What do I do if my printed colors turned out to be duller than expected?

Hello Dana, As everyone already given the possibility of the issues so I would consider colour calibration for accuracy of print colour doc. It's very important to pre colour calibration prior to any serious graphic print works. As a side note, I tend to use colour calibration starting from my camera gear's to PC monitor to finally printers. It does involve researching for solution. Or you might just need to replace one or more colour cartridge. :-p Good luck.

I think if your edited photo is showing original color sure there is problem in your printer or printer colour setting

 

First you must work with CMYK mode not RGB and second don't choose color using Eye Dropper tool but you have to choose your wanted color from swatches library or type the colors Ratios  which you want  in the  CMYK channels 

Before it will get dull, be sure to double check first the color profile of your document. if the machine is using its own icc profile, you need to be aware of that also. when it is for print, better to use cmyk. when you want to see it in monitor, better to use rgb.

Well on that part I do like this: you don't need to convert it on CMYK because the ink is already a CMYK color just stay on RGB format.. here's the best part once you are printing an image whether in gloss or matte photo paper or high compression paper like gsm90,220.. just go to the mode of photoshop change it to LAB color or mode then click print.. on the printer properties choose best print so the pass of the printer is slow but smooth and the result is perfect..

Hi Dana Adel,

 

Thank you for Inviting Me to Answer. Can you Show Me that Dull Print? You can Scan and Send the Soft Copy in JPEG Format. After Seeing your Duller Print I would be able to tell you what has Gone Wrong and What you should Do to Get as per your Expectation.

 

Do check whether the work file was on RGB. CMYK is basically used for printing because it has wider range of colours. Also it is important to know the colour calibration of the computer or the laptop used

Printed colors will almost always seem less vivid than the colors you use on your monitor. Some colors may even change in hue and saturation.

 On your monitor, you are looking at the actual light source (like looking at a green light on a traffic signal). This follows a RGB or additive color model. The important part is to remember is it is from a light source.

Printed color behaves differently. You are looking at the color with reflected light. This follows a CMYK  or reflective model.

So you are looking at the light that has not been absorbed by the paper and ink. 

So one is looking directly at the light and one is looking at the reflected and less bright light.

you can use panton colors or keep trying to adjust the colors and print a demo till you get the colors you want

Try the color that you made in a different screen, to be more accurate check it on a mac screen if you can,

 

You can also check the file if you used CMYK Or RGB, For Printing You should use the CMYK Option.

 

If it's still dull , Check the printer maybe there are some errors in it.