I did not realize how much I would read when trying to figure out how to make my printer print what I see on my monitor to print on paper. The 1st thing I remember reading is how different things can affect how a picture looks on the monitor like lighting in the room to temperature in the room. Then I found out that the monitor and printer both need to be calibrated. Gee, I knew about printer calibration but just learned that the monitor can be calibrated too. Then when I looked up monitor calibration that opened up a whole new ball park about gama which really got complicated. Next I think I'll just find out how to set my monitor to an online photo printer as trying to set one up at home seems like a lot to do.

Barbara

I forget that I set my monitor to be darker so the brightness doesn't bother my eyes so much.
then if I print a photo or picture it looks different than on my screen.

i DIDN'T KNOW THAT PRINTERS NEED TO BE CALIBRATED?? {sorry I hit the caps lock }

I'll have to look that up..

Did you see this site, it explains it pretty well. -
monitors -
http://www.normankoren.com/makingfineprints1A.html
printers-
http://www.normankoren.com/printer_calibration.html

right now I use the automatic adjustment settings on the monitor and then adjust it to my preference with my nvidia video card software program.
I also use clear type tuning for font adjustment/clarity.

well I used their idea and removed my nvidia settings, and set the monitor back to factory default - I had fiddled with it so much I needed to get back to the basics.

actually so far so good. it's not too bright , colors look nice...

printer settings will be next.

Jo,

Thanks for the links. I mistook printer calibration to how the computer sets up something on the printer by lining up pixels when you scan it after changing ink cartridges? Now I find out I was way off base with that idea. Do you know how the default monitor settings are comparable to the printers with online printing companies? I will have to look into how to calibrate using the video card.

barbara

I don't have any experience with online printing companies, maybe someone else will post about it.

They must work fairly well or people wouldn't use them.

These reviews might be helpful-
http://digital-photo-printing-review.toptenreviews.com/

http://www.drycreekphoto.com/icc/usi...r_profiles.htm