callibration of monitor etc

[kitst3r]

this is kinda embarasing having to ask this but i am unsure as to how i callibrate my monitor so that images print out as seen on screen. Images are completely different from photoshop being to bright to Acdsee being to dark and me never knowing what my printer is going to deliver.

[Sebastian]

The least you can do to have some consistency is to use a hardware/software package to calibrate your monitor. Then, make sure you are using the right profiles and settings for whatever printer/ink/paper combinations you're using.

For the monitor calibration, avoid the Colorvision Spyder. Great unit for new monitors, but delivers increasingly inconsistent results on aging monitors. Monaco Optix has a good unit in the 600 dollar range.

You can go beyond that and calibrate the printer and all your batches of paper as well, at great expense. If it's worhtwhile to you, then do it, otherwise the above suggestions should be more than adequate.