Vibrant reds on screen can print as rusty brown; bright blues go dull; greens turn yellowish.

The reason: professional print production uses AdobeRGB1998 as the industry standard color space. It covers a significantly wider color gamut than sRGB — especially in greens and cyans — resulting in far more accurate and vivid output from color label printers.

The fix: in Media Definition settings, set color management to ICM and specify AdobeRGB1998 as the input profile.

Method 1: Setting via the Windows Driver

If you're using the Epson ColorWorks Windows driver, follow these steps:

Method 2: With LabelInn — One Click, Done

Finding and changing these settings in the Windows driver takes time — navigating menus, knowing profile names, remembering to set it every time. There's a faster way.

In LabelInn, AdobeRGB1998 is pre-selected in the Media Definition settings by default. You just click it — no extra steps required.

What Changes After Selecting AdobeRGB1998?

Here's what users typically observe in test prints after switching from default sRGB to AdobeRGB1998:

The difference is most noticeable on colorful product labels, food packaging labels, and brand identity labels where accurate color reproduction is critical.

Which Epson ColorWorks Models Are Affected?

This color profile issue appears across the ColorWorks lineup:

• CW-C6000 / CW-C6000A — 4-inch, up to A4-width color label printer
• CW-C6500 / CW-C6500A — With built-in cutter, high-volume color label printer
• CW-C7500 / CW-C7500G — A3-width, high-speed color label printer
• TM-C3500 / TM-C3510 — Compact color label printer

The steps above apply to all these models.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ICM and why should I select it?

ICM (Image Color Management) is Windows' built-in color management system. In ICM mode, the printer processes colors according to the ICC/ICM profile you specify. In "Auto" or "Driver Controlled" mode, the printer uses its own algorithm for color conversion — which typically produces less accurate results. Using ICM together with AdobeRGB1998 significantly improves print color accuracy.

AdobeRGB1998 isn't in my list — what do I do?

On Windows, the AdobeRGB1998 profile is usually installed by default. If it doesn't appear in the list, you can download the ICC profile for free from Adobe's official website. Right-click the downloaded .icc file and select "Install Profile" to add it to Windows. LabelInn users skip this step entirely — the profile is built into the app.

I made the change but colors still look off — what now?

Try a few additional checks: verify that you're using Epson-approved label media. Check ink cartridge levels. Run a nozzle check and head cleaning from the Epson driver (under Maintenance). Make sure print quality is set to "High" or "Best" rather than "Draft" or "Normal".

Which Epson ColorWorks models does LabelInn support?

LabelInn supports the full range of popular ColorWorks models including CW-C6000, CW-C6500, CW-C7500, TM-C3500, and TM-C3510. Print via USB or network connection.

Conclusion

The most common cause of color problems on Epson ColorWorks is the default color profile setting. Switching color management to ICM and selecting AdobeRGB1998 as the input profile in Media Definition resolves the issue in most cases immediately and completely.

Doing this manually through the Windows driver is possible, but takes time and know-how. LabelInn users never have to deal with it: AdobeRGB1998 is pre-loaded in Media Definition settings and applied with a single click.

• Supports CW-C6000, CW-C6500, CW-C7500, TM-C3500 and more
• AdobeRGB1998 pre-configured — no manual ICC profile installation
• Works the same on Windows and macOS
• Ideal for product labels, food labels, and brand identity prints