Some difference is normal: screens emit light, while prints only reflect light, so prints usually look less bright than your display. Also, consumer photo printers can’t reproduce every screen color exactly.

For the SELPHY CP1300/CP1200 series, one community-tested setup that improves results is:

• print from an SD card inserted in the printer
• set Image Optimize to Off
• set Brightness to +1
• set My Colors to Vivid

If you’re printing by Wi-Fi, those settings may not affect the print in the same way.

For best control, adjust the image before printing in photo software and let the software manage color. That gives you more control over brightness and color than relying on the printer alone.

So: the printer may not be faulty. First try the SELPHY settings above, and if prints still look dull, prepare the image specifically for print rather than expecting it to match a bright monitor exactly.