All of a sudden I get a dark brown area in my photos. Lens has always worked beautifully. Now every photo i take has a dark brownish goldish stripe across one side or down the middle.

Look on the Pentax Forums for K30 aperture block

First, I suggest you look into the camera lens. Perhaps it is not clean? Next, how does the preview image look before snapping the picture? If the preview is good then the problem may be in automatic post-process settings.

Perhaps you check the settings. If the camera is on nightshot, or manual, with a long shutter time or wilde open diafragma your pictures are all overblown, or stripes come from lights. Put the camera in automatic. The main dial on the green camera logo, and try again. If this does not work, Please let me know how the settings are on your camera. Success

Use manual shutter speed is 80 n apptur is 5.6 ok...

Obviously, the LCD is fine. Are the protective blade lens covers opening when the lens comes out?

There are 4 inks, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. When the black runs out, you are left with sort of a dark purple or brown color.

Or more properly, the shadow of your lens hood.

I have the same camera and have had the lens cover get stuck and it will leave the dark shadow in the pictures like you describe. It doesn't always happen, but when it does I just gently push the lens cover all the way open with my finger.

I assume you're using photo paper.

Go to File/Print. Click Properties. Click Media Type and chose the photo paper you are using, whether it's Photo Paper Pro or whatever. If you're printing using Plain paper and you have photo paper in the printer, you'll get the stripes.

Hope that helps

Check the ASA setting - read up the manual